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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6O-01270

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to provide access to neurodevelopmental support for all children in schools.

Question reference: S6W-09227

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 June 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Patrick Harvie on 14 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the second Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing will be reviewed, and when it will respond to the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce report, published in August 2021.

The Scottish Government has today published its response to the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce (ZEST) report which can be accessed at http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804355176 .

The Scottish Government is grateful to ZEST for its work and welcomes the recommendations which will help shape Scotland’s just transition to net zero.

As was highlighted in the ZEST report, the second Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH2) is not fully aligned with net zero and Housing Associations’ and Local Authorities’ need for long-term certainty to plan investment appropriately.

The Scottish Government today confirms that the review of EESSH2 will be brought forward to commence this year for completion in 2023.

While the review is underway the current EESSH2 2025 and 2032 milestones will be put on hold temporarily to ensure that any investment is targeted toward long-term solutions that deliver net zero and support the eradication of fuel poverty. Whilst the review is underway, social landlords should continue to invest in energy efficiency measures to help reduce running costs, and in zero emissions heating systems where appropriate.

The Scottish Government’s Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund supports projects to deploy zero emissions heat, improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty. The fund will make £200 million available over the course of this parliament - investing in a sector already leading the way in the heat transition.

The Scottish Government is committed to, and looks forward to, working jointly with the social housing sector on both the EESSH2 review and as we take forward next steps from the ZEST report.

Question reference: S6O-01248

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, as an employer located in the zone, how it will help to meet the objectives of the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone.

Question reference: S6W-08486

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consult animal welfare charities on the content of the mandatory training course proposed in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill.

The mandatory training course will include information on important practical safety elements to consider when purchasing and using fireworks, including what is permitted under relevant fireworks legislation, as well as how to be a considerate and responsible fireworks user.

The Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders on the development of the training course, which will be set out in future regulations. This includes animal welfare charities, as well as other stakeholders such as community safety partners, disabilities organisations and the firework industry. It is recognised that stakeholder input will be important to ensure that the training course is fit for purpose, and includes information for licence holders on the broad range of issues and areas that are impacted by fireworks.

The Bill also includes a consultation requirement for regulations made in relation to the licensing system. This will ensure that stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute to and share their views and opinions on the proposed training course.

Question reference: S6W-08485

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations by the Dogs Trust, and with the aim of reducing the potential likelihood of stockpiling, whether it will consider limiting the sale of fireworks to one transaction per licence holder for each of the fireworks periods proposed in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill.

All of the measures within the Bill, including the licensing system, have been developed following a significant programme of consultation, engagement and evidence gathering. This includes the work of the independent advisory Firework Review Group, who considered all of the evidence available and took an options appraisal approach to make a series of recommendations for change to the Scottish Government. The licensing system implements the Group’s recommendation that mandatory conditions should be introduced at the point of sale of fireworks to ensure that the purchase and use of fireworks is a well thought out and planned transaction.

The licensing system has been carefully developed to ensure that robust checks and balances are in place before a member of the public can purchase and use fireworks. This includes a mandatory requirement to successfully complete a training course, which will inform applicants of how to use fireworks in a safe and considerate manner, and it is intended that this will include information about the rules and regulations around the safe storage of fireworks.

The policy objective of the licensing system is that those who are permitted to purchase, possess and use fireworks in Scotland know how to do so in a safe, lawful and considerate manner. Therefore, the licence does not specify how many firework transactions can take place during a permitted firework supply period. It is considered that this strikes the balance between introducing proportionate measures without placing overly restrictive barriers on the legitimate purchase and use of fireworks by members of the public. The Fireworks (Scotland) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2021, which amended the Fireworks (Scotland) Regulations 2004, limit the quantity of fireworks that can be supplied to the general public at any one time to 5kg. Mitigations against stockpiling are also already in place through existing legislation - The Explosives Regulations 2014.

Consideration is also being given on how to incorporate messaging around stockpiling and the safe storage of fireworks in the national Scottish Government communications and awareness raising campaigns which are delivered in collaboration with partners each year over the bonfire period.

Question reference: S6W-08391

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 19 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Lynx to Scotland project report.

The Scottish Government recognises the role that re-introductions of native species can play in nature restoration, but has no current plans to reintroduce lynx or any other large carnivore species into Scotland.

We welcome the publication of the ‘Lynx to Scotland’ report and commend it for its careful and balanced assessment of a complex topic. As the report notes, there are major barriers that would need to be satisfactorily addressed before any such reintroduction could be taken forward. The Scottish Government has always been clear that any reintroduction of a species such as lynx could only take place following full consultation that ensured the views of those who are likely to be most affected are properly taken into account.

It is a criminal offence to release a species such as lynx in Scotland unless the release is licensed by NatureScot.

Question reference: S6W-08336

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many hill tracks constructed under permitted development rights have been built on peatland since 2014.

Question reference: S6W-08335

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions between 2014 and 2021 (a) prior notification has been submitted, (b) prior approval has been granted and (c) planning authorities have required full applications to be made for the construction of hill tracks for agriculture or forestry purposes.

Question reference: S6W-08334

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to consult on amending permitted development rights in relation to hill tracks, and what the scope of its consultation will be.

The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a review of permitted development rights (PDR) as part of its wider planning reform programme. The review is being taken forward on a phased basis, with each phase focussing on specific types of development.

We intend to consult on proposals relating to private ways (sometimes referred to as ‘hill tracks’) through phase 3 of the review. The detailed scope and timing of the phase 3 consultation is currently under review.

Question reference: S6F-01115

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 May 2022

To ask the First Minister what further talks the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government about future oil and gas fields off the coast of Scotland.