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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: S6W-25593

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 February 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Emma Roddick on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to publish an Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, as committed to in the First Minister’s policy prospectus and in the Programme for Government 2023-24.

Today, the Scottish Government publishes its new Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, which sets out our approach to the issue of population decline affecting some communities in Scotland. The Plan builds on the work of the Ministerial Population Taskforce in delivering Scotland’s Population Strategy, which was published in March 2021.

This new Action Plan describes a range of work which will be delivered in partnership with local authorities, enterprise agencies, communities and other local actors, alongside a range of current and future Scottish Government national delivery priorities to support communities affected by population decline.

Building on this Action Plan, the next phase of our work will be informed by the small area outputs from Scotland’s Census 2022, which are due to be published in Spring 2024. These data will enable us to consider even more targeted and focused interventions in support of community sustainability.

The publication can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781835217177 .

Question reference: S6O-03091

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the most recent figures published by the Crofting Commission showing an increase in the number of new entrants between March 2022 and March 2023.

Question reference: S6W-25049

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of the Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach Paper and the Vessels and Ports Plan.

I am pleased to announce that the Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach paper and the Vessel and Ports Plan were published today alongside a public consultation.

These documents and the consultation questions are available at the following link:

Islands Connectivity Plan | Transport Scotland

I would encourage islanders and all those with an interest in ferries and wider island transport connectivity to respond to the consultation which will run until 3 May 2024. This will be supported by a number of public events by Transport Scotland officials starting in late February.

Question reference: S6O-03084

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what support will be put in place to assist local authorities in establishing "areas of linguistic significance", as set out in the Scottish Languages Bill.

The Member has provided the following Gaelic translation:

Gus faighneachd do Riaghaltas na h-Alba de an taic a bhios ann do dh'ughdarrasan ionadail a tha airson àitichean a tha "sònraichte a thaobh chànain" a stèidheachadh, mar a chaidh a chuir an làthair ann am Bile nan Cànan Albannach.

Question reference: S6O-03044

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local authorities to provide appropriate levels of special educational needs staff for secondary schools to ensure a safe and encouraging learning environment for all pupils.

Question reference: S6W-23904

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on (a) its progress so far on and (b) the next steps for its Islands Connectivity Plan.

I informed the Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee on 19 December 2023 that I have received the Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach Paper and the Vessels and Ports Plan. I am now taking some time to ensure that they reflect the issues raised in the Committee's recent inquiry into "A Modern and Sustainable Ferry Service for Scotland" and issues that communities have raised with me directly. I intend to publish both documents early this year.

The full text of my letter to the Committee is available here: Minister for Transport (parliament.scot)

Question reference: S6O-02928

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, whether any of its future publications on independence will cover any constitutional lessons that can be learned from structures used in Parliaments elsewhere that include unelected members.

Question reference: S6W-24088

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the outcome of the recent summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in Dublin.

On 24 November 2023, the First Minister represented the Scottish Government at the Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council hosted by the Government of Ireland and chaired by the Taoiseach – Leo Varadkar. The meeting was attended by Ministers from six of the eight BIC Member Administrations with Northern Ireland represented by senior officials.

The theme of the Summit focussed on Transforming Children’s Lives: Tackling Child Poverty and Improving Wellbeing. This discussion offered the opportunity to understand the challenges being faced by all of the Governments across these islands and to share and learn from the range of initiatives being taken to tackle the issue.

On the Latest Political Developments item, Ministers took the opportunity to recognise the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement and to reflect on the importance of BIC as one of the institutions established under that agreement.

The Council discussed political developments in Northern Ireland and highlighted the importance of the restoration of enduring devolved power-sharing institutions as soon as possible. It also reflected on the situation in Israel and Gaza, the conflict in Ukraine, the Cost of Living Crisis and the forthcoming COP 28.

In the margins of the summit, the First Minister took the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with the Taoiseach, the First Minister of Wales and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The Communiqué issued by the British-Irish Council after the meeting can be found on its website at: britishirishcouncil.org.

Question reference: S6O-02913

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of its new Carer Support Payment in the Western Isles and other pilot areas.

Question reference: S6T-01699

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the letter from the UK foreign secretary to the constitution secretary, what its response is to reports that the UK Government may withdraw Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office support for Scottish Government overseas meetings.