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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5O-05053

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Orkney Islands Council regarding the reopening of schools.

Question reference: S5W-34807

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33242 by Kevin Stewart on 23 November 2020, whether it will publish copies of records and minutes of any meetings held subsequently to progress this work.

Question reference: S5W-34810

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for how long work on its Fuel Poverty Strategy was paused, and when work resumed.

Work on the Fuel Poverty Strategy was paused in March 2020 and remains on hold. Since then my officials have been focused on the immediate support needs of those facing difficulties in meeting fuel costs during the pandemic, including most recently disbursing £7 million of funding as part of the Winter Support Fund announced by the First Minister late last year. Additionally work has been progressing on our 20 year housing strategy, Housing to 2040, the Heat in Buildings Strategy and the Climate Change Plan Update, all of which will contribute to our ability to meet our targets to reduce fuel poverty, whilst ensuring Scotland plays its part in tackling the global climate emergency.

Question reference: S5W-34808

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33242 by Kevin Stewart on 23 November 2020, when it estimates its Fuel Poverty Strategy will be published; whether a timetable has been established, and whether this will be before the end of the current parliamentary session.

As I set out in my response to S5W-33242 on 23 November 2020, the Programme for Government commits us to publishing the Fuel Poverty Strategy this year and I will write to the Local Government and Communities Committee when I am able to confirm details of the timetable.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Question reference: S5W-34809

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will consult on its planned Fuel Poverty Strategy; what the deadline for this consultation will be, and what the estimated timeline is to progress this work.

In preparing the Fuel Poverty Strategy, we will allow sufficient time to consult widely with stakeholders and the public, including those with direct lived experience of fuel poverty and the characteristics specified within the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019. This will build upon the consultation on the draft Fuel Poverty Strategy, published in 2018, as well as the forthcoming consultation on the draft Heat in Buildings Strategy. I will write to the Local Government and Communities Committee when I am able to confirm details of the process and timetable for producing the Strategy, including in relation to the consultation we will undertake.

Question reference: S5W-34725

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the need to extend some university courses to allow practical work to be undertaken, and what provision can be made to ensure that any additional costs incurred do not fall on the students.

The Scottish Government is engaged in regular discussions with students, universities and colleges to address issues facing learners as a result of disruption to learning and teaching caused by COVID-19 restrictions. A Ministerial Task force has been established to rapidly and collectively provide solutions to address these issues. The Scottish Government is committed to taking effective action to enable students to continue and complete their learner journeys and move into employment or further study.

Students studying a course of Higher Education (HE) who require to repeat a full year of study are able to access an additional year of funding known as a ‘+1’. Care Experienced students studying in HE are able to access two additional years of funding. HE students who have exhausted their funding options and require to repeat a year of studies due to COVID-19 will have their requests considered under compassionate grounds by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).

Question reference: S5W-34523

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether specific advice will be issued regarding exemptions to travel restrictions to assist people moving out of student accommodation.

Following the First Minister’s announcement on 8 January 2021 that the planned staggered return of students at the start of the new term would be extended, we published revised guidance for colleges, universities and accommodation providers on 15 January 2021.

The guidance explains how the current restrictions on travel apply to students moving out of student accommodation. It should be read alongside wider Scottish Government guidance and sets out the steps students should take to ensure any move from accommodation is conducted safely. An FAQ is also available for students on the Student Information Scotland website.

Question reference: S5T-02631

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 25 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reducing the remand population, in light of reports that it has nearly doubled since April 2020 and that people awaiting trial are restricted to their cells for 23 hours a day.

Question reference: S5W-34607

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 18 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will lay regulations to implement the terms of the single-use plastics directive, which is due to be implemented by the EU in July 2021.

Question reference: S5W-34587

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 25 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the programme board established to consider how to take forward recommendations from the report by the Suckler Beef Climate Group will report back solely to it, or in conjunction with farmer-led groups established by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism.

The programme board will provide advice and oversight to the Scottish Government on the implementation of the recommendations made by the Suckler Beef Climate Group on the development of support mechanisms for the sector to reduce GHG emissions of beef production.

The Scottish Government will also hear from four other farmer-led groups on how to farm in ways that reduce emissions and tackle climate change, as reaffirmed in the recently published Climate Change Plan update.