Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 799 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6O-01691

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments from the Auditor General in his 2021/22 audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts that financial support for Burntisland Fabrications Limited, Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited, Prestwick Airport and the Lochaber Aluminium Smelter "has not delivered expected outcomes and is unlikely to achieve value for money".

Question reference: S6W-12430

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on 7 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider providing insurance for MSPs, similar to the policies offered to MPs, including professional indemnity insurance.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body currently maintains the following types of insurance that extend to MSPs:

Employers’ liability
Public / Products Liability
Travel and personal injury

There is currently no provision for Members in respect of professional indemnity insurance and there are no current proposals to expand the existing suite of insurance provision. If any such proposals were to be made, consideration would need to be given to the guidance on insurance set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual and budget implications generally. In place of insurance, the SPCB approved the Legal Advice Scheme. This Scheme allows the SPCB’s Legal Services function to provide advice to Members subject to certain conditions and exclusions, either directly or through supporting the provision of advice by People Services or Standards Clerks. This covers legal disputes, claims or actions raised against Members when acting in their parliamentary or constituency role; advice in relation to employment of Members’ staff; and advice in relation to Code of Conduct issues.

Question reference: S6W-12452

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-00752 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 February 2022, what consultation had taken place with island communities on the issue of unbundling the ferry network before 3 February 2022, and what consultation has taken place since.

Further to the answer to S6W-12451 on 6 December 2022 - Consultation was carried out in developing the Ferries Plan 2012-2022, we continue to have regular engagement on general ferry issues with island communities and appropriate consultation with all relevant stakeholders including the work to be taken forward by the Chair of the Ferries Community Board in the near future.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-12601

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 7 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many failures to comply with property factor enforcement orders have subsequently been complied with as a direct result of follow-up action taken by the Scottish Ministers in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-12603

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 7 December 2022

Question reference: S6W-11568

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the minutes from the June 2022 meeting of the Ardrossan Harbour Task Force.

Question reference: S6W-12451

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-00752 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 February 2022, what its position is on whether the decision to verbally rule out unbundling Scotland’s ferry network went against the regulations set out in the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 on consulting island communities.

Question reference: S6W-12392

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12054 by Jenny Gilruth on 17 November 2022, whether the Scottish Government has the power to extend the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract after its conclusion in September 2024, and for what reason it did not provide this information in its answer.

Further to our response to S6W-12054, the Scottish Government has the power to operate lifeline ferry services and has been doing so through the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract since 2007. We are currently considering the most appropriate route for continuity of these services supported by the engagement with local communities to be taken forward by the Chair of the Ferries Community Board in the near future and will provide further advice once our plans have been finalised.

Question reference: S6W-12595

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what enhancements to the Forestry Grant Scheme it plans to bring forward in order to improve the condition of ancient woodland.

The Forestry Grant Scheme already provides an extensive package of support to help landowners improve the condition of ancient woodlands. This funding is available through the Woodland Improvement Grant Habitats and Species option. This offers capital grant support to remove invasive species such as Rhododendron, for fencing costs, felling and tree removal. Forest management and enhancement is also supported through 5 year management agreements covering habitat monitoring and deer control as well as stock management support for grazed woodland. For special sites, such as SSSI’s or Natura 2000 sites, the support available can cover 100% of the costs.

Since 2016 the Forestry Grant Scheme has supported over 210 projects to restore native woodlands with a combined value of over £12m.

Question reference: S6W-12597

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many tree preservation orders Scottish Forestry or its predecessor, the Forestry Commission Scotland, have been notified of in each year since 2011.