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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-20896

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 8 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to establishing a museum of slavery highlighting Scotland’s colonial history.

Following the motion passed by the Scottish Parliament showing solidarity with anti-racism in June 2020, funding was provided to Museums Galleries Scotland for the Empire, Slavery and Scotland's Museums project, which was run by an independent steering group, and included the largest ever national consultation on attitudes to Scotland’s museums and racism.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the response to the steering group's recommendations, including the one which focused on establishing a new organisation to create a dedicated space to address the legacy of colonialism in Scotland. This is an important agenda and we will continue to seek ways of raising awareness of the role Scotland played in slavery and empire and how our museums and galleries can play their part in portraying an accurate story of Scotland's history.

Question reference: S6O-02485

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that increasing numbers of dentists are leaving the NHS.

Question reference: S6W-20419

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown for each financial year that the Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme has been in operation of how many applications to the scheme have been (a) received and (b) rejected, and, in relation to any rejected applications, what the annual cost (i) to NatureScot of processing and (ii) incurred by applicants of making these applications was.

Applications are categorised as ‘Rejected’, ‘Unsuccessful’ or ‘Successful’. ‘Rejected’ applications are those that were ineligible due to failing the initial eligibility checks. As such, these applications do not progress on to be fully assessed. ‘Unsuccessful’ applications will have passed the initial eligibility checks and will have been fully assessed but failed to achieve the scoring threshold for approval.

Since 2015, 7,429 applications have been received to the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) to date, of which 897 were rejected and 792 have been unsuccessful. A breakdown of these figures for each year since the scheme has been in operation is set out in the following table:

Year	No. Applications Received	No. Rejected	No. Unsuccessful
2015	977	234	100
2016	1,333	193	79
2017	1,022	138	44
2018	923	97	199
2019	724	72	131
2020*	N/A	N/A	NA
2021	780	86	37
2022	1,027	75	202
2023**	643	2	N/A
Total	7,429	897	792

*The 2020 AECS Round consisted of a one-year extension of management Options ending in 2020, and therefore no new applications were invited.

**At this time, only Slurry Store applications have been fully assessed and awarded. The remaining applications from the 2023 Round are currently being assessed.

NatureScot do not record staff time spent on processing AECS applications, which could vary greatly depending on the complexity of each case assessed by them.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on the total costs incurred by applicants of submitting an application to the scheme. However, financial assistance is available towards the following assessments and plans:

Farm Environment Assessment claims can range from £200-600 depending on the hectarage covered
Moorland Management Plans claims can range from £100-600 based on the area covered by the Plan
Lowland Bog Plan claimants can receive £300 for land that is 10 hectares or greater.

Question reference: S6W-20437

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06946 by Maree Todd on 14 March 2022, what its response is to the reported comments of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that the implementation of water fluoridation "would need to be considered on a Scotland-wide or regional basis"; what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding water fluoridation since January 2021, and whether it is currently working with NHS boards on developing plans to introduce water fluoridation.

In Scotland, under current water quality legislation, the initiative for fluoridation of drinking water supplies rests with local NHS Boards. There are currently no plans to fluoridate the public water supply in Scotland, and any decision to do so would be the responsibility of individual NHS Boards in consultation with the public and Scottish Water. There have been no formal discussions with NHS Boards regarding water fluoridation.

Question reference: S6W-20418

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 04 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 28 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to provide an initial progress update on its Scams Prevention, Awareness and Enforcement Strategy 2021-24.

The Scottish Government’s Scam Prevention, Awareness and Enforcement Strategy 2021-24 states that an initial update would be published at an appropriate time within 18-24 months of its publication in March 2021. However, our response to the cost of living crisis has meant refocusing resource to ensure that the urgent help and advice required by consumers was delivered as quickly as possible.

We intend to provide a progress update to the Scottish Parliament by the end of this calendar year.

Question reference: S6W-19552

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 31 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the modern apprenticeship programme remains fit for purpose in delivering government objectives.

Question reference: S6W-19548

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 31 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) training providers and (b) employers regarding whether the modern apprenticeship programme is fit for purpose.

On behalf of the Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) plays an active role in managing information relating to the performance of apprenticeships and regularly engages with training providers and employers to continue to adapt and improve apprenticeship provision and delivery in Scotland.

SDS’ Skills Investment Advisers provide support on an individual basis to training providers, working with them to ensure they can support learners and overcome any challenges they are facing. This support is also provided as part of ‘Community of Practice’ events which SDS host to provide valuable information and best practice for all training providers.

In relation to engagement with employers, SDS and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), as members of the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board , engage directly with the employers who are responsible for overseeing the end-to-end delivery of apprenticeships on behalf of employers, ensuring they are fit for purpose and reflect the needs of business, learners and the Scottish economy.

SDS regularly seeks out the views of employers on apprenticeship delivery and one of the key mechanisms for doing this is the Apprenticeship Employer Survey , with the most recent survey from 2020 highlighting 88% employer satisfaction with Modern Apprenticeships overall.

Question reference: S6W-19549

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 31 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 9 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Skills Development Scotland regarding removing or changing the age cap on accessing funding for modern apprenticeships.

Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) are available to anyone in Scotland aged 16 or over.

Skills Development Scotland funding contributions depend on the type of apprenticeship, the qualification level and the age of the apprentice, however there is no specific age cap on funding available. Learning providers can ask employers for an additional contribution to fund the apprenticeship or employers can also choose to self-fund these programmes.

Apprentices aged 16-24 are eligible for higher contribution rates to reflect that they may have less experience of the workplace and therefore may require more support to complete their apprenticeship.

Funding for apprentices aged 25+ is restricted to key and supporting sectors for MAs. For certain key sectors and for individuals who are disabled and care-experienced, there's an enhanced funding contribution up to and including the age of 29.

Statistics for 2022/23 detail a particularly high uptake in MAs for those aged 25 and over, with 41.1% of apprentices being from this age category.

Question reference: S6W-19550

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 31 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 9 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Skills Development Scotland regarding removing or changing the time limit in place on accessing funding for modern apprenticeships to allow an individual to begin a modern apprenticeship at any point in their career.

Question reference: S6W-19551

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 31 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 9 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has asked Skills Development Scotland to consider widening the range of courses eligible for modern apprenticeship funding.

Apprenticeships in Scotland are demand-led, and our apprenticeship system aims to be as responsive to industry demand as it can be. Any new Modern Apprenticeship (MA) frameworks created would be as a result of sufficient demand from employers for a new MA and a clear indication that an MA is the right training route. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) work with industry to assess the level of demand and can support the development of new apprenticeship frameworks where required.