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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: S6O-02613

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its timeframe is for the implementation of the Strategic Framework for Scotland’s Early Learning and School Age Childcare Profession.

Question reference: S6W-19590

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 30 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on proposals for Investment Zones in Scotland.

Following detailed discussions between the Scottish and UK Governments, we have today announced that there will be two Investment Zones in Scotland, to be designed and delivered on the basis of a partnership approach alongside the successful Regional Economic Partnerships.

We have together decided, on the basis of a robust and evidence-based joint selection process, that the Glasgow City Region and North East of Scotland are the two most suitable areas in which to locate them.

Each Investment Zone will benefit from a package of funding worth £80 million, made up of capital and revenue spending and targeted tax reliefs, to promote innovation, stimulate business growth in sectors of the future and create high-quality, well-paid jobs.

We will now jointly begin discussions with the two Regional Economic Partnerships to co-develop detailed proposals, aligned to our National Strategy for Economic Transformation and the recently published Innovation Strategy.

We will publish more information in due course on the policy approach and on the selection process.

Question reference: S6O-02383

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many paramedic students have accessed the Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary since its introduction in July 2021.

Question reference: S6W-18043

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 May 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update to the Parliament on NHS Lothian’s escalated position in relation to the delivery of mental health services.

NHS Lothian has made significant progress in the area of Mental Health since it was escalated to Stage 3 of the NHS Board performance escalation framework in July 2019.

The Scottish Government requested a formal recovery plan with clear milestones and has provided a package of tailored support to NHS Lothian to develop and implement it. The changes resulting from the plan, including changes to the Mental Health leadership team in NHS Lothian, has supported sustained improvement in performance.

The Scottish Government’s Director General of Health and Social Care, supported by the Health and Social Care Management Board, took the decision to de-escalate NHS Lothian from Stage 3 to Stage 2 of the NHS Board performance escalation framework for its improved provision of mental health services, care and support.

The Scottish Government will continue to monitor progress at Stage 2 and NHS Lothian will continue to be able to access advice and support from the Scottish Government Professional Advisors. This will ensure that the continuous improvement remains a priority.

You can find out more about the NHS Board performance escalation framework here: NHS healthcare standards: Board performance escalation framework - gov.scot ( www.gov.scot )

Question reference: S6O-02241

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many frontline police officers have been trained to use, and equipped with, naloxone.

Question reference: S6O-02170

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-02127

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent analysis by the International Monetary Fund, which predicts that the UK economy's performance in 2023 will be the worst among the G20 economies, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of this in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-01891

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to support that it can provide for households in Scotland, what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding energy affordability.

Question reference: S6W-13835

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 13 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on Green Freeports.

Having welcomed five very competitive bids in June, and following a rigorous assessment process, the Scottish Government can today confirm that the two Green Freeport locations selected jointly by Scottish and UK Ministers are Inverness and Cromarty Firth and the Firth of Forth.

Scotland’s Green Freeports will support businesses to create high-quality, well-paid new jobs; promote growth and regeneration; and make a significant contribution to achieving our net zero ambitions.

The Scottish Government looks forward to working closely with the successful consortia, supporting them through the next phase of the process as they develop their business cases, in order to ensure that they deliver maximum positive impact.

We will also work with the unsuccessful bidders to consider how they can build on the plans set out in their bids to deliver jobs and growth in their regions outside the Green Freeports programme.

Question reference: S6O-01765

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.