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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: S6W-32137

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any alterations to out-of-hours contact services for non-departmental public bodies, and what information has been provided to ministers regarding any such alterations.

Scottish Government is aware the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency is considering amendments around its call centre service to align with plans for wider organisational transformation. SEPA has not raised any emerging risk, or issue with significant implications for its operation or governance with regards to changes to the 24-hour call centre.

Scottish Government is not aware of any other proposal to alter out-of-hours contact services, nor has information been provided to Ministers from any other public body.

Ministers would not routinely be informed of changes to contact services as this would be an operational matter for the body concerned, based on evaluation of the service, customer demand/experience and evolving automation of communication channels such as the use of bots and Artificial Intelligence.

Question reference: S6W-31980

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government's statement to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 23 January 2024, how much ScotWind funding was drawn down in each financial year from 2021-22 to 2024-25.

To date £96 million of ScotWind revenues have been utilised, all in 2022-23.

In the 2024-25 budget, £200 million of Scotwind funding was profiled, with a further £224 million added as part of the in-year autumn budget revision.

As indicated in the Scottish Budget, the total set aside in 2024-25 at present has now reduced to £160 million. Work is on-going to reduce this further, and a further update will be provided as part of the Spring Budget Revision in January.

Final decisions on drawing down ScotWind revenues will be made in March 2025.

Question reference: S6W-32452

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18745 by Jenni Minto on 21 June 2023, whether it can provide a full list of meetings of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024, whether officials attended those meetings, and, if so, whether it can provide a summary of what issues were raised by officials and discussed at each meeting.

Question reference: S6W-32459

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of alcohol-related hospital admissions continuing to be below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.

Question reference: S6W-32453

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31914 by Alasdair Allan on 10 December 2024, whether it can detail what grants have been made, and to which groups.

Question reference: S6W-32469

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how its proposed Community Wealth Building Bill will account for the operation and support of supported businesses.

Question reference: S6W-32445

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31858 by Jenni Minto on 11 December 2024, whether it is considering rolling out national maternity safety ambitions in Scotland, based on discussions that it has had with the UK Department of Health and Social Care.

Question reference: S6W-32136

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for making enquiries to SEPA regarding pollution reports during its office opening hours.

As Scottish Ministers are not directly responsible for the operation of SEPA and its use of resources, I have asked Nicole Paterson, Chief Executive of SEPA to respond. Her response is as follows:

Continued Availability of Service:

SEPA’s 24-hour availability to the Scottish public remains fully in place, ensuring that we provide critical support for Scotland’s communities and environment. Where appropriate, this includes direct access to a SEPA employee to ensure a timely and effective response. Additionally, we are introducing new ways for customers to contact us, giving them options that best suit their preferences. This includes becoming a true multi-channel service, enabling access through various platforms to enhance the customer experience and better meet modern communication needs.

Role of the Automated System:

Our automated system is designed to handle minor, non-urgent matters digitally, either online or through our intelligent IVR system. This ensures these lower-priority issues are managed efficiently without impacting our ability to respond to significant events. Any significant incidents reported are immediately escalated to individuals who are available 24/7 across the country to respond, investigate, and take necessary action.

Human Response to Significant Incidents:

For all significant environmental incidents, any communication reporting a major event, regardless of the time, will be sent directly to a member of our team. This ensures the appropriate action is taken promptly and effectively.

Support for Priority Partners:

SEPA remains committed to supporting Priority Partners, including MSPs, emergency services, and specific businesses. These partners will always have direct access to human assistance for significant environmental events, ensuring smooth communication and rapid action when necessary.

Question reference: S6W-32138

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the process will be for making enquiries to SEPA regarding pollution reports out of hours under the reported proposed changes to SEPA's out-of-hours contact service.

Question reference: S6W-32135

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31887 by Mairi Gougeon on 9 December 2024, whether it has considered using powers under section 36 of the Fisheries Act 2020 to place the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture into law.

The Scottish Government continually considers where regulation for farmed fish health is necessary.

We already have robust legislation, policies, and operational practices in place to ensure fish farmers are meeting statutory requirements on sealice reporting and management, mortality reporting, listed disease surveillance and containment of farmed fish. The aquaculture sector in Scotland shows a significant level of compliance with both legislative and voluntary requirements. Enactment in law of the finfish sector’s Code of Good Practice through existing legislative instruments would not necessarily significantly improve outcomes for fish health and, therefore, there are no plans for further legislation at this time.