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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-28098

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what training packages are in place for Police Scotland in relation to environmental (a) legislation and (b) crime.

Scotland’s natural resources are vital to its economic success and the health and wellbeing of its citizens. The Scottish Government is committed to working with partners on the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to reduce the significant harms caused by environmental crime.

I understand that Police Scotland works closely with partner agencies such as Zero Waste Scotland, NatureScot and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for guidance and expert witness testimony in matters of environmental legislation and crime.

The training of officers and staff is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. The Scottish Government supports the Chief Constable in having the flexibility to develop her workforce in a way that responds to the challenges she faces and this includes access to appropriate training.

Question reference: S6W-28118

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on (a) ScotRail and (b) Scottish Water having a representative of (i) customers and (ii) employees on its company board.

The majority of non-executive appointments to the Boards of Non-Departmental Public Bodies are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. This means that the process used to appoint Board members is governed by the 'Revised Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland’. Those which are not regulated, choose to adopt the same principles.

The entities advise Scottish Ministers on their Board’s membership needs, the ScotRail Board determines this themselves, with a focus on diverse boards comprised of members who possess the right skills, experience and knowledge. In addition to other relevant attributes, such as, integrity and commitment. STUC's General Secretary, Roz Foyer, is a non-executive Director on Scottish Rail Holdings’ Board, the parent company of ScotRail Ltd, is appointed to that role with the support of railway trade unions.

As set out in the Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, non-executive Board members appointed by Scottish Ministers are required to have knowledge and experience relevant to the functions of Scottish Water. In addition, one of the non-executive members must have special knowledge of the interests of the employees of Scottish Water.

Question reference: S6W-28117

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 20 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on colleges of the 4.8% reduction in revenue funding in its Budget for 2024-25, in light of the Scottish Funding Council figures that were issued on 30 May 2024.

Question reference: S6O-03638

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to end the reported disruption to students in further education, in light of the ongoing industrial dispute between College Employers Scotland and EIS-FELA over pay and conditions.

Question reference: S6W-28097

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what training packages are in place for judicial office holders in relation to environmental (a) legislation and (b) crime.

The Scottish Government is not involved in the training of judicial office holders. Part 2 of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 sets out that the Lord President is responsible for making and maintaining appropriate arrangements for the welfare, training and guidance of judicial office holders. This ensures that training is free from political interference and is essential to preserve the independence of the legal system. The Lord President delegates responsibility for the delivery of judicial training to the Judicial Institute of Scotland. Any queries on judicial training should therefore be directed to judicialinstitute@scotcourts.gov.uk .

Question reference: S6W-28004

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to (a) the First Minister's National Advisory Council on Women and Girls 2024 Report and (b) reported concerns that a lack of urgency, coherence and accountability on the part of the Scottish Government has prevented the implementation of all previous recommendations of the advisory council.

We are grateful to the National Advisory Council on Women and Girls and the Empowering Women Panel for the considerable work they put into the 2024 report. The Scottish Government is committed to working with the Council and Panel to meet our shared goal of greater equality for women and girls. We welcome the report are giving it our full consideration before responding formally to the Council.

While we recognise progress has been made in this area, there is much more to do. I met with the co-chairs of the NACWG recently and discussed how we can best make that progress. I look forward to carrying on that discussion and taking forward any actions required.

Question reference: S6W-28096

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 18 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what training packages are in place for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in relation to environmental (a) legislation and (b) crime.

Question reference: S6W-28024

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a toxics use reduction strategy.

Toxics use reduction as a concept is already well embedded in the regulatory system on chemicals safety in Great Britain. This system includes UK REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) regulation, part of the post-brexit chemicals regulatory framework we inherited from the EU. It includes specific provisions to prevent the use of harmful substances, ensure mitigations are in place to reduce exposure from such chemicals where their use is essential, and reduce risks associated with chemical use more generally.

Question reference: S6W-27970

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland will be represented at the 60th Sessions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is taking place in Bonn, Germany, in June 2024.

Scottish Government International Climate Change Officials are attending the 60th Sessions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Scottish Ministers are not in attendance.

Although Scotland is not a UN member state, the Scottish Government is resolute in our commitment to utilise our convening and influencing powers wherever possible in order to drive forward climate action internationally.

Question reference: S6W-27949

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy on 18 April 2024, what measures will be included in its timeline for implementing demand management as part of its route map to 20% reduction in car km; whether road pricing will be included as one of these measures, and what discussions it has had with the UK (i) Government and (ii) Office of the Leader of the Opposition regarding the implementation of such measures across the UK.

The Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy confirmed to the Scottish Parliament on 18 April 2024 that we will deliver the commitment made to publish by autumn the route map for reduction in car use by 20% produced in partnership with CoSLA. It will include a timeline for implementing demand management and within the context of our commitment to a just transition.

As outlined in the draft route map, published in January 2022, the Scottish Government recognises that powers for local authorities to introduce potential road charging schemes were established in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 and that Local Authorities are best placed to determine whether a local road user charging scheme supports the objectives set out in their local transport strategy.

The finalised route map will also ask the UK Government to reform motoring taxes, given that they are the most direct levers on the cost of buying or running a petrol or diesel car. Fuel duty and vehicle excise duty are reserved matters. We have made a number of attempts at both ministerial and official level to engage the UK Government on these issues, without any meaningful response. The Scottish Government has not had discussions with the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on this matter.