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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-17817

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 May 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by George Adam on 5 May 2023

Special Advisers are appointed in accordance with Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 by the First Minister as a Special Adviser for the purpose of providing assistance to the Scottish Ministers.

The total cost of Special Advisers employed during the financial year 2020-21 was £1,618,713.47. Total cost includes all salary costs, employer NI, and employer pension contributions. The level of employer NI and pension contribution is not a matter for the Scottish Government.

The cost of Special Advisers during 2020-21 was based on the following Pay Bands and Pay Ranges:

Pay Band	Pay Range (£)	Number of SpAds in Band
1	£50,839 – £53,208	1
2	£55,583 – £68,307	8
3	£70,391 - £90,564	5
4	£96,400 - £ 102,228	1

The total cost of Special Advisers employed during the financial year 2021-22 was £1,434,693.34. Total cost includes all salary costs, employer NI, and employer pension contributions. The level of employer NI and pension contribution is not a matter for the Scottish Government.

The cost of Special Advisers during 2021-22 was based on the following Pay Bands and Pay Ranges:

Pay Band	Pay Range (£)	Number of SpAds in Band
1	£51,348 - £53,741	1
2	£56,139 - £68,991	11
3	£71,095 - £91,364	4
4	£97,200 - £103,028	2

The total cost of Special Advisers employed during the financial year 2022-23 was £1,909,843. Total cost includes all salary costs, employer NI, and employer pension contributions. The level of employer NI and pension contribution is not a matter for the Scottish Government.

The cost of Special Advisers during 2022-23 was based on the following Pay Bands and Pay Ranges:

Pay Band	Pay Range (£)	Number of SpAds in Band
1	£53,915 - £56,428	1
2	£58,946 - £72,441	10
3	£74,650 - £95,019	5
4	£101,088 - £107,149	2

Question reference: S6O-02192

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways programme.

Question reference: S6O-02142

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its strategy is for protecting autistic women from sexual violence.

Question reference: S6W-17198

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 April 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what its response is to the UK Secretary of State for Scotland’s use of section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 to prevent the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from proceeding to Royal Assent, after it was passed by the Scottish Parliament.

The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was passed by an overwhelming majority of the Scottish Parliament, with support from members of all parties. The use of section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 to stop the legislation proceeding to Royal Assent is an unprecedented challenge to the Scottish Parliament’s ability to legislate on clearly devolved matters.

The Order was made without any specific prior engagement or notification by the Secretary of State during the Bill process. It was made without any specific request for amendments to the Bill from any UK Minister. Since the Order was laid, and despite requests, the Secretary of State and the UK Government have refused to provide any further clarification or engagement with the Scottish Government or Scottish Parliament. We have offered to discuss specific changes to the Bill with the Secretary of State, but given that this offer has not been taken up, it is impossible to know what changes would satisfy the reasons the UK Government has given, particularly as he has highlighted that the existence of two different schemes within the UK is in itself problematic.

To uphold the democratic decision of the Parliament, and ensure proper protection of devolution, Scottish Ministers will now lodge a petition for judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision. The Scottish Government does not consider the reasons set out by him provide sufficient justification for his decision to make an order under section 35 of the Scotland Act. The Scottish Government also believes that the UK Government has not used the power in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Devolved Governments (agreed in 1999 and updated in 2013), or as envisaged when the Scotland Act was passed.

While the Scotland Act conferred the power in Section 35 on the Secretary of State, its use is unprecedented, so it is important to have clarity on the interpretation and scope of the power, and its impact on devolution. Those matters and the use of the power on this occasion should be legally tested in the courts.

The deadline for lodging a petition necessitates doing so during recess but I will make a statement to Parliament after the Easter recess, subject to agreement of the parliamentary bureau.

As is usual in these circumstances, the Scottish Government will not be able to comment on live legal proceedings.

Question reference: S6W-16163

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Christina McKelvie on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when its Hate Crime Strategy will be published.

The Scottish Government’s new Hate Crime Strategy for Scotland has been published today. The strategy sets out our vision for a country where everyone lives free from hatred and prejudice and where our communities are empowered, inclusive and safe.

It has been developed in partnership with organisations with expertise in tackling prejudice, building cohesive communities and advancing human rights and sets out our strategic priorities including supporting the implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805253709

Question reference: S6O-02058

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last assessed access to GP services in rural areas.

Question reference: S6O-01985

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to introduce free rail travel for companions of deafblind people.

Question reference: S6O-01918

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding support that can be provided for women living in Scotland who are fleeing domestic violence and have no recourse to public funds.

Question reference: S6O-01814

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of hospice beds available in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Question reference: S6O-01798

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Bairns' Hoose for young people within the justice system.