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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-06066

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for new cull targets for deer populations.

As we set out in our 2021 Programme for Government we will: ‘modernise deer management, implementing the recommendations of the Deer Management Working Group.’

The Deer Working Group report includes recommendations relating to cull targets, including those for a cull approval system, and we are working with NatureScot, and other relevant agencies, to progress those recommendations under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Programme.

Question reference: S6W-06067

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 February 2022

NatureScot, in their role as Scotland’s deer authority, gather and publish data on annual deer cull returns.

Formal cull return requests are now being issued for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. The requests were delayed due to difficulties in sending out cull return requests as a result of Covid-19 measures. Once those completed returns have been received annual deer cull returns will then be published.

As the 2021-22 season is ongoing, cull return requests for this year have not yet been issued.

Question reference: S6W-06062

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the reported £700 million revenue from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing auction is projected to be received in the financial year 2022-23.

Budget allocations are agreed and published as part of the annual Scottish Budget process, with option fee income expected to be recognised over a number of years, to a maximum of ten years in line with the lease period.

To date a prudent estimate of ScotWind fees has been included in the 2022-23 budget of circa £41 million. The total figure will be finalised once leasing payment recognition has been confirmed.

These monies support the 2022-23 budget and underpin projects set out within the budget in line with the Programme for Government commitment to invest some of the ScotWind revenues to help tackle the twin crises of biodiversity and climate change as we transition to Net Zero.

Question reference: S6W-06065

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the reported £700 million revenue from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing auction will be entirely ringfenced to support the transition to net zero and investment in infrastructure to maximise the supply chain job opportunities in Scotland from the auction.

As stated in the recent Programme for Government, some of the ScotWind revenues will be utilised for actions which tackle the twin crises of biodiversity and climate change, creating a legacy for the future, and some monies have already been identified to underpin projects in the 2022-23 budget in line with this commitment. Beyond these monies Scottish Ministers will consider carefully how the ScotWind revenues should be invested to maximise the benefits to the people of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-06276

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the next steps are for the Hydrogen Action Plan, and when it anticipates that they will take place.

Question reference: S6W-06277

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the responses to the consultation on the Draft Hydrogen Action Plan.

Question reference: S6O-00782

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it can take to encourage dentists to continue treating NHS patients.

Question reference: S6W-05782

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 28 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to tanning salon operators whose business was affected by the recent COVID-19 restrictions on the hospitality sector.

The Scottish Government is aware of the impact the necessary public health restrictions has had on businesses, including tanning salon operators.

We recently announced £375m of support for businesses impacted by measures introduced to control the spread of Omicron and have provided details on how £266m of this will be allocated. This includes £19m for close contact businesses.

This £19m for close contact businesses is targeted at those who have been the most affected by the updated public health guidance introduced from 9 December 2021 to 24 January 2022. Beauty services, hairdressers and wellness services that provide spray and application tanning are eligible, however retail businesses utilising sunbeds are not in scope at this stage.

Decisions on the allocation of the remaining funds will be confirmed following further analysis and consultation with affected sectors on how it can best be targeted.

Question reference: S6W-05369

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm if the format of the paper and downloadable versions of the COVID-19 vaccine certificate, which reportedly only include details of the two most recent COVID-19 vaccinations in the case of those who have also received a third, as a booster vaccination, is acceptable for international travel to countries that require proof of three vaccinations.

Booster information was made available on paper/pdf certificates from 13 December. Only the 2 most recent vaccine doses are included.

The certificates have been developed in line with the standards set by the EU on 17 November. The EU set a deadline for all members of the EU DCC scheme to have aligned with this standard by 31 December.

This change will allow those travelling to the small number of countries that are seeking evidence of more recent doses to provide evidence of their booster or third vaccination.

Question reference: S6W-05370

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that the format of the paper and downloadable versions of the COVID-19 vaccine certificate only include details of the two most recent COVID-19 vaccinations in the case of those who have also received a third, as a booster vaccination, and if this is the case, for what reasons has the decision been taken.