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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-26374

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the South West Scotland Regional Transport Partnership regarding P&O Ferries’ (a) passenger and (b) freight operations from Cairnryan Port since March 2022.

Question reference: S6W-26606

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government in what month it will publish (a) its annual report in relation to the incentivisation of selective fishing gear and low impact techniques and (b) its response to the consultation on additional quota that closed on 11 January 2024.

Question reference: S6O-03314

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to give greater representation to older people.

Question reference: S6W-26378

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can list the (a) full and (b) associate members of the Scottish Maritime Cluster Limited.

Question reference: S6W-26377

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list any payments that it has made to P&O Ferries since 17 March 2022 to date.

Question reference: S6W-26375

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Port of Cairnryan, (b) P&O Ferries and (c) Clyde Marine Recruitment regarding the application of the Fair Work Convention to ferry services between Cairnryan and Larne.

The Scottish Government has not held recent discussions with the Port of Cairnryan, P&O Ferries or Clyde Marine Recruitment regarding the Fair Work Convention and ferry services between Cairnryan and Larne.

While employment law remains reserved to the UK Government, we will use our Fair Work policy to promote fairer work practices across the labour market in Scotland. In December 2022, we announced the strengthening of our conditionality approach, and now recipients of public sector grants awarded on or after 1 July 2023 are required to pay at least the real Living Wage and provide appropriate channels for effective employee voice.

Both shipping and employment law remains reserved to the UK Government and we would expect all ferry operators to ensure compliance with UK regulations on employees’ pay and conditions.

Question reference: S6O-03279

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to support the reversal of the reported reduction of bus services in Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S6T-01869

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported cyber attack on NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S6W-25793

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Standard 1 within the National Neurodevelopmental Specification for Children and Young People: Principles and Standards of Care, which was published in September 2021, that a first appointment for all children and young people who have been identified as needing a neurodevelopmental assessment should take place "as soon as possible and no later than 4 weeks from identification of need", whether waiting times for first appointments are routinely published.

We do not routinely publish waiting times for neurodevelopmental assessments.

As many children and young people do not meet diagnostic criteria for a neurodevelopmental disorder and their needs will change over time, the Scottish Government believe that the focus should be on identifying needs and the support they require within the framework of Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC).

As described in the National Neurodevelopmental Specification , we expect NHS Boards and Children's Services partners to work towards implementing the standards outlined. The Specification makes clear that support should be put in place to meet the child or young person’s requirements when they need it, rather than be dependent on a formal diagnosis. For many children and young people, such support is likely to be community based, and should be quickly and easily accessible.

We are working with NHS Health Boards and Local Authorities to enhance support for neurodivergent children and young people, including how quickly they can access support. We have also funded five tests of change focussing on various aspects of the Specification, including improving multi-agency working.

Question reference: S6W-25488

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 11 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) current value and (b) status is of the fund that has been set aside for the costs associated with the job evaluation of college support staff.