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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-20064

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any plans it has to provide funding for post-diagnostic services for children and young people with autism.

Question reference: S6W-19813

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 27 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has explained the reasons for it reportedly sharing a pro-independence message on its Twitter account.

The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 stipulates that the Chief Constable of Police Scotland is responsible for the policing of Scotland, and is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) for this, rather than to Scottish Ministers directly. These arrangements are in place to ensure public confidence that the police act independently, free from unwarranted ministerial interference.

Question reference: S6W-19359

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is in place to address the use of mobile phones in schools.

The Scottish Government believes that effective and appropriate use of digital technologies, such as mobile phones, can improve educational outcomes.

We encourage local authorities and schools to think carefully about how to incorporate the safe and responsible use of smart and mobile phones into learning and teaching. However, it is a matter for authorities to make their own decisions about the use of mobile phones in their schools, including imposing a ban if they so choose.

The Scottish Government published ‘A Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy for Scotland’ in 2016. The strategy will help ensure that schools can deploy digital technologies appropriately and effectively and deliver educational improvements.

Question reference: S6W-19461

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines are in place to support Self Directed Support Scotland to provide training to personal assistants in autism-affirming ways.

Question reference: S6W-19459

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether funding from the National Post Diagnostic Support Service that supports autistic people will be backdated.

The Scottish Government is prioritising investment in a range of support available both pre and post diagnosis.

Our new £1 million Autism Support Fund will soon be launched by Inspiring Scotland. Individual funding awards will be announced following a fair and open application and assessment process based on set criteria. Where these criteria are met through projects already underway, funding can be backdated to 1 April 2023.

Question reference: S6W-19462

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the funding for post-diagnostic services to support autistic people.

Question reference: S6W-19460

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is allocated to Self Directed Support Scotland to provide training to personal assistants in autism-affirming ways.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of Personal Assistants who offer bespoke, personalised and flexible care, enabling those with support needs to remain healthy and at home for longer.

The Personal Assistant (PA) Programme Board was established in 2021 to provide advice to Ministers on issues and actions needed to support this workforce. The work of the PA Programme Board Training sub group is led and informed by key stakeholders including PA employers. Work underway during 2023 includes funding of up to £91K, to build on the successful leadership in this area by Self Directed Support Scotland, to prepare a national PA training framework which will be developed with consideration of neurodiversity. Further information about the PA Programme Board is available at: Self Directed Support Scotland .

Question reference: S6W-19187

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to any local authorities that are struggling to fill teacher vacancies.

The Scottish government is committed to supporting the recruitment of more teachers in all local authorities. For example, we are providing £145.5 million in this year's budget to protect increased teacher numbers and support staff.

Local authorities are directly responsible for teacher recruitment, and they have autonomy to provide incentives – as some already do - to attract teachers to their area.

Question reference: S6W-19188

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it is assisting any local authorities that are struggling to fill teacher vacancies.

Local authorities are directly responsible for teacher recruitment, and they have autonomy to provide incentives – as some already do - to attract teachers to their area.

We are providing £145.5 million in this year's budget to protect increased teacher numbers and support staff across all local authorities. In addition, through the Teacher Induction Scheme probationary teachers can receive a Preference Waiver Payment of up to £8,000 if they are willing to complete their probation anywhere in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-19186

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to incentivise technical teachers, for example, for woodwork and metalwork, to teach in the north east of Scotland.

The Scottish Government continues to provide teaching bursaries of £20,000 to incentivise career changers into initial teacher education for the hardest to fill subjects which includes Technical Education.

Through the Teacher Induction Scheme probationary teachers can receive a Preference Waiver Payment of up to £8,000, if they are willing to complete their probation anywhere in Scotland, including the north east.

Local authorities are directly responsible for teacher recruitment, and they have autonomy to provide incentives – as some already do - to attract teachers to their area.