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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-03547

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 4 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many two-year-olds are currently (a) receiving and (b) eligible for 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare in the (i) North Ayrshire and (ii) Inverclyde Council area.

The latest annual ELC Census data published in December 2020 as part of the Schools in Scotland Summary Statistics report showed that 178 and 123 two year olds were accessing a funded ELC place in North Ayrshire and Inverclyde Council respectively in September 2020.

In December, the Scottish Government will publish Schools in Scotland, Summary Statistics report for 2021. This report will include figures to show the number of registrations of two-year-olds at national and local authority level in September 2021.

Eligibility criteria for 2 year old funded ELC is largely determined by a parents’ receipt of low or no income ‘ qualifying benefits’ which are administered by UK Government. We do not have robust information on the current eligible population at a local authority or national level due to UK Government restrictions on data-sharing. The Scottish Government is working with UK Government departments and the Office for National Statistics to establish a legal gateway through which we can acquire further UK Government held data which will enable us to measure the eligible population more accurately.

Question reference: S6W-03540

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of hospital appointments that have been missed on the mainland as a result of delays or cancellations on the Ardrossan-Brodick ferry route.

We have made no specific assessment of the number of hospital appointments that have been missed on the mainland as a result of delays or cancellations on the Ardrossan-Brodick ferry route.

We recognise the impact that ferry disruption has on island communities, and are taking steps to address resilience across the network. The MV Glen Sannox is due to be delivered next year which will improve vessel resilience on this route.

Whenever there is disruption, CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) do their best to assist passengers with a need to travel, particularly those with medical appointments, and will always do everything possible to accommodate passengers on alternative sailings.

In order to address capacity issues, a new policy has been put in place to ensure anyone with a short notice medical appointment who cannot book a vehicle can travel as a foot passenger and CFL will arrange a taxi.

Question reference: S6W-03532

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an updated estimate of the financial cost to the Isle of Arran economy of the delayed MV Glen Sannox ferry.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any specific study into the impact of the new vessel delay on the Isle of Arran economy. However, we are very aware of the importance of reliable and regular ferry services upon which our island communities depend, including the people and businesses on Arran. Improvements implemented since 2013 as a result of the Ferries Plan included providing a 2nd vessel from May to September, resulting in increased daily sailings, a longer operating day and an extended summer season.

We continue to work with the yard to do everything we can to ensure that the new vessels enter service as quickly as possible, to deliver the further service improvements our island communities deserve

Question reference: S6W-03868

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Prison Service annual reports and accounts for 2020-21 will be published.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Scottish Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts for 2020-21 which published on 28 October. The report recognises the achievements made by our prison service in 2020-21 in response to the unprecedented challenges of a pandemic.

The Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 requires Scottish Ministers to lay a copy of the accounts and the auditor’s report before the Parliament and to publish the accounts and auditor’s report no later than 31 December 2021.

Question reference: S6W-03717

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the provisions in sections 5 to 7 of the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019 are due to come into force.

The Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019 received Royal Assent on 20 July 2019. Since then a number of sections have been commenced (3, 4, 8, 9,15,40-43, 45-47, 50(3), 52, 53(2) and 3(b), 54, 16(1) partially, 17-39, 44, 48, 49, 50(1)(2)(4), 53 (1) and (3)(a), 55-57, 59-61 and schedule 1 (paragraphs 1, 3, 4 and 5).

The provisions in section 5-7 relate to making electronic monitoring a condition of licence. Electronic monitoring is already a feature of post-release sentence management as a condition of licence, for uses such as Home Detention Curfew. The Parole Board currently have an ability to recommend licence conditions which can include an element of electronic monitoring. These sections of the Act consolidate existing legislation in this area to allow for a continuation of these uses, with the addition of a new use of monitoring of temporary release licence.

The next set of commencement regulations planned for the Act will likely now be early 2022. The provisions for sections 5-7 will be given a commencement date at that point. Those commencement regulations will also bring into force some of the court based uses of electronic monitoring already included in section 3 of the Act. A range of justice partners, including: COPFS, Police Scotland, justice social work and SCTS have been taking forward preparations for those uses and the exact list of disposals and timing of regulations will be dependent on partner operational readiness.

Question reference: S6W-03534

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 28 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions its ministers have had with private rented sector representatives in the (a) North Ayrshire and (b) Inverclyde Council area regarding proposals to introduce rent controls.

We have met with a range of private rented sector representatives, including those representing tenants and landlords, and will continue to do so as we progress work on implementing an effective national system of rent controls, including those representing the North Ayrshire and Inverclyde areas. Our aim is to ensure quality, affordability and fairness for everyone who rents a home, whilst carefully examining potential unintended consequences.

This policy is still being developed and will also be consulted on publicly within the new draft Rented Sector Strategy due to be published at the end of this year, providing further opportunities for all stakeholders to share their views. Upon consideration of the consultation responses, a final Rented Sector Strategy will be published later in 2022 and deliver a key commitment, set out in Housing to 2040 , Scotland’s long term vision for housing.

Question reference: S6W-03535

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 28 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential (a) quality and (b) quantity of private rented housing provision in (a) North Ayrshire and (b) Inverclyde following the introduction of its proposed rent controls.

Once firmer options for the design of rent controls are developed, including through a full public consultation, we will carefully consider the potential impact on the quality and quantity of private rented housing at a national and sub-national level. We will be gathering evidence and engaging with stakeholders in the private rented sector to develop a range of Impact Assessments, including a Business Regulatory Impact Assessment.

Question reference: S6O-00311

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it takes local government decision making into account when considering proposals previously rejected by a local authority.

Question reference: S6W-03545

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Ayrshire and Arran have waited longer than the 12-week waiting time standard for an outpatient appointment for orthopaedic treatment in each month since January 2020.

Question reference: S6W-03718

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 27 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government where the money for the Victim Centred Approach Fund has been allocated from for the financial years from 2022-23 to 2024-25.