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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-28303

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 9 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its residential rehab treatments exceed 12 weeks.

Question reference: S6W-28230

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 9 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many fatal accident inquiries are currently outstanding.

As of 19 June 2024, there are scheduled court dates for 45 Fatal Accident Inquiries where proceedings have been initiated (relating to 26 mandatory and 19 discretionary FAIs). There are also a further 14 Inquiries in which evidence has been concluded and the issuing of the Sheriff’s Determination is awaited. In addition, COPFS has 219 death investigations where FAI proceedings have not yet commenced or where court dates have not yet been fixed. Of these, 213 relate to ongoing investigations where a mandatory FAI requires to be held and 6 to investigations where I have instructed that a discretionary FAI is to be held.

These figures do not include cases where enquiries are ongoing and where a decision on the holding of a discretionary FAI will be taken at the conclusion of the investigation.

Before commencing an FAI, COPFS requires to conduct a thorough examination of the whole circumstances surrounding a death. There are often a number of complex factors to take into account including the need to await and consider expert evidence or reports from other agencies, such as the Health and Safety Executive, The National Health Service, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Scottish Prison Service, the Office of the Rail Regulator and many others. It can often take several years for these agencies to produce their reports to COPFS.

COPFS understands the impact that the delay in holding an FAI can have on bereaved families and is committed to working in partnership with all other agencies involved in death investigation to reduce the length of time it takes to initiate and conclude FAI’s.

Question reference: S6W-28231

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 9 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many fatal accident inquiries it expects the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to complete in 2024.

A Fatal Accident Inquiry is concluded when the presiding Sheriff issues their Determination. COPFS has limited control over the timescale for commencing and concluding a FAI after the First Notice has been lodged.

It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the number of death investigations where COPFS expects to conclude its enquiries and initiate FAI proceedings in 2024, particularly in relation to discretionary FAIs. There are a number of factors which affect timescales, such as the need to await the outcome of investigations by reporting agencies and to consider expert evidence or reports from other agencies.

The Head of SFIU writes to all Sheriffs Principal on a quarterly basis to ensure future FAI business is factored into the court programme as efficiently as possible.

Question reference: S6W-27891

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Amey is using masking paint patches to cover graffiti on the South West Trunk Roads Network, whether it will (a) request that Amey fulfils any contractual obligation to remove any graffiti and (b) consider commissioning street art murals on structures that are more prone to repeat targeting of graffiti.

Question reference: S6W-28228

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 9 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is providing to the managing agent of the Warmer Homes Scotland programme, Warmworks, in light of reports that applicants in island areas, where levels of fuel poverty can be highest, are being advised that they may have to wait up to 12 weeks, increased from six weeks, for their assessment.

The Scottish Government monitors Warmworks' delivery across Scotland against key performance indicators including 'referral to completion' split by region. There had been delays in providing assessments due to high demand following launch of the scheme’s new phase in October 2023. Warmworks have now significantly increased their assessor capacity and the current expected wait time for a Warmer Homes Scotland assessment for a customer in the Islands is now six weeks.

Question reference: S6W-28448

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 July 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to reducing teachers' class-contact time to 21 hours per week, and, if so, when it expects to meet this target.

Question reference: S6W-28503

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 July 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost has been to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service of call-outs to vacant, abandoned and derelict buildings in each year since 2016.

Question reference: S6W-28501

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 July 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts it has awarded to supported businesses in Scotland in each of the last five calendar years.

Question reference: S6W-28499

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 July 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister's statement welcoming the Prime Minister's "commitment to forge a positive relationship between our governments", what its position is on what would constitute fulfilment of this commitment, and whether it will set out the details of specific changes that it is seeking to the working relationship.

Question reference: S6W-28500

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 July 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts have been awarded to supported businesses by public bodies in each of the last five calendar years.