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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-01164

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will regulate emissions from maturation losses in the Scotch whisky industry as a means to support energy and emission reduction, and what measures will be proposed to mitigate the impact of any harmful air pollutant emissions from the maturation process.

The main release to air from Scotch whisky maturation is the fugitive emission of ethanol, which disperses very quickly in the atmosphere and is not considered to be harmful to human health through this exposure route.

Whilst emissions from maturation of Scotch whisky are not subject to regulation under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012, SEPA works with regulated business through sector plans to help drive improvement and reduce emissions across environmental media.

Question reference: S6W-01217

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken in conjunction with the UK Government to ensure that those who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India (batch numbers 4120Z001, 4120Z002, and 4120Z003) are treated equally to other vaccine receivers and will not face additional travel restrictions.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulator has approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to be given in Scotland, and across the UK. This vaccine also complies with European Medicines Agency requirements and is shown on the record of vaccination as Vaxzevria - EU/1/21/1529.

Individuals travelling abroad will still need to meet the requirements for their destination country when travelling. For example, a negative pre-departure test etc. if stipulated by the respective country.

Question reference: S6W-01163

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report published in June 2020 from the Air Quality Expert Group to DEFRA, Non-methane Volatile Organic Compounds in the UK, which showed that ethanol emissions are the largest category of Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOC) air pollutants in the UK, what proportion of NMVOCs are directly due to emissions from the Scotch whisky industry.

Emissions from casking, distillation, fermentation, other maturation and spent grain drying are not disaggregated by spirit type, due to the very low levels involved. Collectively for all spirit manufacture in Scotland, these processes contributed approximately 3% of NMVOC emissions in 2018, the most recent year for which figures are available.

Overall NMVOC emissions in Scotland have declined by approximately 65% since 1990.

Approximately 45% of NMVOC emissions in Scotland were due to emissions from Scotch whisky maturation in 2018.

This information is also publicly available in the report 'Air Quality Pollutant Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990-2018' and the associated tables, which can be found at: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat09/2010220959_DA_Air_Pollutant_Inventories_1990-2018_v1.2.pdf .

Question reference: S6W-01205

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing an NHS app that will allow people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to download proof of their status.

Question reference: S6W-01367

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 9 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending the use of recorded warnings from the possession of small amounts of cannabis to the possession of small amounts of all drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Recorded Police Warnings are an alternative disposal option that are available to police officers that allow them to deal more quickly and efficiently with a range of offences which already commonly result in non-court disposals, including for small quantities of specified controlled drugs. The types of crime covered by the Recorded Police Warning scheme are a matter for the Lord Advocate as part of her independent role as head of the system of prosecution therefore it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on this.

Question reference: S6W-01405

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out on the carbon release impact of different techniques of forestation work.

Question reference: S6W-01984

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the Convention of the Highlands and Islands will next meet.

Question reference: S6W-01464

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the percentage of native broadleaf planting within commercial forestry schemes.

Question reference: S6W-01852

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 23 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is gathering data to determine the impact of long COVID on education.

The Scottish Government gathers data on pupils and staff who are not in school for COVID-19 related reasons. The Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children's Issues considered this data alongside the latest evidence on long-COVID when producing its latest advice on the return to school in August. The sub-group will continue to look at the impact of long-COVID on education, and will update its advice if required in the light of any new findings.

Question reference: S6W-01824

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on facemasks being mandatory in schools, and, in light of the challenges with communication and participation faced by pupils with hearing difficulties, whether it will consider providing an exemption, in time for the start of the new academic year, for classrooms in which there is a pupil with hearing difficulties.

The current guidance, updated on 3 August Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) , remains that face coverings will continue to be worn by staff in communal areas in all schools, and in classrooms by staff and pupils in secondary schools, for up to 6 weeks. However, I am acutely aware that some young people find this challenging. Therefore the Scottish Government guidance on face coverings , which is referenced in guidance for schools, does set out some exemptions, including when communicating with someone who relies on lip reading and facial expressions to communicate.

The decision to retain the use of face coverings in schools has been taken after very careful consideration, especially with regard to face coverings in classrooms. But at the moment, our judgement remains that this is the best way to protect children, young people and staff in the school environment. This approach is in line with the latest recommendations of the Advisory Sub-group on Education and Children’s issues and is kept under regular review in light of emerging scientific evidence and advice.