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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-13415

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 17 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09876 by Lorna Slater on 16 August 2022, which states that "initial investments have the potential to reduce CO2e emissions by 29,746 tonnes each year", and in light of the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity's letter of 9 November 2022, which states that such investments "have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 32,104 tonnes each year", whether it will confirm what the potential CO2 reduction levels are, and what the reasons are for the discrepancy in these two figures.

The investments made to date from the Recycling Improvement Fund have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 32,104 tonnes each year.

With support from Zero Waste Scotland, local authorities submit estimated greenhouse gas emission reduction figures, where available, for each project as part of the Fund’s assessment process. These figures are regularly reviewed during project implementation as part of the Fund’s monitoring processes, and as a result there may be variation in these figures as individual projects progress.

Question reference: S6W-13416

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 17 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12926 by Lorna Slater on 20 December 2022, how much was spent on each of the campaigns mentioned; how many people each campaign reached; what change in battery recycling rates was measured as a result, and whether it will provide details of any other metrics used for assessing the campaigns.

The Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS), ‘Batteries Are Better Recycled’ campaign ran in late February and early March 2021. The original campaign cost £7777.87, and reached just under 340,000 people through print and online, and around 192,500 people through social media. Analysis showed the campaign reached people in 15 out of 32 Scottish local authority areas.

Zero Waste Scotland expanded the campaign’s messaging in the first half of 2022 to include an additional focus on the fire hazards associated with incorrect disposal of batteries, for use by local authorities. This additional campaign material cost £3438.60, and was well-received by local authority partners.

No data is held on the campaign’s direct impact on battery recycling rates. As part of evaluation for campaigns, media coverage, social media tone and sentiment, use of campaign assets and toolkits, and qualitative feedback from key stakeholders and partners, including local authorities, are all routinely reviewed to assess campaign impact and uptake.

We do not hold information centrally on the Environment Services Association’s ‘Take Charge’ autumn 2022 campaign.

Question reference: S6W-13246

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 17 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the point at which the Deposit Return Scheme commences, what enforcement measures will be available to SEPA to ensure that all UK retailers outside Scotland include the cost of the 20p deposit on all scheme articles that are for sale online to customers in Scotland.

Where an offence has been committed the enforcement options remain the same for retailers based outside Scotland as they are for those in Scotland. These include:

provision of advice and guidance;
fixed monetary penalties (FMP);
variable monetary penalties (VMP);
report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) recommending prosecution.

SEPA’s enforcement response would reflect the nature of the offence and be designed to be the most effective way of restoring compliance. SEPA holds a number of investigatory powers which will support evidence gathering across the UK.

Question reference: S6W-13245

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 17 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the point at which the Deposit Return Scheme commences, whether all UK retailers outside Scotland will be required to include the cost of the 20p deposit on all scheme articles that are for sale online to customers in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-13381

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports in the Sunday Mail on 18 December 2022 that 1,029 Police Scotland officers retired between January and October 2022, and that the number of police officers is at its lowest level in 14 years.

As I said in my answer to Donald Lumsden (S6O-01659), policing is and will continue to be a priority for the Scottish Government. Scotland has a higher number of officers than at any time during the last administration – and more per head of population than England and Wales (30 officers per 10,000 population in Scotland, compared to 24 officers per 10,000 population in England and Wales (at 31 March).

Officer numbers fluctuate due to the cycle of recruitment and retirement, and this was further impacted by last year’s police pension changes. However, I was pleased to see that Police Scotland welcomed around 900 new recruits in 2022.

Our officers are the best paid in the UK, which recognises the hard work and dedication of the police workforce across Scotland. Basic starting salary for a constable in Scotland is around £5,000 more than in England and Wales and the maximum salary is also higher.

Question reference: S6W-13376

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what mode(s) of transport the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights used to attend the Open Government Partnership Europe Regional Meeting in Rome on 11-12 October 2022; what the job titles were of the Scottish Government officials or employees that attended with him, and what the total costs were of attendance at this meeting.

Question reference: S6W-13244

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 17 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme, whether any estimates have been made of the potential financial impact on producers and retailers in Scotland of any UK retailers outside Scotland that do not include the cost of the 20p deposit on scheme articles that are for sale online to customers in Scotland.

Question reference: S6T-01103

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by the Chief Inspector of the Constabulary that some Police Scotland officers lack empathy and show outdated attitudes in domestic abuse cases.

Question reference: S6T-01104

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments by Prostate Cancer UK regarding reported figures showing that men in Scotland are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer too late for it to be successfully treated than in any other part of the UK.

Question reference: S6F-01736

Asked by: Stephanie Callaghan, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 January 2023

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the report, Closing the Accountability Gap, published by National Autistic Society Scotland.