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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-13805

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-13319

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial visits have been made in Scotland since 2010, broken down by parliamentary region.

Information on Ministerial engagements is routinely published on the Scottish Government website and can be found at: www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/ .

Information on Ministerial engagements prior to May 2016 can be found at: Ministerial Engagements (webarchive.org.uk)

Visits are not recorded by parliamentary region. The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Question reference: S6W-13436

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will lay regulations to amend Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 to give effect to the motion S6M-05106 that was agreed, as amended, by the Parliament on 22 June 2022, in advance of the date prescribed in the Local Government Finance Act 1992 of when local authorities are required to set council tax rates for 2023-24.

Work is underway to consider options for changes to Council Tax, reflecting the current circumstances created by the cost crisis. Central to this, the Programme for Government 2022-23 committed to establishing a working group to oversee deliberative engagement on local government funding, including Council Tax.

The Joint Working Group has commenced its work and within its remit has begun to consider the provision of powers to allow local authorities to increase the rate of Council Tax on second and empty homes to support best use of existing housing stock. We will take account of the Group’s conclusions in developing proposals for public engagement and consultation on the matter.

Question reference: S6W-13435

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government which suppliers (a) registered for and (b) attended the Single Building Assessment(s) for Fire Safety in Scotland remote suppliers event, which was held on 14 December 2022.

Question reference: S6W-13256

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what compensation is available to businesses that face significant disruption as a result of road closures on the trunk road network.

Question reference: S6W-13278

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with Police Scotland which have resulted in a delay in implementing the short-term lets legislation.

There have been no discussions with Police Scotland which have resulted in a delay to implementing the short-term lets licensing scheme.

During 2022 officials have engaged regularly with licensing authorities and partners, including Police Scotland, to prepare for the start of short-term let licensing on 1 October 2022. Police Scotland is now completing fit and proper person checks as part of the process undertaken by licensing authorities to determine licensing applications from new and existing short-term let hosts. Although resourcing is a matter for Police Scotland to consider, they have been planning this for some time and we remain engaged to support this element of the scheme.

In recognition of the wider cost of living crisis that is placing pressure on existing short-term let hosts and businesses, we have announced that we will introduce legislation in January 2023 to extend the deadline for existing hosts to apply for a licence from 1 April 2023 to 1 October 2023. This is not a pause and we encourage hosts to keep applying throughout this period.

Question reference: S6W-13238

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to students studying pharmacy at university, how many (a) places have been available and (b) graduates have there been, in each of the last five years.

(a)The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of Pharmacy places available at universities in each of the last five years. With the exception of controlled subjects, the Scottish Government does not direct individual universities on the allocation of funded places for eligible Scottish students, and it is for each university to decide how to distribute its funded places between faculties and courses. This approach also applies to Pharmacy courses, which are not controlled subjects.

The following tables show the number of full-time entrants to undergraduate and postgraduate pharmacy courses at Scottish universities.

Data has been provided in two tables due to a change in the subject classification coding used by universities in 2019-20.

Full-time Entrants to Pharmacy Courses at Scottish Providers, by level of study

	2019-20	2020-21
Postgraduate	70	80
Undergraduate	250	300
Total	325	385

Source: HESA Student data

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5

Where subject classification xcah01 = 'CAH02-02-03' – Pharmacy

Full-time Entrants to Pharmacy Courses at Scottish Providers, by level of study

	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19
Postgraduate	25	35	65
Undergraduate	265	250	225
Total	285	285	290

Source: HESA Student data

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5

Where subject classification xjacs01 = 'B230' - Pharmacy

(b)The following tables show the number of full-time qualifiers from undergraduate and postgraduate pharmacy courses at Scottish providers over the last 5 years of data. As with the entrants data, two tables have been provided due to the change in how subjects were recorded in the 2019-20 academic year.

Full-time Qualifiers from Pharmacy Courses at Scottish Providers, by level of study

	2019-20	2020-21
Postgraduate	70	60
Undergraduate	245	220
Total	315	285

Source: HESA Student data

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5

Where subject classification xcah01 = 'CAH02-02-03' – Pharmacy

Full-time Qualifiers from Pharmacy Courses at Scottish Providers, by level of study

	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19
Postgraduate	25	25	30
Undergraduate	355	250	210
Total	380	275	240

Source: HESA Student data

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5

Where subject classification xjacs01 = 'B230' – Pharmacy

Note: 2016-17 includes around 90 Undergraduate Qualifiers on the MPharm (2+2) or (3+1) courses (now discontinued in Scotland). These courses ran in partnership with international universities where students studied abroad first before completing studies in the UK.

Question reference: S6W-13292

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) has taken and (b) is taking to encourage under-22s to apply for the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme.

In Autumn 2022 Transport Scotland launched a national marketing campaign across TV, radio, digital and social media and outdoor advertising channels. This has significantly increased awareness and understanding of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, and has encouraged even more young people to apply.

Additionally, since January 2022, Transport Scotland has undertaken extensive stakeholder communications to encourage uptake. This includes providing informational and promotional materials and advice to over 300 private, public and third sector organisations who work with children, young people, families, those in poverty, disability and carers groups, and others who may benefit from the scheme.

In October and November 2022, communications materials were also issued directly from Transport Scotland to all 2,500 Primary and Secondary schools across Scotland, providing access to bespoke resources and advice to communicate about the scheme with their pupils and families.

Information and resources for stakeholders are available on the freebus.scot website , which have already been widely used.

Transport Scotland continues to reach out to existing and new stakeholders to promote the scheme and encourage more young people to benefit.

Question reference: S6W-13257

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how specific local considerations, such as factory shift times, can be accommodated when closing a trunk road.

Transport Scotland, through its Operating Companies, consider local communities and affected businesses during the works planning and consultation process. For planned closures, consultation with the community and business groups is undertaken as part of the planning process, to consider the specific concerns and needs of those parties. Where possible, works are scheduled to avoid busier periods and times. This helps to minimise impacts on road users, businesses and local communities, with operating company contracts including specific times on certain routes where planned works are to be avoided.

Question reference: S6W-13254

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reported concerns regarding the impact on local communities of repeat closures in a short time frame of the A76 in Upper Nithsdale.