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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: S6O-01567

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what role car clubs can play in reducing the number of private cars in Scotland's cities.

Question reference: S6W-11663

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement Living Wage uplifts to public grants and contracts to avoid any further financial pressure being placed on voluntary organisations.

The challenging funding landscape and difficult choices facing the Scottish Budget in coming years have only worsened since publication of the Resource Spending Review. As a result of inflation, the Scottish Government’s budget is now worth around £1.7 billion less than when it was published in December.

It is clear that Fair Work, including fair pay, is more important than ever in the context of the cost of living crisis, and we will use all the levers we can to support those most affected.

In the current economic climate, we recognise, most recently in the publication of the Emergency Budget Review, that there are a number of cost pressures on Scottish Government budget and associated contracts including inflation, energy costs and increases to the real Living Wage. We have undertaken a risk-assessment of our key current contracts and framework agreements and are working closely and sensitively with suppliers through this period to manage those contracts.

We understand the importance of fair and stable funding for the third sector and the benefit of this for longer term planning and development. As we continue to work through the impact of the recent and upcoming UK Government announcements on our ability to deliver the spending plans as set out in the Spending Review in May. We are also considering the appropriate level of detail and timing of financial information we can provide in the longer-term.

Question reference: S6W-11656

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider embedding Holocaust education in the Curriculum for Excellence in a similar way as LGBTQ+ education, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

There is no specific content embedded in the curriculum. Curriculum for Excellence is a flexible curriculum, which enables teachers to tailor the content of lessons to best suit learners in their particular circumstances

To find out more about what the Scottish Government is doing to teach Holocaust Education in schools, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11654 on 9 November 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-11655

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all secondary school pupils are taught about the Holocaust.

Question reference: S6W-11643

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport last met with the Hunterston B nuclear power station director, either in person or virtually.

Whilst I have not met with the Hunterston B nuclear power station director, either in person or virtually, since taking up the post of Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport in May 2021, I did meet with Matt Sykes, the Managing Director for EDF Generation in December 2021.

The discussion focussed on various issues pertaining to EDF Generation, EDF Renewables and their role in supporting Scotland on the road to Net Zero. This included the closure of Hunterston B, which ceased electricity generation in January 2022 with the plant currently being decommissioned.

Question reference: S6W-11622

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to S6W-02086 by Graeme Dey on 31 August 2021, which stated that "Transport Scotland is...considering four possible route options for the A9 Dualling Pass of Birnam to Tay crossing section, all of which improve access to Dunkeld and Birnam station", whether there are any plans to update Birnam and Dunkeld railway station.

Following the A9 Dualling Co-Creative Process and other consultations Transport Scotland is currently progressing design and assessment work to identify a preferred route option for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the A9 Dualling. It is expected that a preferred route option will be announced in the coming months, with all four options currently under consideration improving access to Dunkeld and Birnam station. If the option selected impinges or interferes with the operation of the station then we will also look to improve accessibility for road and rail users.

As previously stated Rail accessibility is a reserved matter for the UK government and the criteria for selection for an accessibility scheme is set by the Department for Transport and assessed by them via the Access for All scheme:- Access for All: funding to improve accessibility at rail stations - GOV.UK ( www.gov.uk ). Currently, Dunkeld and Birnam station does not meet the UK government’s criteria for accessibility investment. At this moment in time, there are no plans to update the railway station.

Question reference: S6W-11624

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much the First Minister’s trip to the United States of America on 16-17 May 2022 cost.

Question reference: S6W-11510

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the total amount is that has been spent so far on the A96 Corridor Review, and what the project’s total budget is.

Question reference: S6W-11550

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consider setting geographic limits on the concentration of wind farms.

There are no plans for setting geographic limits on the concentration of wind farms. The Revised Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was laid in the Scottish Parliament on 8 November 2022 and is the product of extensive engagement and collaboration.

NPF4 will be a significant step forward towards achieving a net zero Scotland. The revised energy policy supports renewable energy projects in principle, setting out that the only areas where wind energy is not supported are in National Parks and National Scenic Areas. Each individual development proposal will be subject to an assessment of its impacts on a case by case basis. Criteria for assessing proposals are included in policy and the impacts on communities, nature and other receptors remain important considerations in the decision-making process.

Question reference: S6W-11509

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on what specific date it expects the A96 Corridor Review to publish its report.