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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-11934

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a timeline of when Historic Environment Scotland expects sites currently closed to the public as part of the high-level masonry programme will reopen, and what information it has on the budgets required to do this.

The member can find details on the progress of the High Level Masonry inspections and the reopening of sites on the Historic Environment Scotland website at – https://www.historicenvironment.scot/conservation-works-happening-at-our-sites/

Historic Environment continues to review the budgetary requirements as the inspections programme delivers its findings, considering both capacity needed as well as funding. Against a challenging financial backdrop, the Scottish Government will continue to support Historic Environment Scotland to maintain Scotland’s heritage and historic environment, and I will continue to engage regularly with Historic Environment Scotland to discuss the closures and restrictions.

Question reference: S6W-11848

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing paid special leave for parents who are employed by the (a) Scottish Government (b) NHS and (c) other public employers where their child passes away prior to their entitlement to (i) maternity and (ii) paternity leave.

The loss of a baby, at any stage of pregnancy, is a significant and traumatic event that affects many parents and their families throughout Scotland. In our 2021 Manifesto we committed to emulate New Zealand where families who sadly experience miscarriage or stillbirth are entitled to three days of paid leave. We will implement this commitment by delivering it within the public sector.

We are also calling on the UK Government, who have the reserved powers to make the necessary changes to employment law, to make this provision available for everyone.

As an employer, the Scottish Government bereavement leave policy already provides two weeks leave, at full pay, to those staff who experience the loss of a baby through miscarriage in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. The NHS and other public bodies are separate employers and determine their own terms and conditions of employment.

Question reference: S6W-11833

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a prisoner serving a life sentence should be released on licence if a risk of serious harm assessment recommends that they should not.

Consideration for temporary releases will be undertaken by a multi-disciplinary Risk Management Team consisting of appropriate officials from SPS, Justice Social Work and key stakeholders. Temporary release and home leave form part of a phased reintegration programme which provides an opportunity to work towards safe re-integration, using a robustly risk assessed process, involving multiple key stakeholders.

Decisions as to whether or not to recommend a life sentenced prisoner for temporary release are informed by a range of assessments, including risk of serious harm assessments, where required. The risk of serious harm assessment examines the risk of serious harm that the individual would present in the community. It does not, in itself, recommend whether they should be released.

Decisions as to whether to release a life sentenced prisoner on parole are a matter for the independent Parole Board for Scotland. The Parole Board may take into account any matter which it considers to be relevant in their decision making process.

Question reference: S6W-11871

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what support is being provided to the Edinburgh Filmhouse to allow it to resume operating.

I refer the member to the answer to questions S6W-11493 and S6T-00915 answered on 26 October 2022 and 25 October 2022 respectively.

The answer to Topical Question S6T-00915 can be found here: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-25-10-2022?meeting=13939&iob=126317#16180

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-12044

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-01562

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring adequate support provision is available for staff and pupils in schools.

Question reference: S6O-01551

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to highlight the risks of drink spiking as the Christmas party season approaches.

Question reference: S6O-01553

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to prevent motorcycle thefts, in light of reports of rising motorcycle theft numbers.

Question reference: S6O-01561

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to keep teachers and pupils safe while at school.

Question reference: S6O-01540

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to independent theatres in Scotland.