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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: S6F-01311

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-01310

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-10373

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce legislation to appoint a commissioner for autism, learning disabilities and people with neurodivergence.

The Scottish Government wants to improve opportunities, outcomes and support for autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and neurodivergent people. To this end, we have committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill. This Bill will ensure that the rights of autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and neurodivergent people are respected and protected.

To help make sure the new legislation is championed when it is implemented, we intend to consult on the creation of a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner through the new law.

Further details about the timing of the public consultation on the Bill will be announced in the Programme for Government in September 2022.

A decision on the timing of the Bill’s introduction to Parliament will be taken by Cabinet in the context of setting the content of future legislative programmes.

Question reference: S6W-10363

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 5 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the total number of women aged between 50 and 70 who have waited more than 36 months for their breast screening appointment in each of the last five years, broken down by breast screening centre.

Question reference: S6W-10359

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) Ukrainians who came to Scotland through (i) its Super Sponsor Scheme, (ii) the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and (c) seasonal worker visas and (b) Afghans who came to Scotland through the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) have since become homeless, also broken down by local authority area.

Under the current constitutional arrangements in the United Kingdom immigration, including data related to arrivals, is fully reserved to the UK Government and is dealt with by the Home Office.

The UK Government published quarterly immigration statistics here: Immigration statistics, year ending June 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Scottish Government do not currently correlate the visa routes and homelessness status regarding displaced individuals from Ukraine or Afghanistan.

Question reference: S6W-10200

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards its target of rolling out 20 mph speed limits on appropriate roads in built-up areas by 2025.

The multi-stakeholder task group continues to meet on a regular basis and is making good progress towards the development of a national strategy for 20 mph speed limits which incorporates the 2021 Programme for Government commitment “We will ensure all appropriate roads in built-up areas have a safer speed limit of 20 mph by 2025, forming a task group to plan the most effective route for implementation”.

Transport Scotland formed sub groups to develop the place criteria for 20 mph speed limits and research the development of pre and post communication plans to support behaviour change. Funding has been allocated to assist road authorities in carrying out road assessments on their network which is expected to be complete by Spring 2023. This is a key milestone agreed at the task group, noting that further consideration and evidence was needed on the number of roads affected and the financial implications before an informed decision on the most effective route to implement 20 mph speed limits can be reached. Transport Scotland has also been discussing the possibility of some roads authorities becoming early adopters of 20 mph speed limits to make progress on the delivery of the national strategy.

Question reference: S6W-10220

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09640 by Michael Matheson on 29 July 2022, how much of the Fuel Insecurity Fund's allocated £10 million budget has been spent in 2022 to date?

In line with Scottish Government requirements for financial management and due diligence with public funds, our partners draw down funds once they have determined their requirements based on number of awards confirmed and projected awards to be made. Although, partners are encouraged to claim funds in each quarter, there is flexibility for the funds to be claimed by our partners. Although the Scottish Government is not in a position to provide a running total on how much is actually being spent, we are aware through our engagement with our partners that people are being referred for support right now and are receiving it, with our delivery partners experiencing high levels of demand.

To assist those worst affected by the rise in energy prices, we have allocated a further £10 million to keep our Fuel Insecurity Fund (FIF) operating in the current financial year. The FIF continues to be delivered via our third sector partners, namely the Fuel Bank Foundation, Advice Direct Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.

Funding split as follows:-

Advice Direct Scotland - Home Heating Fund - £4.0m;
Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) - Social Tenants Housing Fund - £2.1m;
Fuel Bank Foundation - £3.9m for projects to provide crisis support through its dedicated networks and unregulated fuel support provision

Since the start of the current financial year in April, £2 million has already been drawn down from the £10 million allocated. A request for a further £2.1m from our partner organisation is in the process of being paid out by officials. We expect funds to be drawn down in full throughout this financial year.

Question reference: S6W-10210

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any schemes in place to reduce the number of seagulls, particularly herring gulls, nesting in residential areas.

The responsibility for dealing with nuisance gulls on private property lies with the property owner, although local authorities can provide advice and assistance, and have powers under environmental protection legislation to tackle nuisances.

Local authorities are expected to respond to statutory nuisance complaints on council owned property, such as where the deposit of bird droppings may have an effect on public health.

Question reference: S6W-10452

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 22 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many rooms on board the cruise ship being used to house Ukrainian refugees in Leith have (a) portholes and (b) no portholes.

The Scottish Government's priority is to provide safe, comfortable accommodation and a wraparound support offer to the displaced people from Ukraine who have arrived in Scotland, and to those who may still arrive.

The MS Victoria I has a total of 305 Sea View Cabins and 434 inside cabins. Whilst on cruise ships some cabins have no windows we are working with our partners to address any additional wellbeing risks when living in this type of accommodation.

The MS Victoria I has been well received by people on board, and is ensuring we are providing accommodation that is safe and sustainable whilst we match people with suitable longer term accommodation.

Question reference: S6W-10221

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints were received by ScotRail from (a) passengers and (b) staff between 1 and 31 July 2022, broken down by the reason for the complaint.

The number of passenger complaints received by ScotRail, through their official complaints process, is set out on the following table for the period 1 July to 31 July 2022. The complaints may involve incidents that occurred before 1 July 2022.

The figure for 1 July to 31 July 2022 is 1192. This complaints figure is likely to reflect the point in time when several services were impacted due to driver shortages and the subsequent reduction in services as a result of the temporary timetable in place from 23 May to 20 July 2022. In this period there was also a GB-wide strike by Network Rail staff on 27 July which significantly impacted services in Scotland, with ScotRail only able to run a very limited service as a result.

The temporary timetable that was in place until 20 July 2022 aimed to provide the best available service to as many passengers as possible.

Complaints from staff are not included in figures due to these being customer relation figures. However, ScotRail do have a system in place to record staff grievances within their HR team.

Complaint Categories	01-31 Jul 2022
Policy And Product	260
Staff	224
Train Service Performance	136
Capacity	110
Timetable	107
Environment	102
1st Class	62
Assisted Travel	25
Customer Provisions	25
Ticket Buying Facilities	22
Safety & Security	20
Information Provision	18
Contact Centre	18
Smartcard	15
Promotions	13
Station Facilities	13
Cycles	9
Rail Replacement	8
Double Debit	5
Total	1192