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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-11044

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10550 by Ivan McKee on 7 September 2022, whether it has raised with the UK Government the reported concerns held by trade unions in Scotland regarding the impact of a new subsidy control regime on workers delivering public transport contracts held by the Scottish Government.

The new Subsidy Control Act, 2022, has not yet commenced. It is expected to come into force in the next few months. Scottish Government has not raised specific sector-based, or employer-based issues with the UK Government, other than relating to Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture which, in a departure from provisions within the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, are included in the Act. Engagement between the Scottish Government and UK Government, is regular at official level, has focused on the Scottish Ministers’ concerns with the provisions and the development and implementation arrangements for the new Act, including the statutory guidance.

Scottish Government has been represented by a wide range of officials throughout, including those from the Subsidy Control team.

Question reference: S6W-11040

Asked by: Stephanie Callaghan, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it can support innovative projects, such as the Recovery and Wellbeing Village under development at Hamilton Accies Football Club; what its position is on whether it regards community-centred and co-produced initiatives like the Accies village model as benefitting local families, and whether it considers that the Accies village model could be replicated at other Scottish football clubs.

I am aware of the Recovery and Wellbeing village project being developed by Blue Triangle in Partnership with Hamilton Accies and local partners. Officials recently met with colleagues from the project to discuss these developments further. The Scottish Government acknowledge that there is no one size fits all approach to rehabilitation, it is for this reason I support the development of treatment and recovery services with varying models of care, including those of a residential nature and those in community settings such as this initiative. Officials will continue to engage with the project team going forward and I look forward to receiving detailed feedback for further consideration.

Question reference: S6W-10830

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of construction work on Deposit Return Scheme sorting and counting centres showing (a) which sites are under construction, (b) when construction began on each site and (c) the expected completion date.

Question reference: S6W-10803

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to introduce commencement regulations for the fireworks licensing scheme, as set out in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 was passed by the Scottish Parliament in June of this year and received Royal Assent on 10 August.

Firework licensing, Part 2 of the Act, will require further secondary legislation, as well as development of an appropriate licensing system, and therefore will not be in place until late 2023/early 2024 at the earliest. Commencement regulations will be introduced in advance of the system being operational.

Question reference: S6W-11084

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of increased hotel and other accommodation costs on Edinburgh festivals in 2022.

Question reference: S6W-11081

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the rising cost of living on Edinburgh festivals in 2022.

As detailed in our Programme for Government, we recognise the profound impact the current cost crisis is having across Scotland. Within this, we are acutely aware of the various challenges festivals have faced in 2022, including the ongoing effects of COVID-19, rail strike action, rising inflation and rising costs across the board.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have provided a total of approximately £14.1 million in financial support to the festivals. We believe it is of vital importance to maintain an honest and open dialogue with the festivals. For example, the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development met with Festivals Edinburgh and a number of festival organisers on 18 May 2022 to assess the issues impacting festivals before the festival season, and offer support where appropriate and feasible. The Cabinet Secretary followed up this meeting on 27 July 2022 and has assured the festivals we will maintain this dialogue.

The Scottish Government will remain in discussions with festival organisers in an ongoing assessment of their situation to establish the best ways to use what levers we can to mitigate the various issues related to rising costs, while ensuring that the protection of the most vulnerable in our society remains our priority.

Question reference: S6W-11019

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is still committed to building HMP Glasgow and HMP Highland as replacements for HMP Barlinnie and HMP Inverness, respectively.

The Scottish Government is committed to building HMP Highland and HMP Glasgow.

Work is underway to replace HMP Inverness with HMP Highland at the chosen site at Inverness Retail and Business Park. The initial contract was awarded in October 2021 and pre-construction work has started. HMP Highland will provide 200 places, allowing for more people to reside closer to their home in the community and enhance family contact.

The work on HMP Glasgow is also progressing. The contract for pre-construction services was awarded in July 2022. A key aim of the design is to create an environment that is inclusive and recognises the particular vulnerabilities of the population.

Question reference: S6O-01440

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what contribution colleges make to widening access to higher education for students living in the most deprived areas.

Question reference: S6O-01442

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to grow and encourage primary Gaelic-medium education.

Question reference: S6O-01438

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making to develop its Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland.