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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-08493

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 24 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to address any situations where dental practices have reportedly used NHS contracts to build up their business and are now only offering private dental services to patients.

We are determined to ensure that NHS dental services emerge well-placed to care for the oral health of the whole population and we are now moving forward with NHS dental recovery.

We have seen in April that the revised payment arrangements combined with the relaxation of IPC measures are having a substantial positive impact in improving NHS patient access and ensuring the sector is able to quickly return to more normal levels of activity and clear the backlog.

Question reference: S6W-08495

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on traffic and visitor numbers along the A7 of the reported decision by VisitScotland not to advertise Longtown as the start of the route.

No assessment has been undertaken by the Scottish Government or VisitScotland.

VisitScotland does not create driving routes but rather, promotes successful ones on its website. Its website outlines that the route begins over the Border. VisitScotland is not however responsible for signage for such routes which is managed by the relevant authority. In the case of local roads, this falls to local authorities.

VisitScotland does not hold information on visitor numbers to businesses based outside of Scotland. VisitEngland may however hold this data.

VisitScotland’s summary of statistics in relation to pre-pandemic visitors to Dumfries & Galloway can be found here: Dumfries & Galloway - Tourism Statistics & Research | VisitScotland.org

Question reference: S6W-08494

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 24 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to a national screening programme in schools to identify dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and other learning difficulties.

Education Authorities have duties under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004 (as amended) to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. Under the Act, a formal diagnosis is not required for a child or young person to receive support.

However, we recognise that early identification of an additional support need, such as dyscalculia, dyspraxia or dyslexia, can ensure that children and young people get the support that they need to reach their full potential. Our national approach recommends that the Scottish working definitions of dyslexia and dyscalculia are used by practitioners, schools and local authorities during a collaborative and holistic assessment process. This process should take place over a period of time and should include consultation with teachers, school staff, parents, pupils and other relevant agencies when there are concerns about a pupil’s progress.

We provide a range of free professional learning opportunities for teachers aimed at supporting practitioners to further develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in supporting learners with dyslexia, and reduce barriers to learning. This includes the Addressing Dyslexia Toolkit and identification pathway, launched in 2017, and the Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice online professional learning modules, which enable staff to gain professional recognition in this area.

Question reference: S6W-08492

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 24 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure continued access to NHS dentistry in rural areas.

Scottish Government funds a Scottish Dental Access Initiative Grant for Health Boards to provide capital funding to dental practices looking to set up or increase their facilities in areas where NHS dental provision is less available. Qualifying areas include remote, rural and island locations, with the number of areas increased at the last annual review in December 2021.

The Recruitment and Retention Allowance has recently been reviewed to ensure that Boards with more rural geographies have the opportunity to attract newly qualified dentists. The new arrangements mean that newly qualified dentists joining the list of a Classification 1 area can receive additional payments of up to £25,000 over two years, with vocational trainees attracting payments of £12,500 over one year. The full details can be found at UPDATE: Amendment No. 155 to the SDR – Recruitment and Retention Allowance | Scottish Dental .

Question reference: S6W-08472

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how the Just Transition will support Inverclyde’s local economy through innovation in the renewables sector.

For a truly just transition we need to deliver for all of Scotland. In Inverclyde, through the Clyde Mission we are working with partners to make the Clyde an engine of sustainable and inclusive growth for the region which will be critical for a just transition. As part of this project, the restoration of the Platers Shed at Inchgreen will create jobs in Inverclyde and enable the use of green technology in modern shipbuilding. At least £25 million will also be available through the Mission to take forward heat decarbonisation projects along the Clyde in the current Parliamentary term.

We are also providing £500 million through the Glasgow City Region Deal to support a number of projects in Inverclyde, helping to attract new investment and business in the region.

Question reference: S6W-08435

Asked by: Stephanie Callaghan, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of Living Wage employers.

Through the Scottish Government-funded Living Wage Employer Accreditation scheme over 85 percent of workers receive at least the real Living Wage in Scotland. We are taking a range of action to further increase this number, including:

Funding for Poverty Alliance to deliver Living Wage and Living Hours Accreditation and Making Living Wage Place recognition.
?Building on over £2.4bn worth of public sector funding between April 2019 and March 2021, including £619.8 million worth of contracts, through Fair Work First we are applying real Living Wage criteria to encourage employers to pay workers fairly.
From October 2021, we are mandating payment of the real Living Wage in Scottish Government contracts wherever relevant and proportionate.
Through the Bute House Agreement, by summer 2022, we will make it a requirement for public sector grant recipients to pay at least the real Living Wage to all employees, within the limits on devolved competence.
Our funding agreement with COSLA to deliver Early Learning and Childcare expansion allows local authorities to pay sustainable rates that enables private and third sector services to pay at least the real Living Wage to staff delivering funded provision.
We have led the way in increasing the minimum hourly rates of pay for the adult social care workforce among the four UK nations. In April 2022, the minimum hourly rate for those providing direct adult social care increased to £10.50 per hour - up from £10.02 which was introduced in December.
Our Retail Strategy commits to delivering a Fair Work Agreement that retailers can sign up to and demonstrate their commitment to improve fair work, helping to reduce in-work poverty.

Question reference: S6W-08019

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the latest projections for the total costs of the (a) Baird Family Hospital and (b) ANCHOR Centre at NHS Grampian, and the expected completion dates of each.

Question reference: S6T-00732

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of an outbreak of the monkeypox virus in the UK, including cases in Scotland, what action it is taking to monitor transmission of the virus in Scotland and support people affected.

Question reference: S6T-00730

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the sports and events sectors regarding alternative transport arrangements in light of the revised ScotRail train timetable.

Question reference: S6F-01149

Asked by: Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 May 2022

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is, regarding the impact on Scotland, to comments by Ian Wright of the Food and Drink Sector Council regarding the UK’s preparedness for increasing food prices and shortages.