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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-00313

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many radiotherapists worked for NHS Scotland at the end of each financial year since 2015-16.

The number of Allied Health Professionals with a specialty of Therapeutic Radiography working for NHS Scotland at the end of each financial year since 2015-16 can be found in the following table:

NHSScotland Allied Health Professionals with a specialty of Therapeutic Radiography (Bands 5-9), Staff in post (Whole Time Equivalent) For the period March 2016 to March 2021.

Staff In Post	Mar-16	Mar-17	Mar-18	Mar-19	Mar-20	Mar-21
Therapeutic Radiography	250.7	260.5	272.4	264.4	272.2	283.1

Source: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System (SWISS)

Question reference: S6W-00530

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to respond formally to the recommendations of its National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership.

The Scottish Government co-chaired the National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership and wrote to the Equalities and Human Rights Committee on 11 March 2021 to outline its response to the Task Force recommendations.

The letter The Scottish Government wrote to the Equalities and Human Rights Committee can be found here: Cab_Sec_SSOP_Convener_EHRiC_Taskforce_Report_11_March_2021.pdf (parliament.scot) .

Question reference: S6W-00532

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the human right to a healthy environment will be included in any of its forthcoming legislation.

Question reference: S6W-00527

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the Gateway Review of the Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-00428

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, in light of 20% of all ultra low emission vehicles in Scotland being registered in Edinburgh, the city has the second worst ratio of electric vehicle charging devices per 100,000 people in Scotland, and what action it is taking to improve Edinburgh’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

We have invested over £45 million into electric vehicle infrastructure across Scotland. And through our funding programmes we have awarded £3.6 million to Edinburgh City Council to invest in EV infrastructure. The UK Government recently published data that demonstrates Scotland is well ahead of the rest of the UK with 43 chargers per 100,000 of population, compared to around 30 in England.

In addition, we have now made available additional funding to match the UK Government Office for Zero Emission Vehicles On-Street and Residential Charging Scheme, which has the potential to enhance the availability of charging for those without access to off-street parking. Once completed, EV infrastructure projects that are currently approved will see the number of chargers per 100,000 of population in Edinburgh City increase by over 50%.

We are also aware that vehicle registration data can be influenced by centralised registration of company car fleets and may not be a true reflection of where vehicles are ultimately located and used. In addition, fleet vehicles will be included in vehicle registration data but charger numbers relate only to publicly available charge points and do not reflect domestic or business charging units.

Whilst we work towards our net-zero transport targets, we will continue to align support with the vision and priorities set out in the National Transport Strategy 2 and Sustainable Transport Hierarchy. This represents a strong presumption towards enabling and promoting the use of active, sustainable and public transport modes over the use of private cars, regardless of their fuel type. Reflecting on the varied transport challenges and opportunities across Scotland’s urban and rural communities this means we would expect to see car use in our largest cities reduce.

Question reference: S6W-00429

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the £2.2 million of funding from Transport Scotland to The City of Edinburgh Council to install electric vehicle infrastructure has been spent on, in light of Edinburgh reportedly having the second worst ratio of electric vehicle charging devices per 100,000 people in Scotland.

City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) is benefitting from over £2.39 million of funding for its “Edinburgh EV Infrastructure Network Project” through Transport Scotland’s Switched on Towns and Cities challenge fund. Due to the scale of Switched on Towns and Cities projects the programme is delivered as a multi-annual funding stream, with work on-going across all 5 successful projects. City of Edinburgh Council is due to deliver 66 charge points of varying types (equating to 132 parking bays) at various locations across the city for use by residents, the public and also taxis. The project is due to complete later in 2021.

Whilst we work towards our net-zero transport targets, the Scottish Government will continue to align support with the vision and priorities set out in the National Transport Strategy 2 and Sustainable Transport Hierarchy. This represents a strong presumption towards enabling and promoting the use of active, sustainable and public transport modes over the use of private cars, regardless of their fuel type. Reflecting on the varied transport challenges and opportunities across Scotland’s urban and rural communities, this means we would expect to see car use in our largest cities reduce.

Question reference: S6W-00217

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the SAGE recommendation that innovation funding should be provided to support the development, verification and deployment of high-quality air cleaning devices.

Work is due to start with the Office of Product Safety and Standards and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies’ Environmental and Modelling Group to consider air cleaners further as there is no recognised standard for their efficacy. This work is necessary before innovation funding could be provided to support the development, verification and deployment of high-quality air cleaning devices. Manufacturers who have approached NHS National Services Scotland have been directed to the Innovation Portals for NHS Scotland and NHS England.

Question reference: S6O-00061

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to schools to enable them to hold modified sports events that can be attended by parents and carers.

Question reference: S6O-00052

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the economic recovery of town centres.

Question reference: S6O-00060

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to an NASUWT Scotland survey, which suggests that 53% of teachers have considered leaving the profession in the last year, feeling demoralised, unsupported and unrecognised.