Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 49118 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-18604

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with modern apprenticeship providers in relation to any contract delays.

Scottish Government has regular engagement with the main representative body of training providers in Scotland, Scottish Training Federation (STF). I am due to meet the STF Chief Executive in the coming weeks.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) have regular meetings with individual training providers and the Scottish Training Federation. As an example, senior members of SDS’ National Training Programmes team met with the STF Chief Executive on Thursday 25 May to provide support and answer questions from members regarding various areas including contract awards. They will continue to follow up with STF members for any additional information and support which may be required.

Scottish Government and SDS will continue to engage with our apprenticeship providers across Scotland including colleges, universities and independent providers regarding any issues with apprenticeship contracts.

Question reference: S6W-18540

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17872 by Lorna Slater on 25 May 2023, when the Ministerial Strategic Assurance Group first met in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-18607

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with New College Lanarkshire Motherwell Campus regarding the proposed closure of its halls of residence.

Question reference: S6W-18539

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17872 by Lorna Slater on 25 May 2023, what the remit is of the Ministerial Strategic Assurance Group in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme.

The Ministerial Strategic Assurance Group was established as part of the refreshed system wide governance for the Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland (DRS) for the implementation stage of the programme. The function of this group is:

To provide collective strategic assurance of successful DRS implementation.
To hold all stakeholders mutually accountable for requisite actions.
To build consensus on issues where there is conflict in stakeholders’ positions.

? To drive down the number of outstanding operational issues.

? To manage resolution issues escalated to the Group.

Question reference: S6W-18597

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with skills and employability programme training providers regarding staff redundancies.

The Scottish Government continues to offer free and impartial advice to all employers and individuals affected by redundancy through Partnership Action for Continuing Employment, PACE, which has local teams ready to respond quickly when situations arise and assist businesses to try and minimise the risk of redundancy before it happens.

As members of the PACE Partnership, STF will be familiar with the local support available to its members and the swift response it offers to support both employers and employees dealing with redundancy and working with them to try and minimise the risk of redundancy before it happens.

Question reference: S6W-18598

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to confirm budgets for skills and employability programmes.

The 2023-24 budgets for employability programmes, including No One Left Behind and Fair Start Scotland were confirmed by the Deputy First Minister on 25 May, with Grant Offer Letters issued to local authorities on 30 May for No One Left Behind. The budget for Individual Training Accounts has now been confirmed and the scheme will re-open during the week commencing 19th June 2023.

We are currently considering the budget for the Flexible Workforce Development Fund in 2023-24 through colleges and the Open University in Scotland and will provide a further update once budget discussions have concluded.

Question reference: S6W-18750

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional clinics it has provided to date for the most challenged pathways including urological, colorectal and breast cancers, as set out in its NHS Recovery Plan.

£10 million of funding was directed to support Cancer Waiting Times improvements in our NHS across 2021-22, with a further £10m made available to Boards in 2022-23 to continue to support Cancer Waiting Times. Health Boards across NHS Scotland direct spend towards the most challenged areas, which included additional clinics for new patients and follow-ups.

Funds in 2022-23 were largely directed towards breast, colorectal and urology specialties – three of the most challenged 62 day pathways. Significant funds went towards up-skilling nurses and investment to support extended working days and weekend working to increase capacity.

Question reference: S6W-18703

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £3 million investment for accelerated treatment in lung cancer diagnostic services has been allocated to date, broken down by NHS board.

The Scottish Government has made available £3 million of funding to the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD), hosted in NHS Golden Jubilee, to support implementation of the optimal lung cancer diagnostic pathway. CfSD is responsible for supporting the design and delivery of optimal cancer diagnostic pathways in NHS Scotland, and has been working with Boards across Scotland to enhance current services and direct investment to the areas with greatest need.

Question reference: S6W-18693

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Ministers last met with (a) UK ministers, (b) the Welsh Ministers and (c) representatives of international governments to discuss (i) period dignity and (ii) the provision of free period products.

Question reference: S6W-18668

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what record of medical equipment provided to households is kept by NHS boards, and what equipment has been provided in each year since 1999.