Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

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 ��˿�� 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-22555

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Serco NorthLink Ferries booking system will open for bookings for dates beyond 31 March 2024.

Question reference: S6W-22530

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 10 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many live homeless applications there were in each local authority area on Christmas Day in 2022, and how many (a) adults and (b) children these related to.

The following table gives the number of homelessness applications live as at 25 December 2022, by local authority and the associated number of (a) adults and (b) children.

	Number of
	Applications	Adults	Children
Scotland	28,154	32,749	16,493
Aberdeen City	490	527	211
Aberdeenshire	288	326	142
Angus	733	830	270
Argyll & Bute	374	454	183
Clackmannanshire	287	327	123
Dumfries & Galloway	468	535	184
Dundee City	691	749	301
East Ayrshire	399	444	235
East Dunbartonshire	294	336	221
East Lothian	823	913	331
East Renfrewshire	387	494	267
Edinburgh	6,128	7,465	3,902
Eilean Siar	124	142	46
Falkirk	1,160	1,311	596
Fife	1,983	2,259	1,000
Glasgow City	4,863	5,857	3,537
Highland	884	1,017	440
Inverclyde	107	108	34
Midlothian	616	663	443
Moray	232	273	111
North Ayrshire	427	526	201
North Lanarkshire	764	861	468
Orkney	169	197	115
Perth & Kinross	159	183	55
Renfrewshire	346	362	95
Scottish Borders	333	407	255
Shetland	102	110	27
South Ayrshire	385	408	162
South Lanarkshire	1,188	1,352	908
Stirling	763	856	475
West Dunbartonshire	587	641	337
West Lothian	1,600	1,816	818

Question reference: S6W-22118

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 09 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it currently provides for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) classes for asylum seekers and refugees.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone in Scotland whose first language is not English can contribute to Scotland’s future and the society they live in. Having support to learn English is key for many refugees and asylum seekers to communicate, enter education, find employment, and access information on healthcare, housing and other services that they require. In 2021-22 the volume of funded ESOL activity in colleges amounted to £22,709,353. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) provides an overall funding allocation to colleges, which they then allocate to learning and teaching across their curriculum areas (including ESOL), informed by data and insight, and based on regional demand, regional and national priorities, the needs of their local economies, communities and learners, as well as intelligence from partners. In addition, through the Supporting New Scots Fund, the New Scots partnership awarded a total of £179,431.00 to nine organisations across Scotland to deliver ESOL provision for refugees.

Question reference: S6W-22402

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19204 by Mairi Gougeon on 21 June 2023, whether it will provide an update on the status of the public consultation on the Good Food Nation Plan.

Question reference: S6O-02642

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the safety of Scotland’s fishermen when at sea.

Question reference: S6W-21537

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the pilot scheme to remove peak fares on ScotRail, what consideration was given during the design of the pilot scheme to any impact of withdrawing super off-peak fares during the trial period.

Overall, ScotRail passengers will benefit from significant reduction in the average fare charge. Super off-peak journeys only account for 2.7 per cent of all journeys made on ScotRail services. The purpose of this trial is to establish impact on removing time restrictions on tickets and therefore this trial is looking to establish the effect of the flat fare throughout the day, to encourage modal shift from car to rail.

Question reference: S6W-21283

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the terms of the Verity House Agreement mean in practice for the funding of Violence Against Women and Girls services at local level.

The Scottish Government and COSLA are co-owners of Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy to eradicate Violence Against Women and Girls. We will continue this joint approach when considering the wide-ranging recommendations of the Independent Strategic Review of Violence Against Women and Girls Services.

The Verity House Agreement provides a framework for both parties to work within when considering the joint response. A detailed analysis, including costing and cost benefit analysis, will be necessary before making definitive statements on individual recommendations.

Question reference: S6W-21294

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-02115 by Jenni Minto on 19 April 2023, when it estimates that work will begin on the review of the NHS Scotland patient travel scheme.

The comprehensive review of Patient Travel Guidance is a substantial exercise for the Scottish Government and NHS Boards, and, regrettably, a start date is not confirmed at this time.

As we continue to prioritise the recovery of services, this important review will take full account of the matters raised by Members and will be taken forward as soon as possible.

Financial support for travel remains available for patients and authorised escorts, according to eligibility criteria and medical requirements.

Boards are expected to support patients to identify and access support available, taking account of individual circumstances and ensuring patient care is at the centre of all decisions.

Question reference: S6W-20695

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Northern Isles ferry service journey from Lerwick to Kirkwall, and in light of Transport Scotland being responsible for ensuring that any policy decision about service delivery is made taking full account of equality issues, including medical needs, what consideration has been given to (a) allowing passengers to use a concessionary voucher for use of a cabin during the evening sailing from Lerwick to Kirkwall and (b) reinstating shared cabins to allow concessionary voucher holders use of a berth on all routes.

National Concessionary Travel Scheme vouchers can currently only be used for cabins on overnight sailings. Concessionary Travel arrangements are being reviewed as part of the Fair Fares Review and Islands Connectivity Plan.

The decision to remove shared cabins was taken solely by NorthLink following their risk assessments. The Scottish Government notes concerns about the impact of the removal of shared cabins on the National Concessionary Travel Scheme entitlement and this will also be considered through the Fair Fares Review and Islands Connectivity Plan.

Question reference: S6W-20694

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Transport Scotland document, Ferry Concession, Guidance Note for Operators, which states, "Single concession holder: - will be able to access at no charge a berth in a same sex cabin, either two or four berth", whether it will raise with Serco Northlink Ferries its current policy, which is reportedly not in line with the stated guidance.