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-09338

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to decoupling the IN and TOG components of the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing process for floating offshore wind, and what its position is on whether this would allow innovation projects to proceed without delay.

INTOG is aligned to the Scottish Government’s commitment to delivering plan-led opportunities for offshore wind and marine renewables in Scottish waters. INTOG has been designed to facilitate both targeted oil and gas decarbonisation opportunities and provide a plan led approach to allowing smaller innovation type projects to access seabed. Something that is currently unavailable.

Whilst decoupling IN and TOG processes may allow one category of applications to proceed faster, the potential for cumulative impact and the need for plan-level assessments, to ensure negative impacts are appropriately managed, would not be removed and in fact may delay and complicate the assessments unnecessarily. As such, both components of INTOG will remain combined.

Question reference: S6W-09341

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to support the construction industry, including through upskilling and a transition to Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), to help ensure the provision of safe, high-quality, affordable housing.

The potential of increased use of offsite construction (also referred to as modern methods of construction or MMC) is viewed as an opportunity for new build housing development with the potential to support industry and Government to deliver more homes, and to help us address challenges including workforce demand and diversity, the need to reduce waste, increase energy efficiency and improve quality while controlling cost pressures.

The Scottish Government already supports delivery of affordable homes across Scotland using a range of offsite methods, from timber frame construction through to fully modular development, and will continue to do so through our Affordable Housing Supply Programme. We are developing a business case for greater use of offsite construction in recognition of the significant opportunity that our ambitious 110,000 target for affordable homes by 2032 brings for social, economic and environmental benefits and the potential impact on funding, housing delivery and the supply chain of any new national approach.

The Scottish Construction Leadership Forum provides a major forum for Scottish Government/Industry interaction and involves our Innovation Centre, Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST). The Skills and Workforce sub-group of the Forum is addressing a variety of upskilling areas, with a particular focus on the younger workforce: supporting apprentices and graduates in the industry and encouraging new entrants from diverse backgrounds to consider construction as a career of choice.

The BE-ST ‘Offsite Ready’ training programme is also helping to grow best practice and skills in offsite construction. Further details are available at

Question reference: S6W-09339

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the innovation component of the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing process for floating offshore wind is able to deliver supply chain opportunities and jobs in advance of ScotWind.

The INTOG Initial Plan Framework has set out a series of geographic areas where no projects will be considered. This primarily affects the Innovation category of projects as Targeted Oil and Gas projects would naturally be located further offshore. These exclusions will help by ensuring projects are not located in areas that are more likely to negatively interact with other projects and on already sensitive receptors and thus delay adoption of the plan. Additionally, the planning and leasing processes have been designed to overlap to allow projects to progress as quickly as possible.

More specifically, all Innovation projects will also be required to deliver Supply Chain Development Statements setting out and committing to investment in supply chain for the project. Like ScotWind, these commitments will be subject to penalties if not met. Applications to Marine Scotland Directorate for relevant consents and licences for INTOG will also benefit from the streamlining work currently underway .

Question reference: S6W-09336

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on Scotland's seabird colonies is appropriately assessed, and any actions coordinated, with input from bodies such as the Scottish Seabird Centre.

The UK is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of avian influenza to date, which has affected commercial and backyard flocks of poultry and other captive birds, as well as wild birds, including our internationally important seabird colonies.

While maintaining high levels of biosecurity among domestic flocks helps protect against disease, addressing the disease among wild birds can pose significant challenges. The Scottish Government is taking the current situation very seriously and continues to work with a range of partner organisations to monitor and respond to the situation where action can be taken, recognising the importance of communication and coordination in preparedness and responses.

As part of the co-ordinated GB response to avian influenza, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on behalf of Defra, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government, carries out year-round surveillance, including testing of dead wild birds reported to Defra’s GB-wide national telephone helpline. This helps us capture information on the general location and strains of avian influenza that might be prevalent across Great Britain, as well as species affected.

Dedicated monitoring at key colonies can also assist in the response to the outbreak in wild birds, which is why we welcome the significant work by NatureScot, the National Trust for Scotland, RSPB Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and other partners to collect data on the number of dead wild birds located at key colonies, as well as monitoring apparent population changes.

Working with our partners, the Scottish Government will continue to review its response planning to current and future avian influenza outbreaks, based on the latest scientific advice and existing disease control measures. We will also be identifying with partner organisations whether anything else can be done to respond to the outbreak and improve the resilience of our internationally important seabird populations.

Question reference: S6W-09292

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 30 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its plans for a bespoke model to address commercial sexual exploitation in Scotland.

Over the last six months, a Short Life Working Group has been helping the Scottish Government to develop draft principles to underpin a framework (originally defined as a Model) for Scotland which effectively tackles and challenges men’s demand for prostitution, and encourages better access to support for those involved in prostitution. This work is being supported by research being progressed on International Comparisons and Lived Experience. Over the summer period we will undertake further targeted stakeholder engagement on the draft, before looking to publish.

Question reference: S6W-08979

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 22 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a response to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Health and Wellbeing of Children and Young People.

Question reference: S6W-08995

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to making the placental growth factor (PIGF) blood test, which can detect those at risk of pre-eclampsia, freely available on the NHS.

Question reference: S6O-01224

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the level of need for accessible housing in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-08622

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 1 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its proposed timetable is for delivering its commitment to establish a National Register of Ancient Woodlands.

Question reference: S6O-01152

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what role local authority scrutiny will have in relation to the recently published consultation document on police complaints, investigations and misconduct legislation.