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-07766

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the amount of Chinese investment in Scotland.

Information on the value of Chinese inward investments into Scotland can be found in the publicly available report Businesses in Scotland, which shows that there are currently 20 Chinese owned businesses in Scotland, with an estimated employment of 3,910 and a turnover of £1.33 billion.

Scottish Government works with its enterprise agencies to ensure robust due diligence and proper consideration of human rights is undertaken on inward investments from China as well as from any other country. Additional safeguards are provided by the National Security and Investment Act 2021, which protects against acquisitions within sensitive areas of the economy that could cause harm to the UK’s national security.

Question reference: S6W-07760

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 20 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made and action it has taken to ensure that former Hong Kong residents who resettle in Scotland are not subjected to racism or discrimination, and what steps it has taken to collect feedback on the experiences of those people since they resettled in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-07761

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07058 by Neil Gray on 14 March 2022, whether it will provide further details of the steps that it has taken to ensure that Hong Kong residents coming to the UK through the British National (Overseas) visa scheme are encouraged to resettle in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-07308

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 24 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to address any rising costs associated with the Ayrshire Growth Deal.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to the Ayrshire Growth Deal and supports all the projects included within it. To that end, the £103 million commitment from the Scottish Government to the Ayrshire Growth Deal is secure.

We recognise that construction costs have increased globally as a result of international market forces primarily related to the global pandemic, over which government has very little control. This is an issue which is not unique to Ayrshire but felt across Scotland and internationally.

As the Deal is a partnership between Scottish Government, UK Government, and Local Authorities, we are working collectively to explore regional responses to these global challenges, and will continue to support regional partners as they develop their preferred solutions.

Question reference: S6W-07172

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 24 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that waiting times for the Scotland's Census 2022 helpline have been over an hour in some cases.

The Scotland’s Census 2022 contact centre experienced high volumes of calls in its first few days of operation and we are aware that some callers have experienced longer than average wait times at peak points during the day. National Records of Scotland apologise for any frustration this may have caused.

Callers to the Freephone helpline (0800 030 8308) are advised at the start of the call of current wait times and therefore have the option to phone back at a less busy time. An automated option (option 1) is also provided for those wishing to order a paper form. This involves no wait time.

Additional resources have been placed into the contact centre to deal with periods of peak activity. Contact can also be made with the census team via web chat, e-mail or physical correspondence. Contact details can be found here: . Help and advice on a range of topics is also provided at .

These updates continue to have a positive impact, with general reductions in the average wait times in week 2 and beyond. There is ongoing active monitoring and management of the position to ensure that those that need help are able to speak to an agent.

Question reference: S6W-07173

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 24 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any challenges associated with digital poverty in relation to Scotland's Census 2022.

Everyone living in Scotland is included in the census and we understand that not everyone will be able to, or wish to, complete their census online. That is why paper copies are available upon request by anyone who needs them, either by calling our helpline on 0800 030 8308 or by visiting our website . Assistance in completing the census, either digitally or on paper, is also provided through these channels.

Consistent with other parts of Scottish Government, Scotland’s Census 2022 has been designed to be Digital First as set out in the Scottish Government’s Digital Strategy. We have worked hard to assure that the online census questionnaire is modern, usable and more accessible, while meeting the expectations and standards of a modern government service.

The online questionnaire can be accessed though the most common range of internet-enabled devices, such as laptops, mobile phones and tablets. This digital service has been extensively tested reflecting a range of user needs and has met the Scottish Government Digital First standards.

We recognise that digital exclusion (and other barriers to participation) may prevent people from being able to complete online, or it may be their preference to complete on paper. That is why paper copies are available upon request by anyone who needs them either by: calling our helpline free on 0800 030 8308; or requesting online at . Copies of the paper questionnaire can also be ordered via the free helpline automated service, without needing to wait to speak to an agent (option one).

Copies of the paper questionnaire will be sent with a freepost return envelope. It should not cost anyone to complete Scotland’s Census 2022. Help and support is also available from a wide network of organisations. We have worked with a range of stakeholders, partners, communities and third sector interfaces to develop relevant support materials.

Question reference: S6W-07410

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 23 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates its Global Affairs Framework will be published.

Question reference: S6W-07193

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 22 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports in Private Eye (Art News, No. 1567) that 1,577 art works are missing from Aberdeen's City Council's art collection.

Question reference: S6O-00898

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how its policies and actions across government will support South Ayrshire to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S6W-07194

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 16 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many of Historic Environment Scotland's properties are being left, as has been reported, to "gracefully die".

As reported on 21 January 2022, Historic Environment Scotland introduced new measures to manage the impact of climate change on Scotland's national heritage sites. Whilst I can confirm that inspections and analysis of some affected sites continue, let me assure you that no properties are being left without care. Historic Environment Scotland is considering all options available to best protect the 336 nationally significant properties in care, and is continuing the vital conservation and protection work which it is internationally recognised for, especially as we seek to build resilience into the heritage sector’s recovery from the pandemic.

It is important however that we recognise that climate change effects have been accelerating, and the increased rainfall and variations in temperature have continuing impacts on both Scotland's natural and built heritage. I will continue discussing future potential approaches with Historic Environment Scotland as we continue our work to make our heritage safe, and accessible to all, so we can better understand our past, to best inform our future.