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-25896

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 29 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the next paper in the Building a New Scotland series will be published.

The Scottish Government continues to deliver on its commitment to build the case for an independent Scotland in the EU, giving people the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, as set out in the Programme for Government. I’m pleased to confirm that on 4th March we are publishing ‘An independent Scotland’s place in the world’.

This is the eleventh paper in the Building a New Scotland series, featuring detailed proposals for Scotland becoming a new sovereign state on the world stage.

It sets out our plans for Scotland to become a good global citizen, building partnerships with other countries and international organisations to address global challenges, promoting human rights and development, advancing an ambitious, progressive agenda and securing agreements in international forums aligned with our values and interests. It will also set out plans to promote innovation, trade and investment.

The Scottish Government is continuing to prepare further papers in the Building a New Scotland series and these will be published shortly. I can also confirm that we intend hold a debate in Parliament on Scotland’s place in the world on 5th March.

An independent Scotland’s place in the world will be available to view on the Scottish Government website from 4th March at .

Question reference: S6O-03172

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what factors are assessed when determining vessel deployment decisions for Western Isles ferry routes.

Question reference: S6W-25594

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 28 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it can make on behalf of any small businesses in the Western Isles that are reportedly facing increases of thousands of pounds per week in delivery expenses as a result of a local haulage company being taken over by the multinational company, DFDS.

The Scottish Government recognises that the cost of living and doing business on islands can be higher compared to other parts of Scotland.

Our Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund has distributed £2.4 million to island local authorities since December 2022, giving councils flexibility in directing funding to those who need it most, including local businesses. Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar has been awarded £617,000 to date.

In 2024-2025, we will also offer a new 100% relief for hospitality businesses located on islands, capped at £110,000 per business.

The Scottish Government will continue to encourage the delivery sector to provide island communities with fair and affordable delivery options.

Question reference: S6W-25593

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 February 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Emma Roddick on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to publish an Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, as committed to in the First Minister’s policy prospectus and in the Programme for Government 2023-24.

Today, the Scottish Government publishes its new Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, which sets out our approach to the issue of population decline affecting some communities in Scotland. The Plan builds on the work of the Ministerial Population Taskforce in delivering Scotland’s Population Strategy, which was published in March 2021.

This new Action Plan describes a range of work which will be delivered in partnership with local authorities, enterprise agencies, communities and other local actors, alongside a range of current and future Scottish Government national delivery priorities to support communities affected by population decline.

Building on this Action Plan, the next phase of our work will be informed by the small area outputs from Scotland’s Census 2022, which are due to be published in Spring 2024. These data will enable us to consider even more targeted and focused interventions in support of community sustainability.

The publication can be accessed via the following link: .

Question reference: S6O-03091

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the most recent figures published by the Crofting Commission showing an increase in the number of new entrants between March 2022 and March 2023.

Question reference: S6W-25049

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of the Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach Paper and the Vessels and Ports Plan.

I am pleased to announce that the Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach paper and the Vessel and Ports Plan were published today alongside a public consultation.

These documents and the consultation questions are available at the following link:

I would encourage islanders and all those with an interest in ferries and wider island transport connectivity to respond to the consultation which will run until 3 May 2024. This will be supported by a number of public events by Transport Scotland officials starting in late February.

Question reference: S6O-03084

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what support will be put in place to assist local authorities in establishing "areas of linguistic significance", as set out in the Scottish Languages Bill.

The Member has provided the following Gaelic translation:

Gus faighneachd do Riaghaltas na h-Alba de an taic a bhios ann do dh'ughdarrasan ionadail a tha airson àitichean a tha "sònraichte a thaobh chànain" a stèidheachadh, mar a chaidh a chuir an làthair ann am Bile nan Cànan Albannach.

Question reference: S6O-03044

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local authorities to provide appropriate levels of special educational needs staff for secondary schools to ensure a safe and encouraging learning environment for all pupils.

Question reference: S6W-23904

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on (a) its progress so far on and (b) the next steps for its Islands Connectivity Plan.

I informed the Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee on 19 December 2023 that I have received the Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach Paper and the Vessels and Ports Plan. I am now taking some time to ensure that they reflect the issues raised in the Committee's recent inquiry into "A Modern and Sustainable Ferry Service for Scotland" and issues that communities have raised with me directly. I intend to publish both documents early this year.

The full text of my letter to the Committee is available here: Minister for Transport (parliament.scot)

Question reference: S6O-02928

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, whether any of its future publications on independence will cover any constitutional lessons that can be learned from structures used in Parliaments elsewhere that include unelected members.