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: S5O-03526

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when the guidance on the Scottish Housing Quality Standard will be reviewed.

Question reference: S5O-03378

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 June 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what recent consideration it has given to the impact of Brexit on immigration.

Question reference: S5O-03288

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Alateen programmes being able to support teenage relatives and friends of people with alcohol problems, for what reason there is no such programme in Scotland.

We provide funding of £600,000 a year to the Corra Foundation. Corra supports third sector organisations, to deliver vital, on-the-ground, local support largely to children and families across Scotland affected by alcohol and drug use. We also provide £280,000 a year to Scottish Families affected by Alcohol and Drugs who provide support and services to families across Scotland.

Our alcohol and drug treatment strategy published in November 2018 includes a stronger focus on children, young people and families affected by a loved one’s substance use.

Question reference: S5O-03172

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing five-yearly electrical safety checks for homes in the social rented sector.

Question reference: S5O-03125

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is a need for greater accountability to reduce the risk of people abusing power of attorney status.

Question reference: S5O-03118

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 4 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the introduction of a system of automatic voter registration.

Question reference: S5O-03047

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 March 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it is possible to vary contracts of employment for MSP staff in order to give flexibility to suit local circumstances.

Question reference: S5O-03011

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 March 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can give toward the annual running costs of the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre in Glasgow.

Question reference: S5W-21656

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to including provisions in the Planning (Scotland) Bill to ensure that new (a) housing developments are built with future-proofed broadband connections, and (b) home buyers have a choice in broadband networks when moving into a new housing development.

Through the Reaching 100% Programme, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that each and every premises in Scotland has access to superfast broadband. We would, however, expect new housing developments to be served commercially without the need for public funding and through effective partnership working between planning authorities, developers and telecoms companies, for example, Openreach routinely offers fibre to the premises (FTTP) – for free – on developments of at least 30 properties, with a tariff proposal for smaller developments.

Whilst the Scottish Government is not considering such a requirement in the Planning (Scotland) Bill, where powers are available to us we have already taken action to facilitate improved investment in digital infrastructure. This includes setting out planning policy in relation to telecoms in both Scottish Planning policy (paragraphs 292-300) and in the National Planning Framework (chapter 5).

From January 2017, amendments to the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 set a standard for in-building physical infrastructure for high-speed electronic communications networks. This enables easier installation of fibre at any time (on or after completion) and applies to new homes and other buildings.

Telecoms is, however, reserved to the UK Government and, as such, they have recently consulted on introducing new legislation to address issues with new build developments. The Scottish Government will look to ensure Scottish interests are reflected in the development of any legislation, and to understand the implications for any devolved areas.

Question reference: S5W-21657

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that developers prioritise full fibre broadband rollout and promote consumer choice by consulting more than one broadband provider, and whether such changes could be built into the Planning (Scotland) Bill by way of secondary legislation or guidance for local authorities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21656 on 5 March 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at

The choice of broadband providers available to occupants of new build housing will be influenced by factors beyond the scope of the planning system to control. Whilst the Scottish Government is not considering such a requirement in the Planning (Scotland) Bill, where powers are available to us we have already taken action to facilitate improved investment in digital infrastructure. This includes setting out planning policy in relation to telecoms in both Scottish Planning policy (paragraphs 292-300) and in the National Planning Framework (chapter 5).