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-18372

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) business community, (b) UK Government and (c) Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), regarding how to reduce the number of people in Scotland on zero-hours contracts.

My officials have held numerous engagements with a range of employers in relation to the refreshed Fair Work Action Plan, and updates in Fair Work Policy. Specifically, applying the Fair Work criteria to public sector grants, other funding, and contracts where it’s relevant and proportionate to do so. This includes employers being asked to commit to no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts.

We continue to press the UK Government for the full devolution of employment powers in order to allow us to fully deliver our Fair Work ambitions. We firmly oppose improper use of zero-hours contracts and other non-standard types of employment that offer workers minimal job or financial security.

We have given £250,000 annually for the last seven years to the STUC through the Trade Union Fair Work and Modernisation Fund to support their efforts in tackling precarious work and promoting fair work in under-unionised sectors. We maintain regular contact with STUC to ensure the funding is used effectively.

In 2021 we introduced a Living Hours Employer Accreditation Scheme for Scotland, recognising that as well as payment of the real Living Wage, the number and frequency of working hours and security of contract are critical to addressing in-work poverty.

Question reference: S6O-02372

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Accounts Commission report, Local government in Scotland: Overview 2023.

Question reference: S6W-18375

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 6 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action public bodies can take to ensure that their procurement processes help drive down the use of zero-hours contracts in Scotland.

Through our Fair Work First policy, we are applying Fair Work criteria to as many public contracts as we can. Employers are being asked to commit to adopting a range of fair work practices including: no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts; and fair pay including payment of the real Living Wage.

The Scottish Government considers fair pay as a clear way that an employer can demonstrate a commitment to their workforce alongside wider Fair Work First criteria. We routinely apply Fair Work criteria including the real Living Wage in our contracts. And while public bodies are responsible for their own procurement decisions, we are engaging with relevant sectors to encourage this approach across the whole of the public sector in Scotland.

In May 2021 we published updated statutory guidance issued under the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 to reflect development of the Scottish Government’s policy on Fair Work First, including payment of the real Living Wage and its application within Scottish public procurement.
We are updating our best practice guidance to support the practical application of Fair Work First through public procurement.
We have developed tools and guidance to help public bodies identify and address how they can optimise the economic, social and environmental outcomes of their procurement activity. These include a focus on Fair Work First including the real Living Wage.

Question reference: S6O-02298

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether agricultural support is delivering value for money.

Question reference: S6W-17855

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) longest, (b) average and (c) median time taken was between a successful application for Adult Disability Payment being received and the first payment being made, in each month since January 2023.

Official statistics covering processing times for Adult Disability Payment are published as a part of the regularly scheduled quarterly publication. The latest Adult Disability Payment statistical publication was published on 14 March 2023, covering up to end January 2023. Information on the median average processing time by month is included in table 9.

The next publication will be published on 13 June 2023, and will cover up to end April 2023.

Processing time is the number of working days from part 2 of the application being received to a decision being made or the application being withdrawn.

Our systems and processes record the time taken to a decision, rather than only approvals, and as such we are unable to provide the longest time taken between a successful application for Adult Disability Payment being received and the first payment being made.

Question reference: S6W-17856

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) longest, (b) average and (c) median wait time was for callers to Social Security Scotland’s contact telephone number, in each month since January 2023.

Information on the (a) longest, (b) average and (c) median waiting time for answered telephone calls in 2023 to date is provided in the following table.

Month	Longest Wait Time (hours: minutes: seconds)	Mean Wait Time (minutes: seconds)	Median Wait time (minutes: seconds)
January	02:39:55	27:07	24:18
February	02:15:25	31:15	27:09
March	02:18:48	25:54	21:07
April	03:00:26	31:37	30:27
May (up to 14 May)	02:12:25	23:35	22:58

This information is based on internal management information and has not yet been quality assured to the same standard as published information on telephony services.

Question reference: S6W-17854

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) longest, (b) average and (c) median waiting time was for engagement with users of Social Security Scotland’s webchat facility, in each month since January 2023.

Information on the (a) longest, (b) average and (c) median waiting time for answered webchats in 2023 to date is provided in the following table.

Month	Longest Wait Time (hours: minutes: seconds)	Mean Wait Time (minutes: seconds)	Median Wait time (minutes: seconds)
January	01:57:08	17:47	14:18
February	01:31:39	17:47	13:54
March	01:59:09	20:54	19:43
April	02:34:55	27:56	28:23
May (up to 14 May)	01:26:08	19:42	19:15

This information is based on internal management information and has not yet been quality assured to the same standard as published information on telephony services.

Question reference: S6O-02282

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for Scottish carbon credits, including how it ensures benefits for local communities.

Question reference: S6W-17564

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 April 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether any budget for railway enhancements is included in its recent Statement of Funds Available (SOFA) for Control Period 7 (CP7).

Question reference: S6W-17562

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 April 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether an impact or risk assessment has been undertaken of any potential effect of continued high inflation on the delivery of (a) outstanding Control Period 6 (CP6) projects and (b) future Control Period 7 (CP7) commitments on Scotland’s railways.

The risk assessment in relation to inflation on the delivery of the remainder of Control Period 6 (April 2019 – March 2024) and for Control Period 7 (April 2024 – March 2029) is reflected in the draft forecasts presented by Network Rail and the amount of risk funding allocated to it.

The impact or risk of inflation in Control Period 6 continues to be monitored by Network Rail and reported to Transport Scotland as part of the normal four weekly monitoring process.

As for Control Period 7, the potential impact of inflation is being considered by Network Rail in their planning for Control Period 7 via the ongoing Periodic Review 2023 process. This will be assessed and regulated by the Office of Rail and Road and be reflected in their final determination for CP7.