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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 235 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-16163

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Christina McKelvie on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when its Hate Crime Strategy will be published.

The Scottish Government’s new Hate Crime Strategy for Scotland has been published today. The strategy sets out our vision for a country where everyone lives free from hatred and prejudice and where our communities are empowered, inclusive and safe.

It has been developed in partnership with organisations with expertise in tackling prejudice, building cohesive communities and advancing human rights and sets out our strategic priorities including supporting the implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.

Question reference: S6O-02058

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last assessed access to GP services in rural areas.

Question reference: S6O-01985

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to introduce free rail travel for companions of deafblind people.

Question reference: S6O-01918

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding support that can be provided for women living in Scotland who are fleeing domestic violence and have no recourse to public funds.

Question reference: S6O-01814

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of hospice beds available in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Question reference: S6O-01798

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Bairns' Hoose for young people within the justice system.

Question reference: S6O-01758

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether parents should have the right to appeal on school placement decisions.

Question reference: S6O-01704

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of The Promise Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-12734

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Keith Brown on 30 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the outcome of its public consultation on legislative proposals from the Dame Elish Angiolini report of the Independent Review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues in Relation to Policing

I am pleased to confirm the publication today of the independent analysis report of responses to the consultation on police complaints, investigation and misconduct - legislation. The full report is available here: . A summary report is also available here:

The consultation received 55 responses, 33 of which came from individuals and 22 on behalf of organisations. The responses will be published today where we have permission to do so at .

The Scottish Government is giving careful consideration to the range of views received. The findings from the consultation analysis, along with our continuing engagement with stakeholders will help inform how the changes that Dame Elish recommended can be implemented as preparations for introducing a Police Complaints and Misconduct Handling Bill in this Parliamentary session continue.

Question reference: S6W-12314

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the (a) number and (b) percentage of voluntary resignations among police officers in Scotland in each of the last five years, and how this compares with England and Wales.

From data provided by Police Scotland, the Scottish Government can confirm that as a proportion of the workforce in 2021-22 the rate of voluntary resignation among officers in Scotland was less than half that in England and Wales.

The following tables show that, as a proportion of the workforce, rates of voluntary resignations among police officers have been consistently lower in Scotland over the last five years compared to England and Wales

Leavers and Leaver Rates (excluding transfers)- Scotland
Leavers (excluding transfers)	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22
Normal retirement	418	480	494	576	421	689
Voluntary resignation	211	192	181	163	106	177
Other (medical retirement, dismissal, death in service)	115	94	114	85	52	41
Total	744	766	789	824	579	907
Officer numbers at start of year (31-03-2021 for 2021-22)	17,317	17,256	17,170	17,251	17,431	17,283
Leaver rates
Normal retirement	2.4%	2.8%	2.9%	3.3%	2.4%	4.0%
Voluntary resignation	1.2%	1.1%	1.1%	0.9%	0.6%	1.0%
other	0.7%	0.5%	0.7%	0.5%	0.3%	0.2%
Total Leaver rate	4.3%	4.4%	4.6%	4.8%	3.3%	5.2%

Leavers and Leaver Rates (excluding transfers) - England and Wales
Leavers (excluding transfers)	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22
Normal retirement	4,507	4,747	4,492	4,169	3,429	4,134
Voluntary resignation	2,035	1,995	2,175	2,363	1,996	3,433
Other (medical retirement, dismissal, death in service)	933	762	721	609	593	550
Total	7,475	7,504	7,388	7,141	6,018	8,117
Officer numbers at start of year (31-03-2021 for 2021-22)	124,066	123,142	122,405	123,189	129,110	135,301
Leaver rates
Normal retirement	3.6%	3.9%	3.7%	3.4%	2.7%	3.1%
Voluntary resignation	1.6%	1.6%	1.8%	1.9%	1.5%	2.5%
other	0.8%	0.6%	0.6%	0.5%	0.5%	0.4%
Total Leaver rate	6.0%	6.1%	6.0%	5.8%	4.7%	6.0%