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-04352

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the amount it spent on the Scottish Child Payment in this financial year is in line with its anticipated spend, as set out in the 2021-22 budget.

Question reference: S6W-04406

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 30 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address reported concerns that participation in sport declines once children reach secondary school age.

We recognise that being physically active is one of the best things we can do for our physical and mental wellbeing. We are committed to providing all children and young people equal opportunity to participate in sport and physical activity. As set out in the Programme for Government we will double investment in sport and active living to £100 million a year by the end of the Parliament ensuring more people can enjoy active lives as we recover, improving physical, mental and social health. We will also work with the National Agency for Sport, sports cotland to ensure that Active Schools programmes are free for all children and young people, providing them with more opportunities to take part in sport before, during and after school.

There are also established programmes within secondary schools to address key elements of the sporting system and drive engagement and participation such as sport scotland’s Fit For Girls (FFG) programme to help engage teenage girls where there is a higher drop off in participation. The FFG programme is being delivered across the country to provide solutions workshops for girls and practitioners to help engage inactive teenage girls.

Question reference: S6W-04500

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 30 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03367 by Lorna Slater on 26 October 2021, whether the Deposit Return Scheme will have a phased introduction or will apply to all businesses affected on the same date.

Question reference: S6W-04128

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether COVID-19 booster vaccinations will be registered on the NHS Scotland Covid Status App; what the reasons are for its position on this matter, and, if they will be registered, by what date this will happen.

Yes, work is currently in progress to ensure people can access their COVID-19 booster vaccination information in the app and on the paper and PDF versions through the NHS Portal. It is expected this will be available from December 2021, following the recent agreement of international standards on how to display booster information on 18 November.

Proof of booster vaccinations are not currently a requirement of the domestic certification scheme. However, we are aware that a small number of countries have introduced a vaccine ‘expiry’ point as part of their certification arrangements.

In the meantime, people intending to travel should check the entry requirements of the country they are visiting on the GOV.UK foreign travel advice pages, as PCR testing is also widely accepted.

Question reference: S6W-04297

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release on 29 October 2021 regarding a £41 million Winter Support Fund for low-income households, what the application process is for the £10 million of funding to help people who are struggling to pay fuel bills.

The £10 million Fuel Insecurity Fund will be made available to households struggling with their energy costs this winter through a range of third sector delivery partners, chiefly the Fuel Bank Foundation, Registered Social Landlords and Advice Direct Scotland, which will be delivering the Home Heating Support Fund. Application processes will be put in place by each delivery organisation and are expected to involve a mix of direct applications and referrals by trusted advice partners.

Question reference: S6W-04296

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release on 29 October 2021 regarding a £41 million Winter Support Fund for low-income households, what eligibility criteria it has applied to the £10 million to help people who are struggling to pay fuel bills.

Support from the £10 million Fuel Insecurity Fund will be delivered by third sector partner organisations and will be available to households across Scotland who are at risk of self-disconnecting, or self-rationing their energy use this winter, regardless of tariff type or fuel type.

Through all of the projects supported by the Fuel Insecurity Fund, we will seek to ensure that those receiving help are not just provided with financial support but that they are also connected with wider advice and support on energy efficiency, income maximisation and how to reduce energy bills.

Question reference: S6W-04414

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many supported living accommodation projects it has supported in each year since 1999.

Local Authorities and Integration Joint Boards are responsible for allocating funding from their budgets towards revenue costs for services for supported living accommodation.

The following table sets out the number of supported accommodation capital projects for the period requested.

Financial Year	Supported Accommodation
	Homes Approved	Number of Projects
	Homes Approved	Number of Projects
1999-00	272	40
2000-01	266	48
2001-02	168	36
2002-03	71	19
2003-04	217	29
2004-05	104	18
2005-06	156	23
2006-07	181	28
2007-08	97	15
2008-09	64	6
2009-10	31	6
2010-11	150	11
2011-12	18	3
2012-13	18	1
2013-14	10	2
2014-15	17	2
2015-16	8	1
2016-17	10	3
2017-18	39	5
2018-19	177	10
2019-20	93	9
2020-21	26	4
2021-22*	45	3
Total	2,238	322
* figures as of 18 November 2021

Question reference: S6W-04412

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources it will provide to Edinburgh City Council to help address the reported homelessness issues in the city.

Scotland has led the way in the delivery of affordable housing across the UK with 103,650 affordable homes delivered since 2007, nearly 72,000 of which were for social rent, including 16,432 council homes. And we are committed to delivering a further 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 of which at least 70% will be available for social rent and 10% will be in our remote, rural and island communities.

Over the period 2007-08 to 2020-21, the City of Edinburgh Council has received more than half a billion (£558.7 million) in grant support from the Scottish Government which has contributed to the delivery of 13,341 affordable homes.

The City of Edinburgh Council will benefit from a further £233.8 million funding for good quality affordable housing across the capital over this parliament. This funding represents an increase of £32.4 million, a 16% increase on the previous five years.

In 2021-22, the City of Edinburgh has also been allocated over £3.33 million for preventing and responding to homelessness, £871,000 for Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans (RRTPS), as well at £563,000 for RRTPs through the Winter Fund for Social Protection. In addition, the Scottish Government is providing £101,850 to support the delivery of a Rapid Rehousing Welcome Centre in Edinburgh from 4 October 2021 to 2 May 2022.

Question reference: S6W-04402

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what precautions it is taking to minimise traffic disruption due to (a) roadworks and (b) pothole repairs taking place in the West Scotland region.

Transport Scotland is responsible for improving and maintaining Scotland’s trunk road and motorway network. Local roads are the responsibility of the Local Authorities.

Contracts are written to minimise road closures. Planning minimises disruption to businesses, communities and the travelling public. Peak times are avoided where possible, with works often planned overnight. Safety of road workers, the environment/ecology and local stakeholder feedback is of key importance.

Advance notice is conveyed through press release, local/national radio, social media and road signage. Traffic delays are monitored and variable message signs notify delays to enable alternative routes and minimise congestion.

Question reference: S6F-00538

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 December 2021

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that the use of antidepressant medication among children has increased by more than 80% over the last 10 years.