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 112 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6O-02693

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review on the legal status of autistic people in relation to treatment and involuntary detention.

Question reference: S6W-22137

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the reported loss of food crops in the North East Scotland region as a result of recent flooding.

The rainfall we have seen across Scotland in October has been extreme, affecting many communities and businesses. The Scottish Government has been in close contact with the agricultural sector through our Area Offices and networks to determine the extent to which producers have been affected and what the implications of that are, including for food crops in the North East region.

Following the severe rainfall of 6 th to 8 th October I met with NFUS, East of Scotland Growers and Kettle Produce on 13th October to hear about the impacts on fruit and vegetable producers at that stage, which were principally in the Perthshire area, with losses reported to crops such as carrots, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, swede and sprouts. I then visited Keithick Farms near Coupar Angus to see and discuss the impacts of the flooding with a number of affected farm businesses.

From 19th to 21st October there were further impacts on crops from Storm Babet, which as well as worsening the situation in some of the areas affected earlier in the month, has also led to some further flooding of crops in Angus and Aberdeenshire, including potatoes.

It will take time for the extent of the impacts of the October flooding on food crops to become fully apparent, as the condition of crops still in the ground becomes clearer on fuller assessment and harvesting. The Scottish Government remains in close contact with farming organisations and producers to understand those impacts and discuss what actions can be taken to mitigate them. In the meantime we would encourage retailers to ensure that they are sympathetic to any producers who may have been negatively impacted by the flooding.

Question reference: S6F-02429

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023

To ask the First Minister how the measures in place to tackle the climate emergency will also help to address poverty.

Question reference: S6O-02592

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what support is provided to trans people and their companions when accessing healthcare, including gender reassignment surgery.

Question reference: S6W-21756

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress in developing future plans for supporting displaced people from Ukraine living in Scotland.

Today I am pleased to announce the launch of ‘A Warm Scots Future’ in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, and the Scottish Refugee Council.

The paper sets out the policy direction for the next phase of Scotland’s response to the humanitarian crisis created by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. This will help the Scottish Government, and its partners, to transition from an emergency response to a long-term and holistic approach that supports the integration of displaced people from Ukraine. This is in alignment with the New Scots approach, which aims to support integration from day one.

To aid this transition, five overarching and interlinked strategic priorities have been identified to guide the next phase of Scotland’s Ukraine response. These are:

1. A trauma informed, holistic and rights-based approach to long-term integration, in line with the New Scots refugee integration strategy

2. Reduce reliance on welcome accommodation

3. Boost long-term, settled housing that leaves a legacy for Scotland

4. Pursue clarity on routes to settlement, family reunification and repatriation

5. Continued partnership and collaboration, ensuring good governance and recognising the lived experience of displaced people from Ukraine.

We will now work closely with partners to deliver against these strategic priorities, and ensure displaced people from Ukraine achieve the best outcomes possible as they build their lives in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-02557

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to ensure that seasonal agricultural workers have access to effective worker voice under its Fair Work commitments.

Question reference: S6O-02533

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Brigades Union regarding the FBU’s DECON campaign to raise awareness of and mitigate the carcinogenic nature of firefighting.

Question reference: S6W-20439

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports in the Angus area of prisoners being unable to attend children’s hearings, regarding their children, due to staff shortages at the prison escort service, GEOAmey.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS recognises the importance of attendance at Children’s Hearings for those in prisons and their families and remains committed to working with GEOAmey and all Multi-Agency Liaison Group partners, to improve contract performance.

SPS, The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration and GEOAmey are working collaboratively to address the current challenges in service delivery. SPS is also continuing to support GEOAmey in improving their staff recruitment and retention to meet the current and future demand for service in this important area of the Justice Sector.

Question reference: S6O-02466

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with communities in the North East Scotland region on any increases to and reform of council tax.

Question reference: S6W-20303

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 10 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported calls from Climate Camp Scotland and Unite for the Scottish Government to produce a green industrial strategy, which would include plans for decarbonisation of large industrial plants such as the INEOS complex at Grangemouth.

Scotland is committed to reaching net zero and to ensuring the journey is fair and just for everyone.

The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan lays out over 150 actions, as well as consulting on further actions, to help maximise a just transition to net zero for our economy, communities, business and workers

Decarbonising industry is critical to our climate goals and the infrastructure and expertise at Grangemouth will play a key role. That is why we have committed to delivering a dedicated Just Transition Plan for the Grangemouth industrial area.

We will work closely with industry, unions, the workforce and the community to make sure they have a say in the plan for Grangemouth’s future.