Parliamentary questions
Willie Rennie
1,353 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Shelter Scotland report, In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, whether it will end the use of hotel-like temporary accommodation for children.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government is clear that temporary accommodation should be of a high standard and households living there should receive good quality support services that meet their needs. That is why the Scottish Government published the temporary accommodatio…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Shelter Scotland report, In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, what steps it will take to improve data sharing between relevant public bodies in areas such as health, housing, homelessness …
Answer · Paul McLennan: A Scottish Government amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Bill will, if passed, confer a new power for relevant bodies to share information in connection with their new duties to prevent homelessness. This should help decision makers plan better services but …
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Shelter Scotland report, In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, how it will ensure that children are not forced to move schools when experiencing homelessness.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government recognises the disruption a homeless household can experience when placed in temporary accommodation, and is aware of the problems that can arise if accommodation is located too far from the household’s employment, education and …
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Shelter Scotland report, In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, what steps are being taken to ensure that the reported 10,360 children in temporary accommodation have guaranteed access …
Answer · Paul McLennan: The service standards in the temporary accommodation standards framework states that local authorities should assess the needs of all members of the household. Assessments should be followed up with referrals and support to enable the household to engage with…
10 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding establishing a youth mobility scheme with the EU.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government to set out Scotland's priorities for the future relationship with the EU. We are clear that the UK Government should seek to agree a generous and wide-ranging youth mobility visa agreement w…
5 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the implementation of its temporary accommodation standards framework, in light of reports that children are living in properties affected by mould, vermin and overcrowding.
4 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any local authority's per person funding would be below the 85% floor described in the Scottish Public Finance Manual if assumed council tax revenues were excluded from the calculation, and, if so, which local authorities.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Assumed council tax revenues are a key element of the needs-based distribution formula that is discussed and agreed with COSLA on behalf of all 32 local authorities each year.The inclusion of Assumed Council Tax in the overall distribution calculations reflec…
4 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it excludes the funding for any local authorities for the purposes of calculating average per person funding for local authorities as part of the policy, as stated in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, that each local authority receives at least 85% of the Scottish average reven…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The 85% funding floor is a key element of the needs-based distribution formula that is discussed and agreed with COSLA on behalf of all 32 local authorities each year.Funding for all local authorities in Scotland is included in the calculation of the 85% Floo…
4 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it first began including assumed council tax revenues in its calculation of average per person funding for local authorities as part of the policy, as stated in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, that each local authority receives at least 85% of the Scottish average revenue fundin…
Answer · Ivan McKee: Assumed council tax revenues are a key element of the needs-based distribution formula that is discussed and agreed with COSLA on behalf of all 32 local authorities each year.An Assumed Council Tax of £911 at Band D has been included in the calculation …
4 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it calculates the average per person funding for the purposes of the policy, as stated in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, that each local authority receives at least 85% of the Scottish average revenue funding per head.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The 85% funding floor is a key element of the needs-based distribution formula that is discussed and agreed with COSLA on behalf of all 32 local authorities each year.To apply the 85% funding floor, the Scottish Government first calculates the total funding i…
4 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the value of the 85% per person funding floor, as described in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, would be if assumed council tax revenues are excluded and funding for all local authorities in Scotland is included.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The 85% funding floor and assumed council tax revenues are key elements of the needs-based distribution formula that is discussed and agreed with COSLA on behalf of all 32 local authorities each year.Funding for all local authorities in Scotland is included i…
25 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultations with NHS staff took place before the decision to delay the implementation of the reduced 36-hour working week for Agenda for Change staff.
Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in the answer to questions S6W-35253 and S6W-35256 on 11 March 2025, as part of the NHS Scotland Board Annual Review process, the feedback obtained from Area Partnership forums highlighted safety related concerns from a wide range of Agenda for Cha…
25 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has delayed the implementation of the 36-hour working week for Agenda for Change staff in the NHS.
Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in the answer to question S6W-35253 on 11 March 2025, as part of the NHS Scotland Board Annual Review process, the feedback obtained from Area Partnership forums highlighted safety related concerns from a wide range of Agenda for Change colleagues …
25 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the NHS staff that it consulted on the matter supported the delayed implementation of the 36-hour working week for Agenda for Change staff.
Answer · Neil Gray: As part of the NHS Scotland Board Annual Review process, feedback was obtained from Area Partnership forums that highlighted safety concerns on any further reductions of the working week in 2025. Area Partnership Forum’s include representatives from Age…
25 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research has been conducted on the feedback received regarding the first 30-minute reduction in working hours in 2024 for Agenda for Change staff in the NHS, and what assessment has been made of the impact of the reduction.
Answer · Neil Gray: Extensive research was undertaken on the impact of the first 30 minute reduction of the working week for Agenda for Change staff. This included its impact on maintaining system performance, meeting legislative requirements around safe staffing and the deliver…
19 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on a musculoskeletal digital pathway for Scotland since November 2023.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people living in Scotland with musculoskeletal conditions can access the best possible care and support.While there are no current plans to develop a musculoskeletal digital pathway, the government has com…
19 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last engaged with the clinical director of musculoskeletal services at each territorial NHS board.
Answer · Neil Gray: Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly meet with the leadership of all NHS Boards to provide support and scrutiny whilst reinforcing national priorities, including further action to reduce waiting times.Scottish Government officials do not rout…
19 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last engaged with the clinical director of trauma and orthopaedics at each territorial NHS board.
Answer · Neil Gray: Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly meet with the leadership of all NHS Boards to provide support and scrutiny whilst reinforcing national priorities, including further action to reduce waiting times.In addition, the Scottish Government comm…
19 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last engaged with the clinical director of rheumatology in each territorial NHS board.
Answer · Neil Gray: Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly meet with the leadership of all NHS Boards to provide support and scrutiny whilst reinforcing national priorities, including further action to reduce waiting times.Scottish Government officials do not rout…
19 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many calls have been made to the now defunct musculoskeletal helpline since 2020.
Answer · Neil Gray: This information is not held by Scottish Government.
18 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of police officer and police staff working days lost due to mental health illness has risen in recent years.
13 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20893 by Jenny Gilruth on 26 September 2023, on what date it will publish the equivalent data for 2024-25.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We anticipate publishing papers relating to the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group's workforce planning process for 2025-26, in the coming weeks.
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any reports of underspend in Whole Family Wellbeing Fund allocations, and, if so, how much this has amounted to in each financial year that the fund has operated.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: In line with other reporting from programmes funded via the General Revenue Grant, we do not routinely gather detail on the totality of Children’s Services Planning Partnerships spend, instead focusing on the activities they are delivering, outcomes ach…
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any assessment of the experiences of children and families regarding whole family support during the lifetime of the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: We have commissioned external evaluations to understand how the Whole Family Wellbeing Funding (WFWF) Programme is delivering on its purpose to enable the local transformational system change necessary to ensure that families are able to access holistic whole…
15 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary hashad with ministerial colleagues regarding what funding will be available in thenext financial year to support farmers to address water management issuesimpacting on agricultural land.
10 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reportedly overdue filing of audited accounts by Alvance and Liberty Steel, whether any conditions, as part of any legal agreements between these companies and the Scottish Government, have been broken.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The requirement for Directors of companies registered in the United Kingdom to prepare and publish annual audited financial statements, subject to certain exemptions, arises from the Companies Act 2006 and not from contractual conditions.
10 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the guarantee that it provided for the purchase of the Lochaber smelter, whether there were any conditions placed on (a) Alvance and (b) GFG Alliance to submit fully audited accounts every year.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The requirement for Directors of companies registered in the United Kingdom to prepare and publish annual audited financial statements, subject to certain exemptions, arises from the Companies Act 2006 and not from contractual conditions.
10 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of any legal agreement regarding the (a) back-to-back deal that it facilitated between Tata Steel and Liberty Steel in 2016 to buy Dalzell Steel Works and (b) £7 million loan from the Scottish National Investment Bank provided to Liberty Steel, whether there were any condi…
Answer · Tom Arthur: The requirement for Directors of companies registered in the United Kingdom to prepare and publish annual audited financial statements, subject to certain exemptions, arises from the Companies Act 2006 and not from contractual conditions.
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the results of the Instrumental Music Service Survey 2024 to be published.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The survey is not a Scottish Government survey. It is carried out by the Improvement Service on behalf of Heads of Instrumental Tuition Scotland (HITS).For further information please contact the Improvement Service at [email protected]