Parliamentary questions

Alexander Burnett

1,406 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

24 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding Scottish social security benefits, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding accessing the data available between the UK Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC records to identify older people on low incomes in Scotland who are likely to be eligible for p…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As responsibility for promoting the take-up of Pension Credit lies with the UK Government, the Scottish Government has not had any specific discussions with the UK Government regarding access to the Department for Work and Pensions or HM Revenue and Customs d…

24 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason public sector bodies, like national park authorities, reportedly do not need to publish any cost-benefit analyses of their spending decisions.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: All public bodies in Scotland, including National Parks are required to demonstrate value for money in the discharge of their functions via compliance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) and Accountable Officer (AO) Framework. The use/publication o…

24 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, when reviewing the annual reports and accounts of national park authorities over the last 10 years, what concerns have been raised about the economic impact of national parks.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scotland’s National Parks generate significant economic benefits via tourism, employment and investment. Like all Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs), National Park’s Annual Reports & Accounts are formally reviewed by external auditors befo…

24 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its decision to not proceed with plans to create a Galloway National Park, whether it will reconsider its position on carrying out an independent review of the economic impact of Scotland’s national parks on businesses and industries within national parks.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: There are no current plans for the Scottish Government to conduct an independent review of the two existing National Parks in Scotland, as we consider there are already adequate accountability mechanisms in place. As set out in their underpinning legislation,…

17 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it (a) has spent to date and (b) is projected to spend in total on implementing the national strategy for 20mph speed limits.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government allocated £4 million in 2024-25 to support road authorities in the development and implementation of 20 mph speed limits on appropriate roads. A further £7.6 million is available in the current financial year, reflecting th…

4 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the impact of its budget settlement for Aberdeenshire Council in 2025-26 on the local authority’s ability to deliver local services.

3 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-37499 by Jenni Minto on 27 May 2025, for what reason (a) the Sanofy VidPrevtyn COVID-19 vaccine has reportedly been withdrawn from the 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme and (b) a vaccine for people allergic to trometamol has reportedly not been ma…

Answer · Jenni Minto: Sanofi’s VidPrevtyn has not been used in the Scottish Vaccination Programme since winter 2023-24, and is no longer available in the UK. The withdrawal was at the request of the marketing authorisation holder, Sanofi Pasteur, which notified the European …

27 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the children's minister last met with Aberdeenshire Council to discuss nursery closures.

13 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent current projects will be included when making a cumulative impact assessment for a section 36 application under the Electricity Act 1989.

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide resources to support local authorities to develop a renewable energy mapping tool, enabling residents to understand the cumulative impact of proposed renewable projects across their local authority.

Answer · Ivan McKee: We have taken forward a package of changes to planning fees to better resource the system, however it is a matter for local authorities to determine how their financial resources are allocated based on their priorities. Planning authorities are nevertheless r…

6 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19 vaccines are available for those who are immunocompromised and have a respiratory illness, in light of reports that VidPrevtyn, manufactured by Sanofi Paseur, is no longer available.

Answer · Jenni Minto: All those aged 6 months and over, who are immunosuppressed, are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine this spring, along with all those aged 75 and over, and residents in care homes for older adults.Those who are immunosuppressed cannot receive what are called live…

6 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that the year 2023-24 is dealt with as a transitional year for licensed self-catering operators when supplying annual data to the assessor.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The requirement to provide evidence of letting to assessors to ensure compliance with the thresholds for self-catering holiday accommodation to be included in the valuation roll was introduced from April 2022 to counter a known tax avoidance tactic for second…

1 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with the National Fire Chiefs Council regarding reports of fires at battery energy storage system sites in Scotland.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government regularly discusses a wide range of fire safety topics with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) including battery energy storage system (BESS) sites.SFRS is a member of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and has access to …

30 Apr 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister's recent comments regarding the mothballing of nurseries, what systems are in place to ensure local authorities comply with national guidance.

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10461 by Humza Yousaf on 20 September 2022, whether it will provide an update on the support it is giving to the development of the VLA15 vaccine for Lyme disease.

Answer · Neil Gray: As noted in the response to S6W-10461, Scottish Enterprise has provided support to the Valneva facility in Livingston although the Lyme disease vaccine candidate VLA15 is not directly supported by Scottish funding.The introduction of any new national vaccine …

15 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring access to early learning and childcare for families in rural areas, in light of reports of recent nursery closures.

14 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Electricity Act 1989, what information it has on how many respondents to section 36 planning applications were not contacted by its Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) in advance of a public inquiry, when they should have been, in each of the …

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) are not aware that this has been a recurring issue other than for one recent specific case, where Energy Consents Unit (ECU) hadn’t initially passed all representee contact details to them from the …

14 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Electricity Act 1989, whether statutory consultees on section 36 and section 37 planning applications should receive a copy of any (a) gate check and (b) other reports submitted by the applicant.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: As part of the process to determine applications made under Section 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989, consultees are asked by the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) to provide comment on the contents of gate checks. The purpose of a gate check is to set out how …

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13059 by Keith Brown on 9 January 2023, whether it will provide an update on the Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland (OPG) backlog of power of attorney applications; how many cases are currently affected, and what funding is available to suppo…

Answer · Angela Constance: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.