FMQs: Government criticised for failing to answer MSPs' questions

Nicola Sturgeon has asked MSPs to “make allowances” after coming under-fire from opposition politicians for the number of “holding” responses by government ministers to written questions.

Liz Smith has said the lack of answers to MSPs' written questions was "unacceptable".

The First Minister was questioned in Holyrood about a failure to answers MSPs’ written questions on the Covid-19 crisis.

Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith revealed the parliamentary bulletin had shown that of 93 written parliamentary questions submitted about coronavirus last week, 22 “holding answers” were issued.

Ministers who issue holding responses no longer have to reply within the normal ten day limit, instead they can then take as much time as they want to respond. It has already been revealed that Health Secretary Jeane Freeman delayed answers on 30 occasions in just one day.

The government has also been criticised for using emergency coronavirus legislation to increasing the length of time given to answers Freedom of Information requests, with fears that it could lead to less scrutiny of government actions.

Ms Smith said: “One MSP has intimated he had received 12 holding answers on one day, another MSP intimated she had received five holding answers on one day. Does the First Minister accept that this is a completely unacceptable situation at a time when members are urgently seeking important information to give to constituents?”

Nicola Sturgeon said that while she understood the “importance of rapid answers to parliamentary questions” she asked for patience from MSPs.

“Everyone across government is working exceedingly hard to deal with an unprecedented situation and I simply ask Members, not to accept that means questions won’t be answered, but to make a little bit of allowance for the reality we’re facing.”

She added: “It’s also the case, though i can’t say if it’s the case with these answers specifically, that the information isn’t readily available. We’re learning about this virus all the time, deepening the data sources, so in some cases it may take a little bit longer to get the answers Members are asking for.”

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