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 MSPs 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: S7W-01754

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 12 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions and correspondence it has had with the UK Government and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) regarding the impact of driving test waiting times on access to work, education, healthcare and other services in Scotland.

While driving tests are a fully reserved matter for the UK Government, extended waiting times have had a significant impact on learner drivers across Scotland.

In December 2024, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) introduced a seven-point plan aimed at reducing driving test waiting times and improving learners' experience of the booking process. A public consultation on further improvements to the driving test booking system subsequently ran between 28 May and 23 July 2025.

Following that consultation, the UK Government announced additional measures which were introduced from spring 2026. These changes include reducing the number of times a driving test can be changed from six to two; requiring learners to book and manage their own tests; prohibiting the use of unofficial booking services; and, limiting driving test changes to the three nearest test centres. These measures can be found at: Changes to driving test booking rules in 2026 - GOV.UK

As this is a reserved matter, the Scottish Government had no role in developing these measures, or in the work of DVSA. However we have had considerable correspondence from members of the public on these issues and Transport Scotland officials have met with DVSA to discuss these changes and their implications for Scotland and will continue to engage with the DVSA on these issues and to raise the concerns of learners.

Question reference: S7W-02434

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing Speed Awareness Courses to address road safety in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02422

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport last met the STUC or any of its affiliated unions.

Question reference: S7W-02431

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its pledge to expand community audiology services and hearing tests on the high street, how many NHS boards currently provide these services through community providers, and what funding has been allocated in 2026-27 to support expansion of this model.

Question reference: S7W-02430

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what reduction in NHS audiology waiting times it expects to achieve through the introduction of community-based hearing services, and what the current median waiting time is for (a) a first audiology appointment and (b) hearing aid fitting in each NHS board area.

Question reference: S7W-02426

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will commission a feasibility study for reopening the south suburban railway line in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S7W-02414

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to support listed places of worship with the costs of repairs.

Question reference: S7W-02418

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what process and criteria it will use to reduce the number of public bodies in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02440

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what key performance indicators and service level measures are used to assess the performance of the Vision 3 GP clinical system, and whether it will publish the most recent performance results for each of these indicators and measures.

Question reference: S7W-02423

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many new "Scotland House" international offices it will open by the end of this parliament and what are the projected costs.