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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S7W-04537

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many external recruitment exercises it authorised in each financial year from 2021-22 to 2025-26 where one or more employees of the relevant grade were on the priority movers list, and in how many of those cases an appointment was made following an assessment that no suitable priority mover was available.

Question reference: S7W-04527

Asked by: David Green, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the impact of the new funding provided to organisations supporting people affected by gambling-related harms.

Question reference: S7W-04512

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any review of charges affecting Blue Badge holders, particularly in light of charging arrangements in other parts of the UK.

Question reference: S7W-04509

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that farriery apprentices residing in Scotland can access Skills Development Scotland funding to attend Farriers Registration Council-approved colleges in England, in light of there being no approved farriery training provider in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-04508

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to section 16 of the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975 when drafting the hoof care provisions in the Welfare of Equids guidance published on 25 August 2026.

Question reference: S7W-04510

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason farriery apprentices residing in Scotland do not receive public funding for the college element of their training, and when Ministers last reviewed this position.

Question reference: S7W-04538

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many offers of suitable alternative employment have been declined by core civil servants awaiting redeployment in each financial year from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Question reference: S7W-04532

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many core civil servants entered the redeployment process, broken down by Directorate-General, in each financial year from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Question reference: S7W-04539

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it can provide that its free school bag initiative will reduce the attainment gap.

Question reference: S7W-04551

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the civil nuclear sector is not included in its Energy Skills Passport.