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-01256

Asked by: David Linden, MSP for Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answer expected on 21 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that resident Commonwealth nationals with limited leave to remain can stand in the local government elections to be held on 6 May 2027.

Question reference: S7W-01143

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 23 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure earlier diagnosis of leukaemia.

Earlier diagnosis improves outcomes, which is why we continue to invest in our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme. The programme works closely with the Scottish Cancer Coalition, including Leukaemia Care and Blood Cancer UK, to support awareness raising efforts and joint messaging where possible.

Detect Cancer Earlier’s ‘Be The Early Bird’ campaign launched in March 2023 aims to reduce fear of cancer and empower those with possible symptoms to act early.

In addition, the Scottish Referral Guidelines (SRGs) for Suspected Cancer support primary care clinicians to identify those with symptoms suspicious of cancer and identify those who require urgent assessment by a specialist.

Further, our Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (RCDS) provides primary care with access to a new fast-track diagnostic pathway for people with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer, such as weight loss and fatigue, both of which are relevant for leukaemia.

Question reference: S7W-01144

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 23 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of patients presenting with suspected leukaemia symptoms receive a full blood count within 48 hours.

Question reference: S7W-01145

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 23 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support leukaemia patients in remote and rural areas.

Scottish Government wants people diagnosed with cancers such as leukaemia to be treated as close to home as clinically possible. We continue to work with NHS Boards, to limit the need for travel where possible and clinically appropriate. This includes through increased use of digital and technological solutions such as Near Me, to improve flexibility of care.

However, some treatments require delivery in specialist centres to ensure the best outcomes. Where travel is necessary, patients in rural areas should be fully supported in accessing these.

The Scottish Government provides the overall guidance to NHS Boards for patient travel expenses reimbursement, with NHS Boards responsible for local arrangements. In addition, the Highlands and Islands Travel Scheme (HITS) reimburses the travel costs of eligible patients who need to travel longer distances for care.

We are also committed to supporting patients to deal with the financial, emotional, and physical health effects of cancer, including those living in a rural area. We are currently working in partnership with Macmillan to deliver the Transforming Cancer Care Programme, which ensures that people affected by cancer in Scotland have access to a specialist key support worker, who can provide and signpost to emotional, financial, and practical support.

Question reference: S7W-00944

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 23 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains on track to fulfil the commitments of The Promise by 2030.

The Scottish Government continue to prioritise delivery of the Promise by 2030.

The Promise Implementation Plan, published in March 2022, set out the Government’s approach to fulfilling these commitments. A comprehensive update on progress was provided in the Implementation Plan Update, published in September 2024, which outlined the actions taken and the ongoing work required.

Progress is being assessed through the Promise Story of Progress, a joint approach co-authored by the Scottish Government, COSLA and The Promise Scotland. The Story of Progress was update and published in December 2025. One component of this is the Promise Progress Framework, which builds on a theory of change to identify the outcomes for care-experienced children, young people and families that need to improve by 2030, alongside national-level data to help understand where change is happening.

At the end of the last parliamentary session, a significant package of legislative change through the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act was unanimously approved in Parliament.

The Act will help improve the lives of people across Scotland with care experience, as well as those who care for them. This legislation represents a significant step forward in delivering our commitment to The Promise by 2030, by placing the needs and rights of care-experienced children and young people at the centre of the care system, and responding directly to what people with care experience have said they need to thrive.

Question reference: S7W-00945

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 23 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the £2,000 Care Leaver Payment will become fully operational nationwide.

The Care Leaver Payment provides a payment of £2,000 to young people leaving care, with the intention of providing additional financial security for care leavers as they transition into adulthood and more independent living.

The Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 came into force on 1 April 2026, commencing the scheme for all of Scotland. The regulations place all local authorities in Scotland under a legal duty to make this payment to young people who are eligible on or from this date, if they also meet the other eligibility requirements.

Question reference: S7W-01252

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 23 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the recent Court of Session judgment in the For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers case regarding the Scottish Prison Service's Policy for the Management of Transgender People in Custody and associated Operational Guidance.

Following careful consideration of Lady Ross’s judgment the Scottish Government has decided not to appeal.

This case involved important considerations regarding Ministers’ legal obligations under the Scotland Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010 and the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as the serious practical implications arising from the issues before the Court, including the risk of suicide recognised in the judgment.

The focus now moves to implementing the law, as clarified by the court maintaining a clear focus on the safety, wellbeing and rights of all those living and working within Scotland’s prisons. The Scottish Prison Service withdrew their Transgender Policy on 22 June, and work is underway to implement transfers of prisoners on 23 June.

The safety, wellbeing and rights of all those living and working within Scotland’s prisons and the welfare of affected individuals will be the primary consideration and operational changes will be taken forward carefully, lawfully and in a managed way.

Question reference: S7W-01226

Asked by: Laura Moodie, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what further action is planned to address gaps in access to childcare, community provision and family support services, particularly in rural and low-income areas.

Question reference: S7W-01191

Asked by: Q Manivannan, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to co-design community safety strategies with local faith groups and Muslim community organisations in Edinburgh and Lothians, to ensure that responses to potential far-right violence are shaped by the communities most affected.

Question reference: S7W-01185

Asked by: Q Manivannan, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what immediate mental health support has been made available to Muslim and minority ethnic communities in Edinburgh following reported attacks on 19 June 2026, and what steps it is taking to ensure that such support is culturally appropriate and accessible to those who may face linguistic or other barriers.