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-04468

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 23 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the contractual arrangements for judicial office holders in the Scottish Tribunals, including the requirement to make themselves available for a minimum number of sitting days without any guarantee of work, and whether it will consider introducing guaranteed minimum sitting days and salaried appointments, particularly for chamber presidents and in-house legal members, in line with arrangements elsewhere in the UK.

Question reference: S7W-04471

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 23 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that travel and subsistence allowances for judicial office holders in the Scottish Tribunals have not been revised for several years and are insufficient to cover expenses incurred, and that substantial pre-hearing preparation and decision writing is regularly undertaken without additional remuneration, whether it will review the adequacy of these arrangements and consider introducing supplementary payments, in line with those available to judicial office holders in other UK jurisdictions.

Question reference: S7W-04474

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-04191 by Ruth Charteris on 22 October 2026 regarding the Code of Practice on the investigative functions as set out in section 57 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, whether it will provide details regarding the established legal and procedural safeguards that are in place for investigative functions in the absence of the Code of Practice.

Question reference: S7W-04464

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 23 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS boards are required to notify it when additional beds are added to wards above their planned capacity and, if so, how many such notifications it has received from each NHS board in 2025.

Question reference: S7W-04472

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government following the answer to question S7W-04191 by Ruth Charteris on 22 October 2026, for what reason it considers that the absence of a published Code does not mean that investigative functions have operated without established legal and procedural safeguards.

Question reference: S7W-04459

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 23 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many consultant geriatrician vacancies there are currently across NHS Scotland, and what action it is taking to increase recruitment and retention in geriatric medicine.

Question reference: S7W-04154

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 23 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland has held any discussions with (a) CMAL or (b) CalMac about chartering a vessel to operate the Campbeltown to Ardrossan ferry route.

Question reference: S7W-03853

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 23 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-02101 by Stephen Flynn on 25 August 2026, whether it will provide an update on (a) the publication date of the updated code of conduct on the treatment of passengers and staff using public transport, as outlined in the National Bus Travel Concession Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026, and (b) on what date the updated code and underpinning processes supporting the suspension of access to free travel if the code is breached will take effect.

Transport Scotland is continuing to work with stakeholders, including bus operators and local authorities, to finalise the updated Code of Conduct and the supporting operational processes required for its implementation.

The updated code of conduct and associated suspension processes will be published when they are brought into operation. A commencement date for the operation of the Code of Conduct and the associated suspension processes will be confirmed shortly.

Question reference: S7W-04092

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 23 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to “continue to work with campaigners to advance consideration” of reopening rail services to Ellon, Peterhead and Fraserburgh, what specific action it has taken.

Since publication of the 2026 SNP manifesto, Transport Scotland has continued to work with regional partners to advance consideration of proposals to reintroduce rail services to Ellon, Peterhead and Fraserburgh.

Following receipt of the 2024 Case for Change and Preliminary Options Appraisal, further work was identified to strengthen the evidence base, including consideration of future freight demand. In February 2025, Transport Scotland agreed to support Nestrans, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce and the Campaign for North East Rail (CNER) in taking this work forward.

Nestrans is now leading the Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Ellon Corridor Place Based Connectivity Assessment, with support from Transport Scotland. The study is expected to conclude in early 2027, after which any next steps will be considered through the established transport appraisal process.

Question reference: S7W-03881

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 23 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what outcomes were of the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport's recent meeting in Cairnryan with local authorities, transport operators and community stakeholders, including what actions, timescales and investment commitments were agreed to improve the safety, resilience and capacity of the A77.

The A77 is a vital component of Scotland’s trunk road network, providing an essential road link between the Ports at Cairnryan Port and central and northern Scotland.

The meeting provided an opportunity, to engage with stakeholders about the challenges and opportunities that exist on both the A77 and A75. More details about the planned work by Transport Scotland, including further stakeholder engagement, the development of Corridor Action Plans and proposed timescales are available at: South West Scotland Strategic Corridor Improvements | Transport Scotland.