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-03678

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a Misogyny Bill by the end of 2026.

As confirmed in the Programme for Government 2026-31, published in September 2026, the Scottish Government's Year 1 legislative Parliamentary year, includes a commitment to introduce a Bill to recognise misogyny as a distinct form of prejudice and abuse.

The Year 1 legislative programme sets out the measures the Scottish Government has committed to introduce in the 2026-27 Parliamentary year, before the summer recess at the end of June 2027.

Question reference: S7W-03824

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Assurance review of Conduct and Discipline finding that 20% of Police Scotland officers and staff who died by suicide between 2013 and 2024 were subject to live complaints or conduct processes, what assessment it has made of the adequacy of wellbeing support available to officers and staff involved in such processes.

Every suicide is a tragedy with a far-reaching impact on families, friends and communities. Through Creating Hope Together, Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy and action plan, the Scottish Government is committed to reducing suicide and tackling the inequalities that can contribute to it.

The action plan includes measures to support workforce wellbeing, ensuring employers have access to sources of support for mentally healthy workplaces which include a focus on suicide prevention, alongside wider mental health and wellbeing.

Workforce management is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.

The Scottish Government welcomes Police Scotland’s acceptance of HMICS recommendations, including strengthening wellbeing support for officers and staff involved in conduct and disciplinary processes. Support should be tailored to individual needs and delivered consistently.

Since 2024, Police Scotland has invested around £2 million annually in an occupational health contract to support workforce health and wellbeing.

Question reference: S7W-03718

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider requiring a specific fire risk assessment, including consideration of the storage and charging of lithium-ion batteries, before a vape shop can operate in or immediately adjacent to a listed or historic building.

Existing fire safety legislation, the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, places responsibilities on duty holders to assess and manage fire risks in relevant premises, including risks associated with the storage and charging of lithium-ion batteries, where relevant.

However, the Scottish Government is currently reviewing the suite of fire safety guidance for all relevant premises (including shops) and will consider this as part of the ongoing work.

Question reference: S7W-04051

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value is of the additional financial support that it has offered to provide to Glasgow City Council to fund three years of pay protection until April 2030 for the approximately 11% of non-teaching staff facing salary reductions under the local authority's new pay and grading system, whether this funding is ring-fenced, and from which budget line or fiscal resource it will be drawn.

Question reference: S7W-03711

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 12 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is prepared to deal with an increasing number of challenges to individual social care budgets, in light of higher numbers of people escalating complaints from local authorities.

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) is independent of the Scottish Government and operates under the SPSO Act 2002. The Scottish Government remains committed to protecting the Ombudsman’s independence, in line with the Venice Principles.

The SPSO’s budget is funded through the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), and it is for the SPCB and the Ombudsman to plan and resource its services to meet demand.

The SPSO has published information on delays and actions being taken to improve performance and reduce waiting times: https://www.spso.org.uk/detailed-information-delays

Question reference: S7W-03769

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the outcome of its review of the Wildfire Strategic Action Plan, including its response to each recommendation, the person or body responsible for delivering any resulting actions, and a timetable for reporting progress to Parliament.

The Scottish Government will report the outcome of the Wildfire Strategic Action Plan review and the resulting actions. This may include updates to the existing Strategic Action Plan, including details of those responsible for delivering agreed actions, and further reporting through the Wildfires Strategic Oversight Group and to Parliament.

It is expected that progress will be delivered on a number of the priority areas ahead of the 2027 wildfire season, with further updates to be provided as the review progresses.

Question reference: S7W-03767

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's review of the Cairngorms wildfire will examine decisions regarding operational command, initial resource deployment, firefighter safety, the use of specialist and aerial assets and communications with local communities, and what arrangements are in place to enable personnel to provide evidence on a confidential basis.

The specific elements of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, (SFRS) review of its response to the Cairngorms wildfire, and the processes followed, are matters for the SFRS.

The Scottish Government is assured that the SFRS is undertaking a comprehensive review and debrief process in collaboration with partner organisations involved in the response to the Cairngorms wildfire. This will examine operational deployment, availability of assets and communications during the incident.

The process includes internal operational debrief arrangements as well as a wider multi-agency review involving key responding organisations.

Question reference: S7W-03710

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 12 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to increase the support available to people who are awaiting the outcome of investigations into social care budget decisions made by their local authority, particularly where a complaint has been escalated to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman and may face an extended waiting period before a determination is reached.

Local Authorities, NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships are responsible for ensuring effective arrangements for the delivery, commissioning, management and monitoring of social care packages.

While the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman provides independent scrutiny of social work decisions, Local Authorities must follow established complaints procedures designed to resolve issues quickly and close to the point of service delivery.

We want to ensure people make informed choices about how their social care support is provided to them, and that their needs, rights and preferences are at the heart of the decision-making process. This year, we are providing £3.3 million through the Support in the Right Direction programme to ensure individuals across Scotland can access independent information, advice and support regarding their social care.

Question reference: S7W-03912

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin its consultation on the proposed Procurement Bill, as set out in its Programme for Government.

Question reference: S7W-03758

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the independently facilitated multi-agency debrief on the Cairngorms wildfire, scheduled for 15 October 2026, when any resulting report is expected to be completed, to whom it will be submitted, who will approve any recommendations, and whether the report and any subsequent action plan will be published in full.

The multi-agency debrief of the response to the Cairngorms wildfire is sponsored by Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue service, (SFRS) and the Highland Council.

The Scottish Government remains independent of this debrief, which will remain jointly sponsored by SFRS, Police Scotland and Highland Council. The sponsors retain ownership of the process, findings, any recommendations and any resulting actions.

Matters relating to the completion of any reporting, or decisions on publication are for the sponsorship organisations.

The findings from the debrief process will be used to inform improvements to wildfire preparedness and response arrangements ahead of the 2027 wildfire season.