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

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 5365 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S7W-03655

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, if all the Option 2 measures proposed in the Fisheries Management Measures within Scottish Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas consultation were adopted for all MPAs, what percentage of Scotland’s inshore waters which are designated as being within the Marine Protected Areas network would be subject to year-round spatial restrictions on (a) all commercial fishing, (b) scallop dredging, (c) nephrops trawling, (d) both scallop dredging and nephrops trawling and (e) creeling.

Question reference: S7W-03654

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, if all the Option 1 measures proposed in the Fisheries Management Measures within Scottish Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas consultation were adopted for all MPAs, what percentage of Scotland’s inshore waters which are designated as being within the Marine Protected Areas network would be subject to year-round spatial restrictions on (a) all commercial fishing, (b) scallop dredging, (c) nephrops trawling, (d) both scallop dredging and nephrops trawling and (e) creeling.

Question reference: S7W-03744

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 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent wildfires, what assessment it has made of the arrangements for establishing an Incident Control Centre as part of the emergency co-ordination response, including responsibility for establishing such a centre and its effectiveness.

Incident control co-ordination is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and other emergency responders in attendance at fire related incidents.

The SFRS has well established protocols to provide effective command and control when dealing with the range of risks impacting communities across Scotland, including wildfires. Responsibility for establishing the appropriate incident command arrangements rests with the emergency services. SFRS coordinates its operations, including regular multi-agency discussions between Incident Commanders, when deployed at emergency incidents.

Question reference: S7W-03755

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 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to complete its review of the Wildfire Strategic Action Plan and when it will publish a timetable for implementing any resulting recommendations ahead of the 2027 wildfire season.

The Scottish Government and key partners are currently reviewing the Wildfire Strategic Action Plan to ensure it continues to reflect the increasing wildfire risk, and to identify if further measures are required.

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

Question reference: S7W-03764

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 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the review of the Wildfire Strategic Action Plan and the independently facilitated multi-agency debrief of the response to the Cairngorms wildfire, what arrangements are in place to enable residents, land managers, farmers, crofters, businesses, volunteers and emergency responders affected by the wildfire to submit evidence, what deadlines apply for doing so, and how such participants will be informed of any resulting conclusions.

The Scottish Government and key partners are currently reviewing the Wildfire Strategic Action Plan. The review will consider how best to ensure a wide range of parties can contribute their views.

We have already captured issues raised through correspondence received from stakeholders, elected representatives and the public following the Cairngorms wildfire and will consider the extent of any further targeted stakeholder engagement in the coming weeks in light of the operational debrief outcomes.

The Scottish Government and its partners are committed to ensuring this work is inclusive, drawing on the views of communities, agencies and those involved in the wildfire response.

The Scottish Government remains independent of the multi-agency debrief concerning the response to the Cairngorms wildfire. This is to be jointly sponsored by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, (SFRS), Police Scotland and Highland Council. The sponsors will retain ownership of the process, findings and resulting actions.

Question reference: S7W-03804

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that proposed statutory food price caps do not lead to food shortages and reliance on cheaper imports.

Question reference: S7W-04095

Asked by: Jack Middleton, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 October 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angela Constance on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to publish its progress report on reform in health and social care.

The Scottish Government is today publishing the Health and Social Care Reform Progress Report - Year 1 Delivery of Population Health Framework (PHF) and Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework (SRF), delivering on our commitment to transparent public reporting on progress of delivery of long-term health and social care reform.

The report has been authored jointly with COSLA reflecting the collaborative ownership of the PHF and SRF and, presents progress against the four core areas of the Health and Social Care Vision: Prevention, Access, Quality, and Personled Care.

Together, the first year of implementation provides us with strong foundations and positive progress across the range of high-level actions in the two frameworks. The next phase of work will build on the progress and partnerships established during Year 1 and will be characterised not only by the continued delivery of existing commitments.

The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining momentum towards our shared ambitions, ensuring Scotland's health, social care and wider public services are equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of the years ahead, while continuing to drive improvements in population health, tackle inequalities, and deliver high-quality, sustainable services for the people of Scotland.

The Report can be accessed here: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781807756291

Question reference: S7W-03768

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 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how evidence and recommendations arising from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's review of the Cairngorm wildfire will be considered in its review of the Wildfire Strategic Action Plan, who will be responsible for deciding whether to adopt any recommendations, and how decisions not to adopt recommendations will be recorded and explained.

The outcomes and recommendations from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, (SFRS) Cairngorm wildfire review and multi-agency debrief process will be used to inform improvements to wildfire preparedness and response arrangements, which may be incorporated in the Wildfire Strategic Action Plan ahead of the 2027 wildfire season.

The Scottish Government Wildfire Strategic Oversight Group (SOG), as the governance body, will continue to oversee delivery of the Wildfire Strategic Action Plan and the Scottish Government will report the outcome of the review and any resulting actions. This may include updates to the existing Strategic Action Plan and further reporting through the SOG and to Parliament.

Question reference: S7W-03782

Asked by: Jamie Langan, MSP for South Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of proposals in Northern Ireland, which would require sellers and suppliers of puppies, and sellers of kittens under six months of age, to register with their local council, and what consideration it has given to establishing such a requirement in Scotland.

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (the 2021 Regulations) introduced an updated, modern framework for animal-related activities, including the breeding and selling of puppies and kittens. The 2021 Regulations already require that those breeding more than 3 litters of puppies or kittens or selling animals as pets in the course of a business be licensed by the appropriate licensing authority.

The Scottish Government has not made any assessment of proposals in Northern Ireland, which would require sellers and suppliers of puppies, and sellers of kittens under six months of age, to register with their local council, nor given consideration to establishing such a requirement in Scotland. However, Scottish Government officials meet regularly with officials from the UK Government and other devolved administrations to discuss issues relating to the wider pet trade.

Question reference: S7W-03562

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 7 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential implications of its proposed local government reform for planning application fees, including whether applicants would face different fee arrangements during or following the transition to a potential new structure of regional and community authorities.

The Government’s Proposal for Reform of Local Governance is a starting point for discussion. It is intended to facilitate debate and discussion with the objective of establishing a measure of shared agreement about the scale and the broad shape that reform could take.

Our proposals should mean decisions are taken closer to people where that could improve local outcomes, on the services and functions most appropriate.

Planning fees play an important role in the overall resourcing of the Planning Service. It is too early to say definitively whether or what changes might be made to planning fees.