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 48973 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-42858

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 22 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings have taken place, in the current parliamentary session, between any government minister and/or civil servant and any salmon farming company and/or their umbrella body, Salmon Scotland, and whether the issue of (a) health and safety and (b) workers' rights and trade union recognition in the salmon industry was raised.

Salmon farming is important for Scotland and the Scottish Government is ambitious for the sector’s future in Scotland. As such, Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives from salmon farming companies and Salmon Scotland on a range of matters including work to streamline the consenting process, improving fish health and welfare, reducing environmental impact, and support for innovation in the sector.

The Scottish Government expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for all workers in line with health and safety legislation, but cannot direct them in respect of these reserved matters. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42856 on 21 January 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-43230

Asked by: Joe FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee City West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Tom Arthur on 22 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its next Suicide Prevention Action Plan.

The Scottish Government and COSLA’s joint Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2026-29 will be published on the Scottish Government website on 22 January 2026 at 9am.

Building on progress and learning from delivering our first Action Plan, as well as insights from a range of stakeholders and partners including people with lived experience of suicide, this new 3-year Action Plan sets out the next phase of Scotland’s ambitious ten-year suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together.

The Action Plan sets out measures to continue to reduce suicide deaths, address the inequalities that increase risk, and ensure anyone with thoughts of suicide can access timely, compassionate support and feel a sense of hope.

The Action Plan focuses on four priorities:

Tackling the factors that can increase suicide risk and creating safer environments
Building understanding about suicide and capability to respond across communities
Ensuring access to timely and compassionate support which we know saves lives
Strengthening foundations for effective delivery through improved data, evidence, and collaboration

A link to the Action Plan is attached below and will be live at 9am on 22 January 2026.

Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2026-29

Question reference: S6W-42898

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Futures Trust will report to the Scottish Ministers on alternative funding options, including revenue funded models for capital projects.

The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) undertakes a range of activities, working with partners across the public and private sectors to deliver infrastructure-led outcomes. The SFT is an infrastructure centre of expertise which provide independent advice. As an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, it does not report directly to Scottish Ministers, however it does provide technical expertise and analysis that informs official advice to Ministers.

Work is ongoing to improve the way infrastructure projects are delivered in Scotland. As part of this, we have asked SFT to lead on engagement with the market to explore whether alternative forms of finance could be used to deliver capital projects. SFT will work within the business case development timeframes set by Scottish Government.

Current fiscal framework constraints and tight limits on Scottish Government capital borrowing make revenue finance a necessity to build the infrastructure we need. We remain open-minded to pursuing different forms of revenue-funded models and will assess their suitability for infrastructure projects on a case-by-case basis.

Question reference: S6W-42897

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Futures Trust will report to the Scottish Ministers regarding available alternative forms of finance that could support health infrastructure investment.

The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) undertakes a range of activities, working with partners across the public and private sectors to deliver infrastructure-led outcomes.

The SFT is an infrastructure centre of expertise. As an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, the SFT operates at arm's length from the Government. Whilst it provides independent advice, the SFT does not report directly to Scottish Ministers, however it does provide technical expertise and analysis that informs official advice to Ministers.

The SFT will work within the business case development timeframes set by portfolios. Decisions in relation to the suitability of alternate forms of finance for specific infrastructure projects will be taken by Scottish Government on a case-by-case basis.

Question reference: S6W-42899

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will make a decision on the use of potential alternative funding options for capital projects.

Current fiscal framework constraints and tight limits on Scottish Government capital borrowing make consideration of alternative funding options, including private finance, a necessity to build the infrastructure we need.

We are always open to engaging with relevant stakeholders on alternative funding opportunities which would deliver best value.

We remain open-minded to pursuing different forms of alternative finance and will assess their suitability for infrastructure projects on a case-by-case basis.

Question reference: S6O-05440

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with non-medical aesthetic practitioners regarding training opportunities for the sector in advance of the introduction of the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill.

Question reference: S6O-05436

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its policy on single-sex spaces in the NHS in Scotland, what its response is to the recent ruling in the case brought by eight nurses at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Question reference: S6O-05438

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reconsider its stated position of opposing the construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-05441

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to young athletes who will be representing Scotland in sport in 2026.

Question reference: S6O-05437

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to sustain the projects aiming to tackle poverty and social exclusion in the North East Scotland region, that are currently supported by the Investing in Communities Fund, beyond March 2026.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Filter your results Hide all filters

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer