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: S7O-00299

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Pauline McNeill (on behalf of the SPCB) on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it is supporting MSPs to offer benefits to their employees, including those which promote healthy living and wellbeing.

The SPCB offers a wide range of services and benefits which promote healthy living and wellbeing. These are available to MSP staff as well as SPCB staff and include, for example, a free on-site gym for staff based in Holyrood, corporate gym membership discounts and the cycle to work scheme. Staff also have access to an Employee Assistance Service which delivers 24/7 counselling as well as an online wellbeing platform. This platform contains fitness programmes, nutrition guides and on-demand e-learning and podcasts on a wide-range of wellbeing topics. The SPCB takes seriously its responsibility to support positive wellbeing for all members of the parliament community, including MSP staff.

Question reference: S7O-00292

Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jackie Dunbar (on behalf of the SPCB) on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment and engagement with building users informed its decision to introduce facial template authentication for passholders on the parliamentary estate, whether it is aware of similar technology being used in any other UK parliament and whether it will consult with MSPs further before implementation.

The existing system is nine years old and has become slower, with its performance declining and more difficult to maintain. Facial authentication should be quicker and more reliable, while maintaining the security benefits of two-factor authentication.Finger template technology is supposed to have a 93% success rate however the system performance has declined to <85% success rate. This has impacted on both new people trying to enrol onto the system, and for users who have found that their template is no longer working and been unable to re-enrol.

Feedback from passholders, particularly Members, has also highlighted delays and queues at entrances.

Following specialist security advice, facial authentication was assessed as offering the best balance of security, reliability and ease of use. The SPCB considered privacy, cyber security, accessibility, resilience and personal safety before approving the upgrade.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the security arrangements of other legislatures. Holyrood’s arrangements are determined by the SPCB, based on the Parliament’s needs and advice from its security partners, including Police Scotland. The rollout will be phased so that the system can be tested and monitored. Security and access-control arrangements are the responsibility of the SPCB. It considered the proposal in detail, including privacy, cyber security, resilience and personal safety, before approving it. Feedback from building users has informed how the new arrangements will operate.

Question reference: S7O-00338

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action it is taking in response to reported warnings from the Governor of HMP Barlinnie about overcrowding and the risk of critical failure arising from the prison’s ageing infrastructure.

Question reference: S7O-00329

Asked by: David Linden, MSP for Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that expanded childcare is available to all families.

Question reference: S7O-00303

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to implement a universal library offer, as recommended by the Scottish Library and Information Council in its report on how public libraries are supported, measured and funded.

Question reference: S7O-00301

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S7O-00336

Asked by: Max Bannerman, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what role, if any, Police Scotland has in monitoring the activities of people studying in Scotland on student visas, including what information it receives or holds regarding such individuals.

Question reference: S7O-00334

Asked by: Helen McDade, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what process it followed in selecting SAMH to deliver its new network of mental health drop-in hubs, including how it took account of existing local provision, such as Hope Point at The Centre in Dundee and the original Neuk in Perth, when reaching its decision.

Question reference: S7O-00307

Asked by: David Green, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to democratically empower communities across rural Scotland.

Question reference: S7O-00335

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will commission feasibility studies on bringing sections of the Water of Leith and Wardie Bay into safe public usage, in light of its Programme for Government commitment.