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-02695

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its previous statement that the loss of 632 jobs at the University of Dundee was "unacceptable", what assessment it has made of the projected loss of almost 1,000 jobs at the university.

While the University of Dundee is an autonomous institution and responsible for its own strategic and operational decisions, the Scottish Government expects compulsory redundancies to be considered only as a last resort, after all other cost-saving measures have been fully explored.

Through the Ministerial Direction issued under Section 25 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) are responsible for monitoring the University of Dundee’s compliance with funding conditions published in March 2026, including in relation to meaningful engagement with staff and students, and adherence to Fair Work principles. As set out in their funding conditions, the SFC will not release grant funding allocated under the Section 25 Direction to support any job losses.

Question reference: S7W-03147

Asked by: Laura Moodie, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual cost is for the delivery of the National Standardised Assessments for Scotland (NSA) for children and young people in P1, P4, P7, and S3.

Question reference: S7W-03156

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the current levels of inactivity amongst young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment education or training (NEETs).

The Scottish Government is committed to reducing the number of young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) by helping them access the opportunities and support they need to achieve positive and sustainable outcomes.

Our Programme for Government commits to funding 150,000 apprenticeships over this parliament, expanding work-based learning, reviewing employability services all of which will be of benefit to our Young People.

Question reference: S7W-02976

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to ending corridor care in NHS Scotland, and, if so, whether it will set clear milestones, timelines and accountability mechanisms to ensure that people are no longer treated in corridors and other non-clinical spaces.

On 31 August 2026 we published the Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026-2031. It sets out the Scottish Government’s position that corridor care is unacceptable, and should be eradicated. The plan includes a clear commitment to tackle overcrowding and corridor care, creating safer and more dignified environments for patients and staff.

Ministers will have direct oversight of this improvement activity through our Collaborative Response and Assurance Group. More detailed work is now underway with Health Boards to establish monitoring of delivery of the Improving Flow Plan, to ensure progress is made. Delivery plans are being developed which will set out actions, milestones and accountability mechanisms.

Question reference: S7W-02972

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Holding Answer by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the First Minister during First Minister's Questions on 3 September 2026 that "green data centres must be powered from renewable energy sources, make use of energy-efficient technologies, seek to minimise water consumption and support the reuse of excess heat", (a) in which document or documents those requirements are specified, (b) what proportion of a data centre's energy consumption must be from renewable sources, (c) what level of energy efficiency is required, (d) what level of water consumption is permitted, and (e) how it enforces the requirement for the reuse of excess heat and the terms on which it is supplied.

Question reference: S7W-02712

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) on investment in the private rented sector in Edinburgh, and whether it has considered a temporary suspension of ADS to encourage the supply of rental homes.

The Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) is intended to support opportunities for home ownership by disincentivising multiple residential property ownership through the application of an additional flat rate supplement.

The Scottish Government routinely monitors property market activity, including residential transactions subject to the LBTT ADS. The supply of homes for private rent is affected by a broad range of factors, including interest rates, financing costs, construction activity, local housing demand and wider market conditions. The Scottish Government's priority remains increasing the overall supply of homes and improving housing outcomes across Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-03102

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the long-term viability of bus manufacturing at Alexander Dennis in Scotland following the expiry of its furlough support arrangements announced in September 2025.

Earlier this year, Alexander Dennis took the decision to relocate bus manufacturing to Scarborough, however the firm chose to retain its Larbert facility for the building of bus chassis, protecting hundreds of skilled manufacturing jobs in Scotland.

The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise remain in regular dialogue with the company in order to prioritise the protection of as many skilled jobs as possible.

Question reference: S7W-02662

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many participants in the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund have subsequently entered employment, and, of these, how many entered employment in the renewable energy or wider low-carbon energy sector.

The Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund (TTF) – which is supported by £3 million each from the Scottish Government and UK Government - was specifically designed to target support towards current and former oil and gas workers.

The TTF provides careers advice and funding for training to support oil and gas workers to access roles in alternative sectors.

Following the 2025/26 Pilot in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, this year the TTF has been expanded to oil and gas workers resident anywhere in Scotland. As of the end of August, a total of 521 applications had already been received.

Evaluation of the TTF is ongoing, with a further survey recently issued to TTF Pilot applicants to establish their outcomes after completion of training.

Question reference: S7W-03282

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of men in the NHS Dumfries and Galloway area were diagnosed with prostate cancer at stages 1 and 2 in each of the last five years, and what action is being taken to improve early diagnosis rates.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.

The member may wish to consult Public Health Scotland’s Cancer Incidence Data Set publication. This is available at the following link: Cancer incidence in Scotland - to December 2024 - Cancer incidence in Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland.

Regarding early diagnosis, Our Detect Cancer Earlier Programme takes a whole-systems approach to early detection and encompasses primary care, diagnostics, public education, data, innovation and screening.

In addition, a clinically reviewed refresh of our Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer was published in August 2025. For this first time this now includes guidelines for key groups who should consider speaking to their GP about PSA testing from age 45.

The Scottish Government is continuing to take action to improve waiting times, with over £14m of the £135.5m in additional planned care funding for 2025-26 to Cancer Waiting Times, focussed on colorectal, urological and breast as our most challenged pathways.

Question reference: S7W-02642

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland and the Lord Advocate regarding the legal status of individuals possessing or distributing drug-testing equipment, to ensure that peer-led harm reduction initiatives face no risk of prosecution under drug paraphernalia or possession frameworks.

To date there have been no specific discussions with Police Scotland or the Lord Advocate regarding the legal status of individuals possessing or distributing drug-testing equipment.

The Lord Advocate is independent of the Scottish Government and is responsible for prosecution policy in Scotland. Any decisions regarding prosecution are a matter for the independent Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service within the existing legal framework.

We remain committed to supporting evidence-based harm reduction approaches and continue to work with partners to respond to emerging drug trends and reduce drug-related harm.

Financial Year	SNSA Platform provider	Spend (£)
2025-26	AlphaPlus	£3,490,202.67