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-02710

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 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider wider reform of property taxation, including a review of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, with a view to enhancing the benefits of the First Homes Fund.

The progressive rates and bands for residential Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and the first time buyer relief that increases the nil rate band to £175,000 are intended to support first-time buyers in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to review LBTT for the purpose of enhancing the benefits available through the First Homes Fund. However the Scottish Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the annual Budget process and wider tax policy development.

Question reference: S7W-02978

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 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking in preparation for winter 2026-27, to reduce instances of corridor care, and support NHS staff and patient safety.

The Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026-2031 sets out the urgent action that is required to prepare for the period of surge that is expected in our hospitals over the winter.

The plan recognizes corridor care is unacceptable, and is best tackled through reducing overcrowding in hospitals. Reducing delayed discharge is one of the most effective actions available to increase capacity, reduce overcrowding, improve patient experience and prepare services for winter demand. That’s why the plan asks all Health Boards to make improving discharge and reducing delays in acute hospitals an immediate priority. By winter 2026-27, every Board is expected to have implemented the core principles of the Discharge Without Delay approach and established improvement trajectories for discharge performance and average length of stay.

Vaccination also remains a key part of our approach to winter preparedness. We are working with Health Boards and partners to strengthen this year's winter vaccination programme and maximise uptake among eligible groups. A national public information campaign will support this effort, encouraging people to come forward for vaccination when invited, helping to reduce serious illness.

Question reference: S7W-03291

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed the support programmes available in Scottish Prisons for Orders of Lifelong restriction sentences.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government and has responsibility for delivery of rehabilitative interventions in custody.

SPS continually assesses and develops the interventions available to individuals in custody. Where appropriate, those subject to an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) are considered for programmes and support as identified through their Risk Management Plan which is approved by the Risk Management Authority.

Question reference: S7O-00294

Asked by: Laura Moodie, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it collects data on MSP staff pay including data on the gender pay gap.

Question reference: S7O-00291

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen and Cambuslang, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment it has undertaken of the impact on school visits to the Scottish Parliament of the changes to the timing of First Minister’s Questions.

Question reference: S7O-00295

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether, with respect to the standards applied by the Parliament's Allowances Office for MSP constituency offices, it will establish technical standards for fire detection, ventilation, heating, lighting and other safety and wellbeing factors that are recognised by surveyors and solicitors across the Scottish property sector.

Question reference: S7O-00300

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it consulted MSP staff trade unions on the contents of the employer pledge that MSPs were asked to sign up to.

Question reference: S7O-00250

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will develop a memorandum of understanding with MSP staff trade unions concerning the matters for which it is responsible.

Question reference: S7O-00290

Asked by: Kristopher Leask, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider reviewing the MSP staff travel expenses scheme to ensure that it takes account of the differences in travel distance and costs between geographically smaller parliamentary regions and larger ones, such as the Highlands and Islands.

Question reference: S7O-00297

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, regarding its proposed facial authentication security access system, when is it due to be introduced and whether MSPs and parliamentary staff will be permitted to opt out of its use.