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-02897

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to introducing breakfast clubs across all special schools from August 2027.

The Scottish Government remains committed to the ambition set out by the First Minister which will see children in primary school and all children in special school able to benefit from our national breakfast club policy.

Breakfast club provision must be inclusive and responsive to individual needs, in line with equalities legislation, and inclusive of disabled children and children with additional support needs. Work is continuing through the Equality Impact Assessment process and wider stakeholder engagement to inform the most appropriate approaches to breakfast provision in special school settings. The national breakfast offer will focus on delivering equitable access, with provision shaped locally to meet the needs of children and their families.

Question reference: S7W-02906

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the total cost to taxpayers of investigating, securing and clearing illegal waste sites over the last five years, and what proportion of these costs has subsequently been recovered from those responsible.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally and does not hold estimates of the annual costs associated with waste crime which could be split across a number of public bodies and enforcement agencies. For information of this nature, you may wish to contact the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Police Scotland and local authorities, as they may be able to assist further.

Question reference: S7W-03305

Asked by: Lloyd Melville, MSP for Angus South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Stephen Flynn on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its regulatory check of local road user charging powers under Part 3 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001.

Given the ongoing financial pressures facing households, we do not believe it is appropriate to continue work on the regulatory check of local road user charging powers at present. Accordingly, no further work is being taken forward.

The Scottish Government remains committed to meeting Scotland's carbon budget targets and achieving net zero emissions by 2045. We will continue to support sustainable travel and reduce transport emissions, contributing to delivery of the Climate Change Plan while helping to realise the economic opportunities of the transition to net zero.

Question reference: S7W-02648

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, following the departure of Dr Calum MacLeod, how many Land Commissioners currently serve on the board of the Scottish Land Commission; for what reason, in the context of public service reform, it has not yet recruited a replacement for Dr MacLeod, whether it plans the board to return to its full statutory complement of five Commissioners and, if (a) so, by what date it expects to do so and (b) not, (i) on what legal authority it is operating with fewer than five Commissioners and (ii) whether it will lay regulations under section 4(5) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 to alter the number of Commissioners.

I wrote to the Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee on 3 September 2026 to notify them of my intention to bring forward a Scottish statutory instrument which, subject to Parliament’s consideration, will amend the number of Land Commissioners at the Scottish Land Commission from five to four. We expect the instrument to be laid in early October. The letter can be found on Parliament’s website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-7/rural-affairs-committee/correspondence/2026/land-reform-scotland-act-2016-of-3-september

Following Dr Calum MacLeod's resignation earlier this year, there are currently four Land Commissioners serving as members of the Scottish Land Commission. The Tenant Farming Commissioner also serves as a member of the Commission.

Question reference: S7W-02962

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any cost estimates, financial modelling or resource assessments relating to the implementation of the commitments contained in Palliative Care Matters for All: palliative care strategy 2025 to 2030.

The Scottish Government’s Palliative Care Strategy 2025-2030 - Palliative Care Matters for All – was published on 10 September 2025, alongside an initial three year delivery plan containing 23 actions intended to deliver on the eight strategy outcomes.

Whilst specific cost estimates, financial modelling or resource assessments relating to the implementation of the overall strategy have not been published, we have worked closely with delivery partners to agree the work plans and project costs associated with the delivery of the actions.

We are also committed to publishing annual strategy progress reports providing updates on the delivery of the actions. The first of these will be published before the end of the year and will outline how we are seeking to ensure value for money and best use of resources throughout delivery of the strategy.

Question reference: S7W-02804

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to introduce primary legislation to establish Compulsory Sales Orders, following the publication on 26 August 2026 of the summary of responses to its consultation on compulsory purchase reform and the analysis report of its consultation on compulsory sale and lease orders.

The Scottish Government’s ‘Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland’ consultation demonstrated support for reforming and modernising Scotland's compulsory purchase system and we have committed to legislate for the proposed reforms during this Parliament, as set out in the Programme for Government.

The consultation also included questions about compulsory sale orders, and while respondents expressed support in principle, some questioned whether this could offer additional advantages beyond a reformed compulsory purchase process, with uncertainty about efficacy, justification and practical operation. As part of continuous improvement, we will continue to monitor whether compulsory sale powers could provide any additional benefits beyond a reformed compulsory purchase system.

Question reference: S7W-02808

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Holding Answer by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the proposed operational framework for Compulsory Sales Orders will integrate with existing efforts to streamline Compulsory Purchase Orders to provide a comprehensive toolkit for urban regeneration.

Question reference: S7W-02806

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to include powers for Compulsory Sales Orders in any bills during the current parliamentary session, in light of the strong support for such powers expressed by local authorities and housing associations responding to its recent consultation.

As set out in S7W-02804 on 16 September 2026, views on compulsory sale orders were supportive in principle, but with valid questions on what additional advantages might be over a reformed compulsory purchase process. We will continue to monitor whether compulsory sale powers could provide any additional benefits beyond a reformed compulsory purchase system.

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: S7W-02807

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what interim measures it is taking to support local authorities bring vacant and derelict buildings back into productive use while the statutory framework for Compulsory Sales Orders is being developed.

We have not committed to the development of a statutory framework for Compulsory Sale Orders. National Planning Framework 4 encourages, promotes and facilitates the reuse of brownfield, vacant and derelict land and empty buildings, to help reduce the need for greenfield development. Existing compulsory purchase powers can be used to help bring such land and buildings back into use. We will continue to monitor whether compulsory sale powers could provide any additional benefits beyond a reformed compulsory purchase system.

Question reference: S7W-02540

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in reviewing the National Performance Framework, including when the revised framework and National Outcomes will be published.

The Scottish Government is in the process of finalising the National Performance Framework (NPF) following an extensive programme of engagement earlier this year which included organisations from a range of sectors. I have written to committees this week to inform them of the proposed new National Outcomes that form part of the NPF, and that we intend to launch the reformed NPF, including the National Indicators, later this year. I will continue to keep Parliament informed of progress. We will also publish background information on the process as part of the evidence base