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-00226

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that waiting times for High Court trials are expected to almost triple by 2028.

Question reference: S7O-00227

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that waiting times for High Court trials are set to triple by 2028.

Question reference: S7O-00224

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by the Auditor General for Scotland, Criminal courts backlog follow-up.

Question reference: S7W-02294

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 9 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role that a publicly owned national energy company could potentially play in the ownership, development or operation of ScotWind projects.

Question reference: S7W-02455

Asked by: Jamie Langan, MSP for South Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 9 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement that Scotland has its first recorded case of bluetongue virus, what contingency measures it has in place to address this development, and what measures it will take to prevent any further outbreak of the disease.

Scottish Government has published, in partnership with Defra and Welsh Government, the GB Bluetongue Virus Disease Control Strategy. This strategy has been adapted by all three administrations to respond to the current circulation of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3).

As part of that strategy a localised Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) was declared in parts of South-West Scotland on 20 August 2026 following the detection of BTV-3 on several holdings in that area. The zone imposes movement controls on susceptible animals to help contain undisclosed pockets of disease within the area whilst surveillance is undertaken. All affected farms were placed under official movement restriction while veterinary investigations are undertaken.

Several animal movement licences have been made available to allow movements on and off premises within the TCZ. These licences aim to provide a balance between disease prevention, and minimise impacts caused by the restrictions such as animal welfare and economic harm. These licences and further information can be found on Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals - Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease - gov…

Scottish Government also announced the tightening of some controls following a sudden and significant rise in cases in parts of England, reducing the time animals could travel from the free areas of Scotland to a Restricted Zone (RZ) and return again from four days to a single day. Animals arriving in the RZ must be unloaded after sunrise and loaded before sunset.

From 10 September 2026, certain BTV susceptible breeding animals traveling from a RZ area to Scotland to live must be vaccinated with any BTV-3 product and be PCR tested within seven days of the movement with negative results received prior to any movement. Only cattle vaccinated with a vaccine that prevents viremia would be exempt from any testing requirements.

Scottish Government will continue to engage with industry organisations to ensure the control strategy remains fit for purpose and it will be kept under constant review to ensure the right balance between disease control and movement restriction.

Vaccination remains our best long-term defence, and keepers are strongly encouraged to discuss this option with their vets and place vaccine orders now to ensure access to supplies. We continue to work together with other UK nations, manufacturers and distributors to ensure timely access to the vaccine, with more doses being brought in from continental Europe and additional supplies now in production.

Question reference: S7W-02458

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alyn Smith on 9 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether existing Scots law provides adequate protection against the covert recording of individuals using AI-enabled smart glasses or similar wearable technology, and whether, to address this issue, it will consider introducing a standalone right to privacy in Scotland.

The Scottish Government takes peoples’ data protection rights very seriously and will always encourage individuals and organisations to be mindful of the law and other people’s privacy. Furthermore, whilst data protection is a reserved matter, we continue to engage with the UK Government on this issue and will continue to work closely with them to ensure that Scotland’s interests are represented.

Question reference: S7W-02621

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 21 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how Social Security Scotland supports claimants who may experience financial hardship as a result of delays in information being provided to the Department for Work and Pensions following an award of a Scottish social security benefit, including where such delays result in the loss of Pension Credit and any associated Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction.

Social Security Scotland recognises the importance of ensuring clients receive the full range of support they are entitled to and understands the potential financial impact when entitlement to one benefit affects entitlement to another.

Where entitlement to a Scottish disability or carer benefit may affect entitlement to a reserved benefit administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or support administered by a local authority, information about awards and relevant changes of circumstances is routinely shared through established processes to support the assessment of those entitlements. Social Security Scotland is not aware of any delays in providing this information.

Pension Credit is administered by DWP, while Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction are administered by local authorities. Decisions on entitlement to, and any backdating of, these benefits are matters for the relevant organisation. Where a client believes their entitlement has been affected because information about a Social Security Scotland award has not been processed by DWP or a local authority, they should contact the organisation responsible for the benefit concerned, which can consider the circumstances and any entitlement to arrears in line with its rules.

While Social Security Scotland does not administer Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction and cannot determine entitlement to those benefits, it seeks to support clients experiencing financial hardship. Local Delivery Client Support Advisers can provide assistance to help clients understand the support available to them and can signpost them to independent welfare rights advice and sources of financial assistance, including Citizens Advice Scotland.

Question reference: S7O-00201

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that planned reforms to the public sector deliver better outcomes for communities across Scotland.

The aim of public service reform is to improve outcomes for people and communities and ensure the long-term sustainability of services. As set out in our PSR Strategy, we will direct more resources towards prevention and ensure services are joined up and designed around communities, wherever they live in Scotland.

This starts with empowering communities, as set out in the Programme for Government, we will strengthen community governance, building on the Democracy Matters vision and developing proposals in conjunction with local government partners over the next 3 months that give communities the tools and support they need to take greater control over decision-making.

Question reference: S7F-00039

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7F-00037

Asked by: Malcolm Offord, MSP for West Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.