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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S7W-02426

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will commission a feasibility study for reopening the south suburban railway line in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S7W-02515

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what role it anticipates credit unions will play in supporting financial education, tackling illegal money lending and contributing to child poverty prevention.

All financial services providers, including credit unions, have an important role in supporting the financial resilience and wellbeing of their customers. This includes helping individuals to better understand financial products and services and empowering them to make informed financial decisions. Many credit unions already deliver tailored financial education, support and engagement activities that reflect the needs of their members and local communities.

Credit unions are often a vital source of support for some of the most vulnerable people in society. Through the provision of affordable credit, savings products and initiatives such as junior saver schemes, they help individuals and families build financial resilience and can play a significant role in tackling the causes and impacts of child poverty.

The Scottish credit union sector also works closely with the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit (SIMLU) to raise awareness of the dangers associated with illegal money lending, including loan sharks. Through these partnerships, credit unions help educate consumers, provide safe and affordable alternatives to high-risk borrowing, and support those who have been affected by illegal lenders.

Question reference: S7W-02346

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish an analysis of its public consultation on the future of council tax in Scotland.

As part of this work, the Scottish Government undertook a public consultation alongside a wider programme of engagement, including in-person events with members of the public and tax professionals. The consultation closed on 30 January 2026 and the analytical report of the consultation responses and engagement activity is currently being finalised.

This report will be published in the coming weeks. It will help inform further work to build cross-party agreement on reforms that can make the Council Tax system fairer.

Question reference: S7W-02368

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual fuel consumption associated with providing CalMac's Gourock to Dunoon ferry service has been in each year since 2024.

Question reference: S7W-02293

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to a dedicated cancer strategy for children and young people, to follow the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care strategy and how it will ensure the continued delivery of the strategy's aims, once it reaches the end of its lifecycle in 2026.

The Scottish Government understands the importance of age-specific cancer care for children and young people, and our ambitions are clearly laid out in the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care: cancer strategy for children and young people 2021–2026.

The Scottish Government is actively considering how we best continue to deliver on our ambitions to improve care for children and young people with cancer. This includes engaging with those involved in delivering on the current strategy to understand the opportunities to do so when considering any future strategy approach.

Question reference: S7W-02418

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what process and criteria it will use to reduce the number of public bodies in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to public service renewal, with further detail to be set out in the forthcoming Programme for Government. We will continue to work with public bodies, trade unions and other stakeholders to identify opportunities to streamline the public service landscape. All proposals will be assessed against their ability to improve outcomes, strengthen services and deliver sustainable value for money, and will be brought forward in due course.

Question reference: S7W-02372

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Outline Business Case for the Gourock-Dunoon-Kilcreggan routes relates to the construction of (a) one or (b) two new vessels for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route.

Question reference: S7W-02371

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the Outline Business Case for the Gourock-Dunoon-Kilcreggan routes will be completed, and when stakeholders will be informed of the outcome.

Question reference: S7W-02408

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether patients aged under 18 are able to access rapid cancer diagnostic centres, and what dedicated diagnostic pathways are available to children and young people presenting with possible cancer symptoms.

Question reference: S7W-02303

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards the establishment of the Gaza Student Scholarship.

The Scottish Government is deeply concerned about the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the impact it is having on civilians.

We recognise the appalling circumstances many Gazan students are experiencing, including those who have secured university places in the UK but face significant barriers in taking them up.

In academic year 2025-26, the Gaza Student Support Scheme enabled 27 students on fully funded scholarships to access their studies at Scottish universities. Keeping this vital route open gives students from Gaza a path to safety, stability and the chance to fulfil their potential. The Scottish Government has consistently pushed the UK Government to continue this scheme and we welcome the recent announcement that the scheme will continue into 2026-27.

Building on this support, the Scottish Government has pledged to work with Universities of Sanctuary to explore how we can further support students from Gaza, including through the development of a postgraduate Scottish Gaza Scholarship Programme. Further detail will be set out to Parliament as this work progresses.

Year	Litres (Marine Gas Oil)
2024	649,100
2025	520.844
2026*	350,360