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-02256

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the reduction of the reported nine-month waiting time for responses to Subject Access Requests from members of the public, including requests for access to video footage from body-worn filming devices.

The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 stipulates that the Chief Constable of Police Scotland is responsible for the policing of Scotland and is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority for this, rather than to Scottish Ministers directly. These arrangements are in place to ensure public confidence that the police act independently, free from unwarranted Ministerial interference. It would therefore be inappropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on or seek to intervene in operational matters.

While the operational delivery of SARs is a matter for Police Scotland, individuals retain statutory rights of access to their personal data under the Data Protection Act 2018. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) guidance states that law enforcement agencies should respond to SARs without undue delay and, in most cases, within one month.

Police Scotland have acknowledged on their website that, due to unprecedented demand, the current wait time can be up to nine months.

Question reference: S7W-02301

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of UK Government statistics showing that 2.54 million scientific procedures involving living animals were carried out in Great Britain in 2025, what information it holds on the number of such procedures that took place in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02131

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it will use to determine whether market conditions are sufficiently favourable to proceed with an issuance under the Scottish Government bond programme, and under what circumstances ministers would decide not to proceed with a bond issuance where market pricing is considered unfavourable.

The Scottish Government is working closely with its appointed bookrunners to assess market conditions and achieve the most favourable terms available.

Releasing information on the criteria underpinning a potential bond issuance prior to execution could prejudice the Government's position in the market. Such disclosure may shape investor expectations, constrain pricing flexibility and adversely affect the terms on which borrowing can be secured. To do so before a transaction has taken place could therefore risk higher costs to the taxpayer and poorer value for money.

Question reference: S7W-01644

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cumulative impact on environmental horticulture businesses in Scotland of rising costs of (a) energy, (b) labour, (c) transport and (d) inputs.

An assessment into the rising costs of horticulture businesses has not been undertaken by the Scottish Government, however, the Horticultural Trades Association has recently published a briefing outlining the ‘Cost of Doing Business’ for the environmental horticulture sector across the UK as a whole. This can be found here: https://hta.org.uk/public-affairs-policy/briefings-consultations-and-reports/stakeholder-section/stakeholder-briefings. The Scottish Government recognises the current challenges outlined in this assessment, which environmental horticulture businesses are facing, the majority of which are family-run SMEs. That is why the Scottish Government continues to offer the Small Business Bonus Scheme to help address the rising costs that businesses are facing. In addition, Scottish Government backed schemes have helped businesses reduce energy costs through grants for energy efficient equipment and renewable technologies.

Question reference: S7W-02106

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP walk-in clinics are currently open and where they are located.

Question reference: S7W-02215

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding any impact of its recent tax changes on the cost of the Motability Scheme, and what action it is taking to protect disabled people in Scotland from any resulting increases in costs and more restrictive lease conditions under the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme.

The Scottish Government was not consulted on the UK Government’s tax changes, despite the clear and significant implications for the devolved Accessible Vehicles and Equipment (AVE) Scheme in Scotland, under which Motability is the current provider.

I wrote to the UK Government in November 2025 upon becoming aware of potential tax changes, emphasising that they would cause significant concern and uncertainty for disabled people who rely on the AVE Scheme to remain mobile. The Scottish Government will continue to strongly urge the UK Government to abandon these changes and commit to ensuring that disabled people can access the support that meets their needs through the Scheme now and in the future.

As a result of our engagement Motability has committed to providing additional mileage, on top of its reduced standard allowance, to customers living in very rural and island communities in recognition of their having to drive further to access key services.

In addition, customers in any area who drive more than 3,000 miles each year for essential services above the 10,000 standard annual inclusive mileage will also be able to apply for support with the increased excess mileage charge.

Question reference: S7W-01969

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of its compliance with the duties and requirements set out under Part 2 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and, in particular, how it considers that it is meeting its obligations in relation to (a) fisheries management, (b) protection and enhancement of the marine environment, and (c) the spatial planning and management of Scotland’s marine areas.

The Scottish Government takes its legal responsibilities seriously and considers the requirements of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and other relevant legislation when developing marine policies, plans and management measures.

The Scottish Government takes a holistic approach to sustainable development of our seas and to mitigation and adaptation to climate change .Our general approach to climate change mitigation is set out in Climate Change Plan 2026-2040 and to climate change adaptation in the Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 (SNAP3). Scotland’s national marine plan sets out planning policies designed to support sustainable development and mitigation and adaptation of climate change in our decision-making.

These plans are considered when developing marine policies, plans and management measures which affect Scotland’s seas. Where relevant, impact assessments are also undertaken to better understand the potential effects on the marine environment, communities and marine sectors to ensure these effects are considered at the policy-making stage and to support compliance with statutory obligations.

Through these and other measures, the Scottish Government seeks to balance environmental, social and economic objectives and promote the sustainable development, action on climate change, management, protection and enhancement of Scotland's marine area.

In relation to fisheries management, this includes delivery of Scotland's Fisheries Management Strategy, development of Fisheries Management Plans and the Future Catching Policy, and the introduction of Remote Electronic Monitoring on key fleet segments.

In relation to the protection and enhancement of the marine environment, this includes implementation of fisheries management measures for Marine Protected Areas, action to reduce by catch, implementation of our conservation strategies and action plans, habitat restoration initiatives, measures to address marine litter and pollution, and action to contribute towards achieving Good Environmental Status under the UK Marine Strategy.

In relation to the spatial planning and management of Scotland's marine areas, this includes implementation of the National Marine Plan, development of National Marine Plan 2, adoption of Regional Marine Plans in Shetland and Orkney, operation of marine licensing and consenting systems and the updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE).

Question reference: S7W-02147

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Ambulance Service call-outs were made in Orkney between 1 and 31 May 2026, including, for each incident, the (a) date, (b) time that the first 999 call was made, (c) time that the call-out was completed, (d) priority colour-code(s) assigned and (e) times of any follow-up 999 calls concerning the same incident.

Question reference: S7W-02210

Asked by: Adam Harley, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider increasing the level of reimbursement that jurors are entitled to claim.

Jurors in Scotland may be eligible to claim compensation for a range of expenses:

Travel
Subsistence
Loss of earnings or benefits
Extra expenses of employing a childminder or a carer for a dependent adult
Other expenses approved by the court,

The maximum sums that can be claimed are set by the Scottish Ministers, and are detailed in full on the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service website. The rates of the allowances are kept under regular review, and there are no current plans to make changes to them.

It is worth noting that, for trials that last up to five days, the loss of earnings allowance that jurors can claim in Scotland is aligned with the allowance in the rest of the United Kingdom. However, in trials that last more than five days the Scottish allowance for loss of earnings is more generous than allowances elsewhere in the UK, recognising the greater financial impact that these longer trials can have on jurors.

Length of jury service	Daily loss of earnings allowance
First 5 days	£64.95
Day 6 to day 100	£129.91
After day 100	£230.00

Question reference: S7W-02138

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what expenditure has been incurred to date in developing the Scottish Government bond programme, broken down by category of spending.