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: S6W-35112

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken in response to the Young Carers Covenant, which was launched by the Carers Trust in 2024, and made a commitment to improve the lives of young carers, including supporting the covenant in achieving its 10 desired outcomes.

As promised in the Scottish Parliament debate on Young Carers Action Day on 14 March 2024, I have tasked my officials with looking at the feasibility of the Scottish Government committing to the Young Carer Covenant. The Covenant’s overarching principles are cross policy in nature, and touch on many aspects of the Scottish Government work.

This work is ongoing. I will write to the member to advise her of the outcome.

Question reference: S6W-35349

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 February 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Scottish Hospital’s Inquiry’s investigations into the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Edinburgh.

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry concluded its hearings on the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Edinburgh (RHYCP/DCN) last summer. Today, the Chair of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, Lord Brodie, published his interim report. I would like to thank Lord Brodie and all the members of the Inquiry for their dedication in delivering this report and I am extremely grateful to the many witnesses, especially patients and families, who have provided evidence to the Inquiry’s hearings. I welcome the progress made by the Inquiry in delivering this report. In line with the requirements of the Inquiries Act 2005, the report has been laid in Parliament.

The report totals more than 370 pages and makes 11 recommendations. It is now important that the Scottish Government takes the time to reflect on the findings of the report and to consider and respond to each of its recommendations. Subject to the agreement of Parliament, I will make a statement to Parliament on the report soon.

The Scottish Government also recognises that this report does not represent the conclusion of the Inquiry. Its investigations into the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow (QEUH) continue with further hearings due to start in May 2025. It is vital that the work of the Inquiry continues so that patients, families and all those affected have the answers that they deserve.

Question reference: S6W-35031

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated to the Caledonian Sleeper service for (a) engine repairs and (b) carriage upgrades in 2024-25, also broken down by how much of this has been used to date.

Question reference: S6W-35033

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with Transport Scotland and Scottish Rail Holdings to encourage the public to use the Caledonian Sleeper service.

Question reference: S6W-35098

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether (a) enterprise and (b) infrastructure funding is currently targeted at low-carbon, green manufacturing, and how it ensures that companies in receipt of such public money are supporting jobs in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the net zero economy. Together with our enterprise agencies, we have invested £75 million in the cutting-edge National Manufacturing Institute Scotland facility, which is actively supporting low-carbon and green manufacturing.

We are also committing £2.9 billion of capital for activities that will positively impact our climate goals and support domestic manufacturing in green sectors, including over £300 million in energy efficiency and clean heat measures and £150 million to anchor our offshore wind supply chain.

Our Enterprise Agencies play a key role in supporting our low-carbon, green manufacturing sector, for example through funding streams and links to Business Energy Scotland and the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service.

Question reference: S6W-34506

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Human Rights Commission report, “Tick Tock…” A human rights assessment of progress from institutionalisation to independent living in Scotland, which was published on 30 January 2025.

The Scottish Government thanks the Scottish Human Rights Commission for their report on independent living in Scotland.

In addition, the Scottish Government asked the Mental Welfare Commission to review the care and treatment of people with learning disabilities and complex care needs who have remained in hospital for more than ten years. And I am grateful for their report, also published in January 2024.

We will now take the time to carefully consider the findings and recommendations of these reports in full. The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering the changes that are evidently required for people with Learning Disabilities.

Change in this area cannot be delivered by the Scottish Government alone. We will continue to work closely with COSLA, Health Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships to deliver the change required to ensure peoples human rights are upheld.

Question reference: S6W-35078

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the 2025 summer timetable for the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry will have the same service frequency as before the recent reported disruption.

Question reference: S6W-35173

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the largest number of section 16AA licences is that has been granted to a single landholding in recognition of the assignation of sporting rights to different persons.

Question reference: S6W-35134

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Forestry and Land Scotland regarding its biodiversity strategy.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has supported the Scottish Government in the development of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) and Delivery Plan, through participation in official working groups ran by the Environment and Forestry Directorate.

FLS provided written evidence to Scottish Forestry officials on forest policy related actions which subsequently fed into the SBS.

FLS are now discussing internally how to support delivery of the Biodiversity Actions which will be summarised in their next corporate plan.

As Scotland’s largest manager of wild deer FLS provided practitioner input to the development of the SBS reflecting the critical dependency for SBS outcomes to be enabled by proactive deer management by all land managers.

Question reference: S6W-34510

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish an updated memorandum of understanding between the Parole Board for Scotland and the Scottish Ministers, in light of reports that its publication is five years late and it previously stating that it would be published by the end of 2024.

The Memorandum of Understanding is a jointly drafted and agreed document between the Parole Board for Scotland (PBS) and Scottish Ministers. The MOU defines the relationship and interaction between Parole Board for Scotland and the Scottish Government.

The MOU is set to be rebranded as a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) and is now reaching finalisation. Once agreed by both the Parole Board for Scotland and the Scottish Government, the document will be available and in the public domain, including via publication on the PBS website.