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-04852

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Shelter Scotland's recent report, Building Hope: A route map to ending the use of unsafe and harmful temporary accommodation for children, whether it plans to publish a multi-year funding plan for Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans that will continue until homelessness services are no longer considered to be in systemic failure in any local authority area.

Question reference: S7W-04807

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it responded to the Farriers Registration Council's written advice of September 2022 that potential apprentice farriers in Scotland were subject to discrimination through lack of access to public funding.

Question reference: S7W-04812

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Ofcom and (b) the UK Government regarding Royal Mail.

Question reference: S7W-04847

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S7W-04808

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how its plans for public electric vehicle charging will meet the need for rapid and ultra-rapid charging on key routes in the Highlands and Islands.

Question reference: S7W-04845

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance and access to specialist advice are available to general dental practitioners treating people born with a cleft lip and/or palate, and whether it will work with NHS boards and specialist cleft teams to identify and address any gaps in the support available.

Question reference: S7W-04232

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to Scotland's national parks, (a) what research has been carried out regarding the reported rise in e-bike usage and (b) what assessment it has made of whether the current rules regarding e-bikes are sufficient to protect walkers and hikers on walking paths.

The Scottish Government has not commissioned research on electric bike (e-bike) use in Scotland’s national parks.

E-bikes which meet the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983, amended by SI 2015/24, are treated as pedal cycles under road traffic law. These e-bikes are treated within access rights under the Land Reform (Scotland) act 2003 (the 2003 Act) on the same basis as other cycles. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code advises cyclists not to endanger walkers, to give advance warning of their presence and to give way on narrow paths. It also advises cyclists to take care not to alarm farm animals, horses and wildlife.

The Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authorities are the access authorities for their areas and have duties under the 2003 Act including to uphold and manage public access rights. Local access forums are also in place to advise on outdoor access issues and to help resolve any disputes between land managers and access users. The Scottish Government considers this framework provides appropriate protection for walkers and hikers.

Question reference: S7W-04221

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the achievement of BREEAM environmental sustainability standards on the prioritisation of patient safety, infection prevention and clinical requirements during the design and construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, and whether any steps are being taken to ensure that environmental certification does not compromise patient care and safety in the design and construction of NHS facilities.

The Scottish Government has made no assessment which concludes that achievement of BREEAM environmental sustainability standards was prioritised over patient safety, infection prevention and control, or clinical requirements during the design and construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. BREEAM is an environmental assessment methodology intended to support the delivery of sustainable buildings. It is not intended to replace or take precedence over clinical, patient safety, infection prevention and control, statutory or other technical requirements.

NHS healthcare facilities are designed and constructed in accordance with a range of standards, guidance and technical requirements. Patient safety, infection prevention and control, and the delivery of safe and effective clinical services remain fundamental considerations throughout the design, construction and operation of healthcare facilities.

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry is examining matters relating to the planning, design, construction, commissioning and maintenance of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus and it would not be appropriate to pre-empt the Inquiry's findings.

The Scottish Government remains committed to considering carefully any recommendations arising from the Inquiry and to ensuring that lessons identified are reflected, where appropriate, in the planning, design and delivery of future healthcare infrastructure projects.

Question reference: S7W-04121

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Care Inspectorate inspections of childminding services were carried out without prior notice in each of the last five years, and what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of unannounced inspections in identifying services operating outside the conditions of their registration.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This is an operational matter for the Care Inspectorate, which is best placed to provide this information.

Unannounced inspections are an established part of the Care Inspectorate’s scrutiny and assurance approach, as they enable inspectors to observe services as they are operating on a day-to-day basis. They can provide assurance that regulatory requirements are being met and help identify any issues that may require further investigation or follow-up action. However, the assessment of the effectiveness of inspection methodologies is a matter for the Care Inspectorate as the independent regulator.

Question reference: S7W-04216

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many learning disability specialist nurses are employed and what their role is in supporting the training of other nursing staff, broken down by NHS board.

The Scottish Government does not centrally hold information regarding the number of learning disability nurses employed by NHS Boards, nor information on their specific responsibilities in supporting the training of other nursing staff.

The information requested on how many learning disability nurses are employed in NHS Scotland can be found on the TURAS Public Services Delivery Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence

Whilst the Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for the NHS in Scotland, operational matters such as staffing and recruitment, including the numbers and recruitment to specialist roles, including those that could be undertaken by learning disability nurses, are the responsibility of individual health and social care employers, taking into account national, regional and local priorities.