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: S6O-05082

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider making improvements to the Glasgow to Kilmarnock Sunday evening rail service.

Question reference: S6O-05058

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on regional economies and employment, what assessment it has made of the extent to which projected transmission-related job opportunities are dependent on the consenting outcome for proposed overhead line projects within the current network upgrade programme.

Question reference: S6O-05059

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on businesses and the economy, what steps it is taking to ensure that business and regulatory impact assessments properly reflect the real-world impact of new policies on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Question reference: S6W-41449

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-40852

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered seeking to amend the definition of peatland under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 to cover areas of peat with a thickness of 30 centimetres or greater, and if so, what the outcome was, in light of the recent decision by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to restrict burning of upland peat in England to a maximum depth of 30 centimetres, except where covered by a licence.

We are aware of the decision by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to restrict burning of upland peat in England to a maximum depth of 30 centimetres, except where covered by a licence. However, we are also aware of the extensive damage which can be caused to peatlands by wildfires which are becoming more prevalent and can be exacerbated by increased fuel load.

Therefore, the Scottish Government has not given consideration to amending the definition of peatland under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 to cover areas of peat with a thickness of 30 centimetres or greater.

We will continue to work in partnership with key stakeholders, experts and scientists to better understand the relationship between muirburn and peatlands to ensure our peatlands are protected.

Question reference: S6W-41044

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to ensure that e-bikes on public roads and footpaths do not exceed the legal limit of 15.5mph.

The Scottish Government is working closely with Police Scotland regarding the antisocial use of vehicles, including e-bikes. Enforcement is, however, a matter for Police Scotland, and Police Scotland regularly keep their approach to the illegal use of e-bikes under review. Local policing teams are best placed to identify misuse and work to prevent future incidents.

If e-bikes exceed the legal limit of 15.5mph and have a power output of more than 250 watts, police officers are able to treat the bikes as vehicles under the Road Traffic Act. Vehicles can be seized if the driver does not have a full driving licence, the vehicle is not insured, or if the driver is not wearing an approved helmet.

Question reference: S6W-41043

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to advise businesses that employ courier staff that any e-bikes being utilised must not be ridden on pedestrian footpaths and pavements.

The Scottish Government works closely with local authorities, Police Scotland, and other stakeholders in this area. Enforcement of traffic laws is, however, a matter for Police Scotland. In 2025-26, Police Scotland is receiving a record £1.64 billion in funding. Police Scotland’s Road Policing Division has been engaging with stakeholders regarding the safe use of e-bikes.

Police Scotland have actively collaborated with food delivery companies and have recently supported a rider engagement event in Glasgow City Council. The food delivery company set up a tent, provided safety equipment to riders and Police Scotland were on hand for advice and positive engagement.

Question reference: S6W-40994

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 22 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent report by Audit Scotland, Scotland’s Colleges 2025, which highlights that two colleges required liquidity support from the Scottish Funding Council in 2023-24, what criteria were used to approve this support.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) regularly monitors and engages with the colleges and universities it funds as part of its role in ensuring the sustainable and coherent provision of fundable further and higher education.

It is for SFC to consider the criteria used to approve liquidity support. Given that the circumstances of individual colleges will differ, each case will be considered on its own merit.

Question reference: S6W-41045

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to local authorities to stop e-bikes being ridden on pedestrian-only footpaths and pavements.

Enforcement of the law in respect of moving e-bikes is a matter for Police Scotland. More generally, under section 1 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 all local authorities have a statutory responsibility with Police Scotland to develop a strategy for dealing with antisocial behaviour in their local areas which they shall keep under review. The Scottish Government supports local authorities with record funding, with an increase in real terms of 5.5% for 2025–26.

Question reference: S6W-40906

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the report, Abattoir Users Survey 2025, that "58% of respondents believed their business would not be profitable without selling direct to consumers or through local markets".

The Abattoir Users Survey 2025 notes that the direct selling model referenced is heavily dependent on private kill and further processing services offered by small and local abattoirs. The Scottish Government is therefore proud to have committed to continuing support for small abattoirs and producers, through the Small Producers Pilot Fund (SPPF). In 2024-25 this provided almost £300,000 in resource funding for a number of abattoirs engaged in private kill, mainly the facilitation and co-ordination of small producer access to private kill services. This year, we are providing up to £1 million through our SPPF to support Scotland’s small producers, and Ministers remain open to receiving further grant applications.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

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