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-04507

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alyn Smith on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to raising the income threshold for receipt of the education maintenance allowance, to help young people remain in education.

The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) programme is vital in supporting young people from lower-income households to overcome financial barriers and progress in education. It remains an important component of this Government's mission to eradicate child poverty.

The Scottish Government and the whole of the public sector continues to face a financial position that is extremely challenging. We are not currently considering an increase to the income threshold for EMA.

EMA is one part of a broader package of support we have in place for children and young people in education which also includes Free School Meals, the School Clothing Grant and free bus travel for those under the age of 22.

Question reference: S7W-04758

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to implement the Abortion Law Expert Group’s recommendations, which were published in November 2025.

Question reference: S7W-04756

Asked by: Duncan Dunlop, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of care experienced adults who are parents of children with a learning disability, autism, neurodivergence or other additional support needs and, if this data is not held, what its position is on collecting such data, including what steps it will be required to take to do so.

Question reference: S7W-04763

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many serious adverse event reviews for each NHS board have taken place in each year since 2019.

Question reference: S7W-04748

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent (FTE) posts it assumed would be removed in calculating the £10.3 million of workforce savings identified for the Finance and Local Government portfolio in 2026-27.

Question reference: S7W-04796

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review how schools remove from the classroom pupils who repeatedly engage in violent or intimidating behaviour.

Question reference: S7W-04762

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that trade unions are involved in the development of policies relating to the adoption of AI where its use could affect (a) jobs, (b) workforce requirements and (c) terms and conditions of employment.

Question reference: S7W-04782

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Farm Advisory Service contract with SAC Consulting and Ricardo Energy & Environment for the period July 2024 to March 2027, how much (a) has been spent to date and (b) remains (i) unspent and (ii) uncommitted, and whether it expects the available funding to be sufficient to meet demand for the remainder of the contract period.

Question reference: S7W-04801

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with third sector organisations, including Breathe Easy Fife, which support people with lung conditions in their local area and are advocating for reform to power of attorney laws.

Question reference: S7W-04788

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding how the Access to Banking Services Review takes account of rural communities that rely on banking services in neighbouring towns, including the impact of public transport accessibility and journey times.