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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 5522 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S7W-00909

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities and COSLA regarding replicating its Future Planners Programme.

We have had no discussions with local authorities and COSLA about replicating the Future Planners Programme.

Heads of Planning Scotland has been supportive with the current Programme, providing work shadowing opportunities and other learning and development sessions for Student Planners. We will continue to work in partnership with planning authorities and other stakeholders to deliver innovative solutions to increase resilience of the planning profession.

Question reference: S7W-00910

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the number of places on its Future Planners Programme.

Question reference: S7W-00960

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish National Staged Intervention Model on Additional Support Needs will be introduced.

We have committed to convene stakeholders within the first 100 days to agree a timeline and route-map for the development of a new national staged intervention approach to additional support needs in education.

The route-map will set out indicative timeframes for the implementation of a Scottish national staged intervention model, which will support improved identification, planning, and provision for children and young people with additional support needs.

Question reference: S7W-00906

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the guidance provided to local authorities on home-to-school transport policies, to ensure that children who live across more than one residence are not disadvantaged compared with those living at a single address.

Local councils have a statutory duty under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to make home to school transport arrangements for eligible pupils and have significant discretion in how those arrangements are provided.

The Scottish Government updated its school transport guidance in December 2025, providing advice to local councils on their responsibilities in relation to children who live in more than one residence during the school week. This update was informed by engagement with relevant stakeholders, including Connect and Shared Parenting Scotland.

The guidance makes clear there is no legislative barrier to prevent councils from taking account within school transport arrangements the needs of pupils who live in more than one household during the school week.

We will continue to keep this guidance under review. It remains the responsibility of local councils to determine how best to meet the needs of pupils and their families within the existing legal and policy framework for home to school transport.

Question reference: S7W-00942

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when free school meals will be available to every primary school pupil.

The Scottish Government is committed to eradicating child poverty and our Free School Meal programme is saving families who take up this offer every day approximately £450 per child, per year. As a result of our expansion programme, around 84% of primary school children are now eligible for a free school meal.

We have committed to an ambitious expansion of our Free School Meal programme and plan to deliver universal free school meals in primary schools in the lifetime of this Parliament. We will continue to work with our partners in COSLA and local authorities to deliver this.

Question reference: S7O-00108

Asked by: Yi-pei Chou Turvey, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the impact of increasingly extreme weather events, including flooding, on rural communities and their infrastructure.

The Climate Change Committee are clear: we must prepare for global temperatures exceeding +2°C within the next 25 years, increasing the risk of flooding, drought and wildfires.

We are taking action, through the Scottish National Adaptation Plan, and Flood Resilience Strategy to strengthen the resilience of our rural and urban communities and reduce disruption to infrastructure, public services and the economy. This year we have allocated £42 million to councils for flood resilience and will identify £15 million of additional investment.

Members can track our delivery record through the adaptation progress report, laid in Parliament last week [Friday 19 June].

Question reference: S7F-00022

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7F-00024

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7F-00021

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7F-00023

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.