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: S6F-03870

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2025

To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has to tackle the reported rising number of cases of drug-driving.

Question reference: S6F-03858

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-03860

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-03859

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-35262

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the mandatory remote electronic monitoring requirements for pelagic fishing vessels come into force and how these apply to (a) Scottish and (b) non-Scottish vessels operating in the Scottish zone.

Mandatory remote electronic monitoring (REM) requirements for pelagic fishing trips come into force on 7 March 2026. The legislation can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2024/165/contents/made

From this date Scottish pelagic vessels covered by the legislation will be required to have a fully operational REM system for the duration of all relevant fishing trips wherever they are fishing.

For non-Scottish pelagic vessels the legislation requires an REM system to be fully operational for the duration of all relevant fishing trips in the Scottish zone.

Technical specifications for REM systems as set out at https://www.gov.scot/publications/pelagic-fishing-remote-electronic-monitoring-technical-specifications/

Question reference: S6W-35182

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients were on waiting lists for physical activity programmes (a) in total and (b) for over a year, in each of the last five years.

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-35113

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 action it is taking to assist young carers, including supporting them in being able to access (a) short breaks and respite, (b) education and (c) employment.

Under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 every young carer has a right to a personalised support plan, called a young carer statement. The process of producing the statement must include identifying the young person’s needs, such as support to take a break, or to succeed in their own personal goals. To strengthen these rights, we are planning to use the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill currently in Parliament to amend this Act and establish a right to breaks for carers.

In addition to this, the published Scottish Budget for 2025-26 includes an uplift of £5m for the voluntary sector Short Breaks Fund, bringing the fund to £13m. Short breaks through this fund are delivered via several schemes, all of which can benefit young carers in different ways. This includes the Young Scot Young Carer package, aimed at all young carers aged 11-18.

We recognise the importance of young carers being identified in schools so that they can be supported in achieving their educational and wider goals, as set out in our National Carers Strategy.

To help achieve this, we fund a full time Education Officer post at Carers Trust Scotland to work with Education Scotland, the General Teaching Council for Scotland, and the Scottish Qualification Authority on improving young carer awareness, identification, and support in education. This has led to an accredited e-training module to help education staff understand, identify, and support young carers.

Young carers should also receive support under the Additional Support for Learning Act. Education authorities have duties to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. This includes support for children and young people with caring responsibilities.

Additionally, we funded Young Scot to work with young carers to create a page on the Young Scot website, which hosts information and resources for young carers about what support is available to them at key transitions, including going from Secondary School onto further education or work. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is also highlighting to career advisers the additional support young carers may need at this pivotal time. SDS will continue to look at how we can support young carers as they move into employment.

Question reference: S6W-35213

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next raise the matter of the use of electric shock collars on dogs with the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee.

The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has been asked to look at aversive devices training devices and is expected to report in the near future. A Review of electric shock collars is also underway as part of the wider review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020, due to report by 1 April 2025.

The Scottish Government will carefully consider the recommendations from SAWC and the Review before deciding how to proceed.

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.