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: S7O-00471

Asked by: Jamie Langan, MSP for South Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government’s recently proposed changes to the rules governing indefinite leave to remain, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of these changes on Scotland's communities.

Question reference: S7O-00486

Asked by: David Kirkwood, MSP for South Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic benefits of innovative manufacturing businesses that increase production and supply chain activity in Scotland.

Question reference: S7O-00477

Asked by: David Smith, MSP for West Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many private landlords have exited the private rented sector since 2021 and what assessment it has made of the impact of this on the availability and affordability of housing for tenant families.

Question reference: S7O-00475

Asked by: Holly Bruce, MSP for Glasgow Southside, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to introduce misogyny education programmes in all schools as part of its strategy to address violence against women and girls, what substantive update it can provide on the delivery of these programmes, including an expected timeline.

Question reference: S7O-00492

Asked by: Helen McDade, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, given that temporary footbridges over the A9 are often erected at Gleneagles for golf spectators, what consideration it has given to building a permanent footbridge to improve pedestrian access to the railway station for local residents.

Question reference: S7O-00483

Asked by: Laura Mitchell, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the growth of whisky tourism in rural communities, including in Speyside.

Question reference: S7W-04123

Asked by: Jenny Young, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25172 by Jenny Gilruth on 4 March 2024, whether it will provide the complete figures for each year since 2012-13.

Figures for 2012-13 to 2019-20 for all categories can be found in the answer to S6W-01165 on 28 July 2021. Figures for 2020-21 to 2021-22 for all categories can be found in the answer to S6W-25172 on 4 March 2024.

Table 1 provides available information on average gross revenue expenditure in Scotland per child attending pre-school, and per primary and secondary pupil alongside allocations (accounting for teaching and tuition fees funding) per college and university place since 2022-23.

Table 1: Average Expenditure Per Place for each Education Level (Cash Terms)

Education Level	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26	2026-27
Pre-School	£11,282	£12,000	£12,380	-	-
Primary	£7,074	£7,487	£7,880	-	-
Secondary	£8,765	£9,276	£9,651	-	-
College	£5,054	£5,506	£5,506	£5,706	£6,102
University	£7,558	£7,613	£7,635	£7,917	£8,141

Table 2 provides the same information as Table 1 at 2026-27 price levels. Real terms conversions were produced using HM Treasury’s October 2026 GDP Deflator series, including forecasts for the 2026-27 financial year.

Table 2: Average Expenditure Per Place for each Education Level (Real Terms)

Education Level	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26	2026-27
Pre-School	£13,090	£13,228	£13,132	-	-
Primary	£8,208	£8,253	£8,358	-	-
Secondary	£10,170	£10,226	£10,237	-	-
College	£5,864	£6,070	£5,840	£5,856	£6,102
University	£8,769	£8,392	£8,099	£8,125	£8,141

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S7W-04369

Asked by: Yi-pei Chou Turvey, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the finding in the Care Inspectorate's report, Serious Incident Reviews - Justice Social Work 2024-2026, that around one fifth of serious incident notifications involved domestic abuse, and what action it is taking in response.

The Scottish Government notes the findings of the Care Inspectorate report on Serious Incident Reviews between 2024 and 2026 including the report that one fifth of serious incident notifications involved domestic abuse.

This demonstrates that domestic abuse remains a significant public protection issue within justice social work and reinforces the importance of robust risk assessment, effective risk management and strong partnership working across agencies.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of identifying what can be learned from serious incidents involving domestic abuse. The recent introduction of domestic homicide and domestic abuse-related suicide reviews (DHSRs) on a statutory basis reflects the importance of understanding the circumstances surrounding deaths where abuse is known or suspected and ensuring that lessons are identified and acted upon to improve services and strengthen public protection.

The Care Inspectorate report makes clear their intent to refresh and update the current serious incident review guidance during the next reporting period. This work will consider how the serious incident review process aligns with the DHSR process. In the meantime, domestic abuse offences that meet the criteria for a serious incident review should continue to be notified to the Care Inspectorate in accordance with current guidance.

Question reference: S7W-04159

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland has held any discussions with (a) CMAL or (b) CalMac about permanently discontinuing the Campbeltown to Ardrossan ferry route.

Question reference: S7W-04209

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Simita Kumar on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its initial response is to the October 2026 report by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the South of Scotland.