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-04020

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the 70 mph speed limit will be reinstated on the A90 between the St Ann's and Keithock junctions, what action, if any, is required before this can take place, and from which budget any associated costs will be met.

Before reinstatement of the 70mph speed limit can take place, Transport Scotland must evaluate the performance of the route following the recent resurfacing works. This will involve analysing data collected from the completed works and earlier investigations to inform future maintenance requirements for this section of the A90, including assessing the condition and, importantly, the performance of the central reserve concrete safety barrier.

Funding for the maintenance and improvement of the trunk road network is provided directly by the Scottish Government through the annual budget process, with Transport Scotland prioritising investment using a lifecycle-based approach set out in its Trunk Road Network Asset Management Plan.

Question reference: S7W-04289

Asked by: Pauline Stafford, MSP for Bathgate, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what statutory requirements are placed on landlords to investigate reports from tenants of potential structural defects, movement, subsidence, cracking, roof failure or other concerns affecting the structural integrity of a rented property.

There is no statutory requirement for landlords to appoint a structural engineer or other specialist whenever a tenant reports concerns about structural defects, movement, subsidence, cracking, roof failure, or similar issues. However, landlords must ensure rented homes meet the Repairing Standard and Tolerable Standard under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.

Where concerns may indicate a risk to the structure or safety of the property, landlords should investigate appropriately and take any necessary action, including obtaining advice from a suitably qualified professional where required.

Question reference: S7W-04228

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Simita Kumar on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the South of Scotland, which found that there were "clear human rights failures" across the South of Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-04370

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 almost a quarter of serious incident reviews found that required justice social work progress reviews had not been completed within the required timescales or had not taken place at all.

The Scottish Government notes the findings of the Care Inspectorate report on Serious Incident Reviews between 2024 and 2026. The provision of Justice Social Work is a matter for the local authorities who have a legislative duty to provide advice, guidance and assistance to those within the justice system.

We published revised National Outcomes and Practice Standards for Justice Social Work in September of this year. The revised Practice Standards highlight the importance of regular reviews of the case management plan involving all relevant people involved to ensure progress is monitored and any remedial action required can be implemented. There is an expectation that these Standards will be integrated into practice and will be subject to further scrutiny from the Care Inspectorate in due course.

Question reference: S7W-04368

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 serious incident notifications increased by 34% compared with the previous reporting period, including what factors it considers have contributed to this increase.

The Scottish Government notes the findings of the Care Inspectorate report on Serious Incident Reviews between 2024 and 2026. In that report, the Care Inspectorate puts the increase in notifications in the context of the number of statutory community-based throughcare cases commencing and the number of community orders imposed having increased during this reporting period. The report suggests that improved awareness and application of the national guidance may also be a factor.

Question reference: S7W-04114

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to the project, Bannockburn Rising, which aims to revitalise the facilities on the battlesite to increase public understanding and awareness of Scotland's culture and history.

Bannockburn Rising is a project being delivered by the National Trust for Scotland, which is the independent charity responsible for managing the Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre and battlefield. Decisions regarding the development and delivery of the project are therefore matters for the National Trust for Scotland. The Scottish Government is not currently providing direct support to the project.

Question reference: S7W-04190

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-03532 by Angela Constance on 7 October 2026, when and by whom were Professors Hiscox and Gardner nominated, whether any staff have been employed, including on secondment or through carrying out additional duties, to support them in carrying out their duties and, if so, were these staff appointed or subject to competitive interview.

The Directors Letter, DL(2025)25, issued on 13 November 2025, set out the arrangements for the implementation of sub-national planning. The Sub-National Planning and Delivery Committees that were established for East and West, were to be chaired by the Chairs of NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The respective Chief Executives of those boards were assigned the lead role in establishing and co-ordinating the work in the sub-national areas.

The Scottish Government has not appointed any additional board-level staff to support these arrangements. Staffing arrangements, including secondments and additional duties within NHS Boards, are matters for the relevant Boards and are not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S7W-04735

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Barnett consequential funding arising from business rates measures announced in the UK Budget on 28 October 2026 is attributable to each individual measure, broken down by financial year.

Question reference: S7W-04720

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce variation in access to ovarian cancer surgery across NHS boards.

Question reference: S7W-04733

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government which portfolios are currently forecasting an overspend against their 2026-27 resource budgets before any mitigating action is taken, and what the value of each forecast overspend is.