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 48973 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-38767

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list any meetings held in the last 10 years between Scottish Enterprise and representatives of Flamingo Land Lomond Banks, or consultants acting on its behalf.

Question reference: S6W-38887

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make an assessment of any potential merits of the use of renewable liquid gases in properties where a heat pump cannot be fitted.

While not appropriate for most homes, bioenergy, including renewable liquid biofuels, is a low carbon, renewable energy source which can prove the best solution to decarbonising heating in some remote and rural communities. We intend to ensure that sustainable bioenergy and biofuels remain an option for these communities, and the provisions of our proposed Heat in Buildings Bill will take a technology-neutral approach so that building owners are able to choose the technology which is right for them.

We are currently consulting on proposals for a Heat and Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment (HEETSA). The consultation will remain open until 29 August 2025. The HEETSA will include a technical suitability assessment methodology that allows for the comparative assessment of different clean heat options in a property and provide information on when the installation of a system would not be suitable.

Question reference: S6W-38886

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on which clean heating solutions are most effective for reducing fuel poverty in rural and remote areas.

The Scottish Government will introduce a revised Heat in Buildings Bill that will set a new target for decarbonising heating systems by 2045, alongside continuing work to reduce fuel poverty. This includes introducing a minimum energy efficiency standard in the private rented sector, where fuel poverty rates are at 44%. The worst levels of fuel poverty are associated with the lowest energy performance certificate bandings.

The revised Heat in Buildings Bill will take a technology-neutral approach to decarbonising Scotland’s buildings, recognising that different properties and people will require different heating solutions. It is important that a whole-house approach is taken to ensure that whichever heating solution is chosen for the property can run effectively, and this might involve installing energy efficiency measures as well as a heating system.

While not appropriate for most homes, which will be suitable for heat pumps or heat networks, bioenergy – as a low carbon, renewable energy source – may be the best solution for decarbonising homes in some remote and rural communities. We intend to ensure sustainable bioenergy and biofuels remain an option for these communities. Support for households in, or at risk of, fuel poverty is available through our Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, including those in rural and remote areas.

Question reference: S6W-38816

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28109 by Jenni Minto on 25 June 2024, when it plans to next report on progress towards the Mental health and wellbeing strategy: delivery plan 2023-2025, and whether any such progress report will include an analysis of the impact of the strategy on addressing the mental health impact of non-communicable diseases, including chronic kidney disease, in light of Kidney Care UK’s report, Left to get on with it: The real impact of inadequate psychosocial support in kidney care, published in June 2025.

The Scottish Government published the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Delivery Plan and Workforce Action Plan: Progress Update and Next Steps on 11 June 2025. This update outlines progress made since publication of the Delivery Plan and includes information on the implementation of Psychological Therapies and Interventions Core Standards. A further high-level progress report is due to be presented to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leadership Board on 21 August 2025.

The update does not include a specific analysis of the mental health impact of non-communicable diseases, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring people living with long-term conditions, including CKD, have access to safe, effective and person-centred care, including appropriate psychosocial support. NHS Boards are expected to follow current best practice in delivering this care.

More broadly, the Scottish Government is currently consulting on a Long Term Conditions Framework, which will help inform future approaches to prevention, diagnosis and care, including support for mental health and wellbeing. We are also considering the findings of Kidney Care UK’s June 2025 report Left to get on with it and will reflect these in future planning where appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-38756

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38261 by Angela Constance on 17 June 2025, what the change in budget in real terms is for 2025-26 once inflation has been taken into account.

The 2025-26 budget for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU) is £1.217 million, which represents a £47,000 uplift when compared to their 2024-25 budget, and a 1.3% real terms increase in funding. This increase will allow the SVRU to respond to emerging priorities, including violence among young people, investing in prevention and early intervention. This investment reflects our continued commitment to tackle violence and build safer communities for everyone.

Question reference: S6W-38174

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the budget for the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill in 2025-26 is £11 million, in light of its decision to withdraw plans for a national care service.

The Scottish Government is delivering improvement and reform of social care, social work and community health.

Financial information, including the National Care Service Programme 2025-26 budget position, has been provided to the Finance and Public Administration Committee. The Care Reform (Scotland) Bill is one element of our ambitious programme of social care reform that will be delivered through both legislative and non-legislative means, including the recent establishment of the non-statutory NCS Advisory Board.

Question reference: S6W-38766

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect dementia services.

Question reference: S6W-38765

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been any assessment of the potential impact of a reported reduction in funding by Integration Joint Boards (IJB) on dementia services.

In addition to the overall financial envelop for Health and Social Care reaching record levels at £21.7 billion in 2025-26, the budget includes almost £2.2 billion for social care and integration – exceeding our commitment to increase funding by 25% by almost £350 million.

Despite this, I recognise the challenges that Health and Social Care Partnerships are facing in balancing budgets during current financial pressures.

Whilst the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care support policy in Scotland, it is for local authorities and health boards to work with the Health and Social Care Partnerships to ensure that social care support services are in place to provide people with the appropriate support. The Scottish Government does however expect that whenever changes are set to take place, all stakeholders are consulted and that services continue to offer the necessary support required.

Question reference: S6W-38741

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly delayed commencement of section 1(4) and section 30(2) of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020.

The Scottish Government outlined our approach to commencing section 1(4) and section 30(2) of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 in my letter of 11 March 2025 to the Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. This letter can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/equalities-human-rights-and-civil-justice-committee/correspondence/2025/non-implementation-of-acts-of-the-scottish-parliament-11-march-2025.pdf. As I outlined, the Scottish Government intends to lay commencement regulations later this year which will include section 1(4) and section 30(2). There will be a lead-in period of around 12 months before these provisions come into force to take account of operational implications for the courts and any need to put court rules in place.

Question reference: S6W-38773

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) it and (b) Scottish Enterprise has spent on engagement with Flamingo Land Lomond Banks in each year since it first indicated an interest in the site at Balloch.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Filter your results Hide all filters

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer