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: S6W-38579

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many incidents of aggression or violence towards female teachers in schools have been recorded in the past five years.

Question reference: S6W-38726

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of buses ordered to date under the second phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB 2) by (a) manufacturer and (b) place of manufacture.

Through the second phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) a consortium of companies was awarded £41.7 million capital from the Scottish Government to support the purchase of more than 250 vehicles and the installation of their supporting infrastructure.

ScotZEB 2 differs from previous rounds of support by extending the eligible vehicles to include zero-emission coaches. This programme is still in the delivery phase and the final totals of vehicles to be delivered are still subject to change. The consortium aims to deliver at least 252 vehicles by March 2026. The following table sets out the manufacturer. The Scottish Government does not collect data on the locations in which vehicles are manufactured.

Manufacturer	Number of Vehicles
Alexander Dennis	44
Yutong	171
Volvo	28
EVM	3
Wrightbus	4

Question reference: S6W-38823

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish data on the (a) frequency, (b) type and (c) availability of counselling provision in schools in the last five years, broken down by local authority area, including rural and island areas.

Question reference: S6W-38825

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will explore the introduction of mobile or hybrid counselling models in any under-served areas.

It is for local authorities to determine how they deliver the counselling service in their area.

The school counselling aims and principles, agreed jointly with COSLA, set out that counselling services should be accessible, utilising technology, virtual approaches and delivery in non-educational settings where that best meets children and young people’s needs and interests, including, for example, in rural and island communities.

Question reference: S6W-37909

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent carbon leakage from agricultural imports as a result of any reduction in domestic agricultural production.

The Scottish Government does not accept the premise of the question. As the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands set out at the Royal Highland Show on 19 June, while we have accepted the Climate Change Committee’s proposed carbon budget levels to reach net zero, we will not be accepting their policy recommendations which would have had a detrimental impact on our agriculture sector and wider rural economy.

We have been crystal clear: this government has no policy, and will have no policy, to cut livestock numbers. We will reach net zero, and we intend to do that in a way which works for rural Scotland without simply offshoring our emissions and environmental responsibilities.

In terms of trade, I would highlight the impact of UK Trade Deals in terms of their impact on domestic production/offshoring as outlined in the answer to question S6W-37892 on 4 June 2025. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms are also an important policy tool; however, the trade-related powers that could be used to protect Scotland’s livestock industry are held in Westminster under the current constitutional settlement.

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: S6W-39029

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported findings in the Royal College of Radiologists report, Clinical Oncology: Workforce Census 2024, that 80% of cancer centre leaders reported that staff shortages have led to delays in patients starting systemic anti-cancer therapy treatment and 100% reported that shortages have caused radiotherapy delays in their hospitals.

The Scottish Government has established the National Oncology Coordination Group to provide a coordinated and collaborative response to immediate and foreseeable service pressures. This group provides rapid real-time assessment of highest risk services and proactively develops risk mitigation proposals, in line with the overall strategic aim for cancer. Officials also meet with Boards’ Cancer Management Teams monthly to identify immediate challenges, explore solutions and share best practice to reduce delays and improve patient outcomes.

We have mobilised an ambitious Oncology Transformation Programme and are working closely with NHS Boards and regional leaders from across the country to address longer-term pressures. We have also committed to further funding for chemotherapy and acute oncology services using a phased approach to ensure we build a sustainable workforce. The funding will reach up to £10 million per annum by 2027 and will support increased regional working, workforce recruitment, and maximise capacity across the existing workforce. £6.6 million has been provided in 2025-26 and will support NHS Boards to develop sustainable plans.

Question reference: S6W-39018

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways Police Scotland is working with the Royal Air Force to ensure the protection of RAF Lossiemouth, in light of the reported security breach at RAF Brize Norton.

Police Scotland does not have a primary role in providing security at military bases in Scotland. RAF Lossiemouth is protected by several units operating within the Royal Air Force (RAF).

However, the North East Division of Police Scotland has a long standing and close working relationship with RAF Lossiemouth and have been in close liaison following the incident at Brize Norton. As a result, there have been increased high visibility police patrols of the area around the base.

A number of other facilities within Scotland are protected by the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP), a specialized armed police force tasked with protecting the UK's defence assets, including military bases, nuclear facilities, and government sites.

Police Scotland have very occasionally assisted with security operations at or near military bases, but these have largely been related to major events or incidents.

Question reference: S6W-38977

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Clan Donald Lands Trust regarding identifying a new owner for the South Sleat Estate, in light of reports that it has been placed on the market for sale.

Question reference: S6W-39008

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is engaged in to address the increase of 16% in shoplifting incidents recorded in 2024-25 compared with 2023-24, and how it will work with local authorities to protect retailers and their staff.

The Scottish Government recognises the significant impact of shoplifting and retail crime on victims.

Our budget for 2025-26 includes an additional £3 million for Police Scotland to work in partnership with the retail sector to help tackle retail crime.

Furthermore, the government continues to back the Scottish Partnership Against Acquisitive Crime (SPAACE), led by Police Scotland alongside retailers and organisations like Retailers Against Crime and Neighbourhood Watch Scotland. The strategy focuses on prevention, deterrence, and enforcement, aiming to reduce crime opportunities, protect businesses and individuals, and provide clear prevention guidance.

Question reference: S6W-38794

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have used or are seeking to use their powers under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to adjust non-domestic rates, broken down by financial year.

All local authorities have used their powers under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to adjust non-domestic rates.

Table 1 shows relief awarded under section 3A of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962, as inserted by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, by local authority. Since 1 April 2023, relief for unoccupied properties (often referred to as Empty Property Relief) has been devolved to individual councils. To aid interpretation, local relief awards for 2023-2024 therefore also show the value of local reliefs excluding reliefs for unoccupied properties. Figures are presented to the nearest thousand and may not sum due to rounding.

[a] This negative figure is due to a correction to previously reported figures.

[b] These figures are currently unavailable due to software issues.

Data sources: Non-domestic rates income audited returns for 2016-2017 to 2022-2023. For 2023-2024, the latest available data (whether from the notified return, in the case of 12 councils, or audited return, for 20 councils) was used, though for all except one, the audited did not differ from the notified return.

Table 1: Local relief awards by council area, 2016-2017 to 2023-2024, £000

Council area	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024 (all local reliefs)	2023-2024 (excluding reliefs for unoccupied properties)
Aberdeen City	0	1,740	0	0	0	0	0	3,776	0
Aberdeenshire	0	2,140	0	39	23	-33 [a]	0	2,810	0
Angus	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	920	0
Argyll & Bute	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	876	0
Clackmannanshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	414	0
City of Edinburgh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16,817	0
Dumfries & Galloway	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,241	0
Dundee City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2,293	0
East Ayrshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	939	0
East Dunbartonshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	276	0
East Lothian	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	625	0
East Renfrewshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	142	0
Falkirk	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,270	0
Fife	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4,880	0
Glasgow City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	24,885	0
Highland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2,197	0
Inverclyde	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	309	0
Midlothian	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	678	0
Moray	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	484	0
Na h-Eileanan Siar	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	74	0
North Ayrshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,646	0
North Lanarkshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,881	0
Orkney Islands	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	[b]	[b]
Perth & Kinross	124	0	30	0	0	0	0	1,155	0
Renfrewshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,548	0
Scottish Borders	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,284	0
Shetland Islands	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	143	0
South Ayrshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,498	0
South Lanarkshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2,365	0
Stirling	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	229	0
West Dunbartonshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	245	0
West Lothian	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3,062	0
Scotland Total	124	3,880	30	39	0	-33	0	80,962	0

Green Freeport relief is available for properties within the tax sites of Green Freeports in Scotland from the date of tax site designation, which was in 2024-25 for both Green Freeports. Local authorities will deliver this relief under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 powers and will be reimbursed by Scottish Government for any awards of this relief.

Investment Zone relief for properties within tax sites of Investment Zones in Scotland will be delivered under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 powers, in a similar manner to the Green Freeport relief.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

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