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-04689

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 02 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide more autonomy to local authorities and head teachers to enable them to adequately meet the additional support needs of pupils in schools, as part of its plans for local government reform.

Question reference: S7W-04674

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has undertaken with the UK Government regarding the Human Rights Bill, including around issues related to section 28(7) of the Scotland Act.

Question reference: S7W-04168

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it received from Alexander Dennis regarding the anticipated impact of replacing the additional ScotZEB2 funding with ScotZEB3 on its order book and Scottish manufacturing operations, and on what dates these were received.

The Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) is a competitive grant subsidy programme supporting the transition of Scotland’s bus sector to zero-emission vehicles and is separate from any specific Scottish Government support for Alexander Dennis.

The Scottish Government received no representations from Alexander Dennis regarding the development of the third and final phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB3).

Question reference: S7W-04169

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considered revising the conditions of the Alexander Dennis furlough support scheme following the change in funding arrangements from ScotZEB2 to ScotZEB3, and what reasons it recorded for its decision.

Question reference: S7W-04167

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the assessment it made, before replacing the additional ScotZEB2 funding with ScotZEB3, of the implications for Alexander Dennis’s ability to meet the conditions of the agreed furlough support scheme.

ScotZEB3 is a grant subsidy programme and was designed to comply with UK Subsidy Control legislation and as such, it cannot require or favour domestic manufacturers or suppliers as a condition of funding.

The grant subsidy offered by the Scottish Government to support the Alexander Dennis furlough scheme was separate from ScotZEB3.

No specific assessment of Alexander Dennis's ability to meet the conditions of the furlough support scheme was undertaken as part of the ScotZEB3 decision-making process.

Question reference: S7W-03525

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines are in place to ensure that patients with post-mesh removal conditions receive equitable aftercare across all NHS boards.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that women who have undergone mesh removal have equitable access to appropriate, high-quality ongoing care, regardless of where they live in Scotland.

We recognise that mesh removal may not be the end of a woman's treatment. Some women may subsequently require further assessment and treatment for persistent or recurrent conditions, including stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and some may require further reconstructive surgery or other post-surgery care. Care should be determined according to individual clinical need and through shared decision-making between the patient and their clinical team, with referral to another NHS Board or specialist service where the necessary expertise is not available locally.

The assessment and management of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse is supported by national clinical guidance, including NICE guideline NG123. All NICE guidelines should be considered relevant to be considered by professionals in NHSScotland unless there is a competing Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline. This guidance covers assessment, non-surgical and surgical treatment options, and the management of complications associated with mesh procedures. It emphasises the importance of taking account of each woman's individual needs, preferences and circumstances when considering treatment options.

NHS Boards are responsible for delivering care in line with relevant clinical guidance and NHSScotland policies, and for arranging referrals where specialist expertise is required. Patients requiring outpatient assessment or elective treatment are managed in accordance with NHSScotland waiting times arrangements and are prioritised according to their individual circumstances and clinical need. This helps ensure that women requiring treatment following mesh removal can access appropriate care through established clinical pathways and consistent clinical standards across Scotland.

The Scottish Pelvic Floor Registry and Audit Programme (SPFRAP), led by Public Health Scotland, has been commissioned to support quality improvement in pelvic floor services in Scotland. The programme aims to collect and analyse clinical audit data against recognised standards of care to identify variation, support shared learning and promote best practice across NHS Boards. This will help strengthen consistency and continuous improvement in pelvic floor services, including care provided to women following mesh removal.

Question reference: S7W-04034

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many people resident in Scotland have received NHS treatment in the rest of the UK in each of the last five years.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) releases statistics, as part of the monthly Stage of Treatment (SoT) publication, covering waits for new outpatient appointments under the 12-week standard, and for inpatient and day case admissions covered by the 12-week Treatment Time Guarantee (TTG). The latest statistics are published up to 29 September 2026 and can be found using the following link:

https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times-new-outpatients-inpatients-and-day-cases-29-september-2026/

Quality assured data relating to the number of additions and removals to the waiting list outside of Scotland for a new outpatient appointment, or for inpatient and day case admission, have been published since 31 December 2012 onwards and can be found using the following links.

https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/40088/newop_jul26-data-file-up-to-30-june-2026.xlsx

https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/media/40087/ipdc_jul26-data-file-up-to-30-june-2026.xlsx

It is important to note that there are minimal data quality checks carried out on the location of treatment.

Neither the Scottish Government nor PHS holds information on the number of emergency admissions for NHS treatment outside of Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-03986

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carrried out of the specific health, social and economic challenges facing older men across the country and what action it is taking in response to the findings.

As the member will be aware, all Scottish Government policies are subject to Equality Impact Assessments to understand the impact on different protected characteristic groups as defined in the Equality Act 2010. This includes age and sex.

The Scottish Government works closely with partners through the Older People's Strategic Action Forum (OPSAF), which brings together organisations representing age equality and older people's interests across Scotland.

We are taking forward a range of work to improve outcomes for older people and ensure that future policy reflects the priorities identified by older people and the organisations that represent them, including financial security, social connectedness, tackling ageism and access to services.

With this in mind, a range of support is available to older men across the country as a direct result of Scottish Government policies.

The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults aims to tackle inequalities by prioritising a range of ‘at risk’ groups, including older people. £99 million has been awarded since the Fund was launched in 2021.

We are providing funding for the Changing Room: Extra Time Programme, delivered by SAMH in conjunction with the Scottish Professional Football League to support men by creating a safe space for them to speak openly about their mental wellbeing. This includes supporting men from lower socio-economic backgrounds and those from the age range most at risk of suicide.

Our Mind to Mind public awareness campaign includes a focus on men, encouraging them to talk about their mental health.

We are also providing just over £4.8 million over four years to 52 community projects across Scotland through the Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund. Many of these projects are targeted at older men and women.

Since 2016-17, we have invested just over £950,000 in Scottish Men’s Sheds Association to grow the number of sheds in Scotland to help tackle social isolation and loneliness. Men's Sheds offer safe and welcoming spaces for men of all generations to come together and feel supported.

Question reference: S7W-04174

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many buses supported by ScotZEB3 have reached the stage of a confirmed purchase order, broken down by manufacturer, and what deadlines apply to grant recipients placing those orders.

ScotZEB3 is a multi-year programme administered by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) on behalf of the Scottish Government. As programme administrator, EST monitors project progress and expenditure in line with grant agreements in place. All grant funding awarded through ScotZEB3 must be drawn down by 31 March 2028.

As of 12 October 2026, 47 buses supported through ScotZEB3 have reached the stage of a confirmed purchase order. The breakdown by manufacturer is as follows:

• Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) - 40

• Yutong - 7

Grant recipients are responsible for managing procurement and delivery timetables to ensure eligible expenditure is incurred and is claimed by 31 March 2028.

Question reference: S7W-03962

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2026
Current Status: Holding Answer by Stephen Gethins on 2 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £10 million allocated to its Emergency Heating Oil Scheme had been spent up to 30 September 2026.