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-04007

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will engage with the COP31 climate summit.

I will attend COP31 for a short and focussed programme from 9-12 November.

Acknowledging the Scottish Parliament’s commitment to international climate justice that was reaffirmed following the debate on 27 October, my programme will focus on:

Championing climate justice, including greater access to loss and damage finance;
Promoting locally led climate action, placing women, disabled people and indigenous communities at the heart of solutions; and,
Championing the role of devolved governments in accelerating climate action and resilience – particularly supporting efforts to mobilise climate finance for the Global South.

I will seek to listen to and learn from Global South partners, and use Scotland’s Presidency of Regions4 to advance their needs and priorities.

Question reference: S7W-03949

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 30 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reconsider its decision not to proceed with the proposed Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill, or will commit to introduce equivalent legislation, to provide statutory protections for people with learning disabilities, autism and other forms of neurodivergence and to establish appropriate training requirements for public sector staff.

Question reference: S7W-04332

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been provided to Stand Up to Racism, and for what purpose that funding was provided.

Question reference: S7W-03911

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 30 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Glen Sannox used liquefied natural gas (LNG) when docking prior to its 2026 annual overhaul, for what reason the decision was made to no longer use LNG when docking, and when that decision was made.

The Scottish Government does not hold information regarding the number of times Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) was routinely used by MV Glen Sannox during normal berthing operations. However, I can advise that, subject to the Chief Engineer’s discretion in more challenging weather conditions, the vessel would typically switch to Marine Gas Oil (MGO) to avoid the risk of engine damage. The exact number of berthing operations carried out on both fuels is unknown.

Question reference: S7W-04331

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been provided to Women Against the Far Right Scotland, and for what purpose that funding was provided.

Question reference: S7W-04275

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its expenditure to date has been on any third-parties providing advice and support on its plans to issue bonds.

Question reference: S7W-03993

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 30 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the latest assessment it has made of the continuity of care in the Community Treatment and Care Services (CTACS) system, particularly for older and vulnerable people, given reports that many patients are being sent to several different CTACS services with different nurses, sometimes several miles from home, for one ongoing health care issue.

The Scottish Government remains committed to the ongoing development of general practice multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), of which Community Treatment and Care (CTAC) services are a core component. This commitment is underpinned by investment of over £190 million in the Primary Care Improvement Fund in 2026-27.

To expand the evidence base on MDT working, Healthcare Improvement Scotland was commissioned to design and deliver the Primary Care Phased Investment Programme (PCPIP) which ran between 2024 and 2026. Through this programme, Healthcare Improvement Scotland worked with four demonstrator sites to improve implementation of two priority service areas within the 2018 GP contract – CTAC and Pharmacotherapy – and to collect data to understand the impact for people, the workforce and the wider system.

Learning and evidence from the PCPIP final report, which was published earlier this year, is being considered as part of a business case looking at the next steps for MDT working. The process is expected to conclude in autumn 2026.

Through our Community First approach, we are taking forward work to strengthen multidisciplinary local teams and improve co-ordination across services. The forthcoming Primary Care and Community Health Route Map will set out further actions to support quality, co-ordinated, person-led and connected care.

Question reference: S7W-04196

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 30 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people who are eligible for civil legal aid can access legal representation in family court proceedings where they have experienced difficulties securing such representation.

The Scottish Government continues to meet all legal aid costs in full with expenditure in 2024-25 at its highest level of £169 million.

Whilst the legal aid system is generally effective in delivering help to those in need, the Scottish Government does recognise there are some challenges in relation to certain types of cases. Solicitors cannot be compelled to undertake work, and family cases, especially those involving children, can be particularly demanding and resource-intensive however, the vast majority of parties in section 11 cases are represented.

The Scottish Government provides funding for law centres and third-sector advice services, as well as to localised advice providers. Funding is also available for public legal services through the Civil Legal Assistance Office. All of these services can operate across a wide geographical area.

To further increase capacity and capability in the legal aid profession, further funding of £1.5 million has been provided for legal aid traineeships with 40 new trainees expected to be in place by the end of 2026.

The Scottish Government also recently consulted on a future Legal Aid Bill to ensure we have an adaptable, flexible, affordable and sustainable legal aid system in Scotland that supports people who are facing challenging issues and problems. Responses will inform the development of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill and future policy decisions.

Question reference: S7W-04610

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the care of babies pre-, during and post-birth, in light of the report by the National Perinatal Mortality Review Tool, Learning from Standardised Reviews When Babies Die, which suggests that one in five late miscarriages, stillbirths and neonatal deaths might have been prevented with better care delivered in line with nationally agreed standards.

Question reference: S7W-04606

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met with trade union representatives to discuss their concerns regarding the inclusion of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) on the shortlist of manufacturers invited to participate in the next stage of the procurement process for new ScotRail rolling stock.