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-38845

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, what its policy is on whether it would introduce a ban on surrogacy in an independent Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-39016

Asked by: Joe FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee City West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Graeme Dey on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment it made to the Education, Children and Young People Committee on 5 March 2025, whether it will outline when it will take forward plans to undertake a consultation on support for part-time study and disabled students.

During my attendance at the Committee on 5 March 2025, I reiterated my continued commitment towards widening access as well as the needs of part-time students, and disabled students. I am pleased to announce that a consultation will be published today on the Scottish Government and Citizen Space websites. The consultation will seek to capture a wide range of views, especially those of our learners, to help us understand the barriers that part-time and disabled students face and explore potential solutions, as part of our continued commitment to ensure that students can access support needed whilst they study.

These can be accessed via the following links:

Scottish Government -https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836917717

Citizen Space: Support for part-time study and disabled students: Survey for students, potential students, parents and carers - https://consult.gov.scot/lifelong-learning-and-skills/support-for-part-time-and-disabled-students

Citizen Space: Support for part-time study and disabled students: Survey for the Higher Education and Further Education sector, training providers, third sector and interested organisations -

https://consult.gov.scot/lifelong-learning-and-skills/support-for-part-time-and-disabled-providers

Question reference: S6W-38917

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) regarding the reported proposed sale of Armadale Castle and estate by the Clan Donald Lands Trust, in light of reports regarding complaints submitted by beneficiaries and public interest in the potential impact on community access.

Question reference: S6W-38906

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for how long each of the initiatives for emergency department opt-out testing for blood-borne viruses in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian are expected to run.

The Scottish Government has committed to rolling out Emergency Department opt-out testing for blood borne viruses in the areas of highest diagnosed prevalence and elsewhere as the evidence develops and supports this. As this is a roll out rather than a pilot, we have not set a fixed end-date but, as with all measures, we will continue to monitor and evaluate the programme to ensure that it is effective.

Question reference: S6W-38905

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed initiatives for emergency department opt-out testing for blood-borne viruses in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian will commence within the current parliamentary session.

The Scottish Government is in discussions with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian to confirm appropriate timescales for commencing emergency department opt-out testing for blood-borne viruses, however it is important that preparatory work is undertaken to ensure that the roll-out is robust and well-supported. This initial preparatory work has begun and we anticipate the commencement of testing within the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S6W-38904

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what funding has been allocated to support the initiatives for emergency department opt-out testing for blood-borne viruses in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian.

Question reference: S6W-38858

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made to develop and align private sector incubators within the national entrepreneurial infrastructure.

The Scottish Government is committed to strengthening Scotland’s national entrepreneurial infrastructure. As part of this, we have procured CodeBase to deliver the Techscaler programme, which supports the creation and growth of tech startups across the country. Through this initiative, CodeBase collaborates with a range of ecosystem stakeholders, including private sector incubators, to ensure alignment and integration within the wider entrepreneurial landscape.

In addition, our Ecosystem Fund provides targeted support to organisations that contribute to a thriving startup environment. This includes funding for projects that enhance connectivity, capability, and access to resources for entrepreneurs, thereby reinforcing the role of private sector incubators within the national ecosystem.

Question reference: S6W-38814

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent civil servants currently work within its (a) cancer policy unit, (b) long-term conditions policy unit, broken down by condition, and (c) long-term conditions strategy unit.

The number of full-time equivalent civil servants is broken down by policy area and condition as follows:

Policy Area	Health Condition	Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Civil Servants
Cancer and Rehabilitation Policy Unit	Cancer	6.61 WTE
Long Term Conditions Policy Unit	Heart Disease	1.6 WTE
	Cardiac Arrest	0.9 WTE
	Stroke	2.5 WTE
	Neurological Conditions	4.73 WTE
	Diabetes and Respiratory	2.3 WTE
Long Term Conditions Strategy Unit	Long Term Conditions Strategy and Long Covid	4 WTE

Question reference: S6W-38873

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when a mid-year review will take place of its progress on the recommendations in the Session 5 Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee report, Salmon farming in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-38812

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) patient, (b) clinical and (c) third sector engagement was undertaken in the long-term conditions framework consultation, and whether it will summarise the feedback given on the strategic direction.