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: S7O-00442

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has made of the impact of drug education programmes delivered in schools.

Question reference: S7O-00434

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the contribution that the decarbonisation of residential properties will make towards meeting Scotland’s net zero targets.

Question reference: S7W-04263

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it had with (a) broadband suppliers, (b) local authorities and (c) community groups prior to reaching its decision to close the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme to new applications from 20 November 2026.

The Scottish Government did not undertake formal consultation with stakeholders before deciding to close the scheme to new applications. However, throughout the duration of the scheme, including since the announcement of the closure, we have maintained regular engagement with registered suppliers, as well as Local Authorities through an established network of Single Points of Contact. We are happy to engage with community groups and/or individual applicants on any outstanding or new applications prior to its closure.

Question reference: S7W-04059

Asked by: Holly Bruce, MSP for Glasgow Southside, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the amended motion S7M-00128, which was agreed by the Parliament on 26 May 2026 and included an agreement that the Scottish Government and COSLA "must work together to ensure that cross-border placements are available across Scotland" and "that all children can access the current funded hours the week rather than term after the child's relevant birthday", what progress it has made towards achieving this.

We are committed to exploring cross-boundary provision and eligibility dates with COSLA within the context of wider reform and our ambition to transform the childcare offer during this parliament.

Next year we will publish and consult on a blueprint for a transformed childcare offer focussing on what matters most to families.

The Scottish Government is aware that cross-boundary arrangements are working well across much of Scotland, and that local authorities already have the power to offer earlier access to funded early learning and childcare. We therefore continue to call on local authorities to work together and use their existing powers to support choice and flexibility for families while this work is progressed.

Question reference: S7W-04042

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it was informed in advance of Police Scotland accepting a mutual aid request from the Police Service of Northern Ireland regarding the public order operation on the Garvaghy Road in Craigavon on 27 September 2026.

Mutual aid arrangements between forces are a longstanding feature of policing, which help to ensure that all forces are able to respond effectively to major incidents, significant operational pressures and events requiring additional policing capacity.

The Scottish Government received no prior communication regarding the decision to deploy Police Scotland officers in Portadown to aid Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Decisions regarding the deployment of officers under mutual aid arrangements are operational matters for Police Scotland under the direction of the Chief Constable, who is responsible and accountable to the Scottish Police Authority.

Question reference: S7W-03817

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the July 2025 update to its policy on the protection of Ramsar wetland sites, what contact it has had or plans to have with the Ramsar Convention secretariat regarding the proposed Coul Links golf club.

Question reference: S7W-04151

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in order to achieve Net Zero by 2045, how many homes require (a) insulation and retrofitting and (b) decarbonised heating.

Question reference: S7W-04250

Asked by: David Smith, MSP for West Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of offshore wind farm developments on seabird populations in Scottish waters, including the extent of bird mortality resulting from collisions with turbine blades and any impacts arising from habitat displacement and disturbance, and what measures are being taken to monitor and mitigate such impacts.

A Habitats Regulations Appraisal has been conducted to assess the potential impact of offshore wind development, identified through the Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy, on European sites, including ornithology features. The estimated total mortality for seabirds annually, due to impact from collision and displacement, has been quantified and will be published alongside the Updated Plan.

The Updated Plan and relevant assessment documents set out mitigation measures designed to reduce collision risk and displacement effects for seabirds. In addition, compensatory measures have been explored to offset identified impacts to seabirds, including predator control and habitat disturbance management measures. A strategic monitoring programme for environmental effects from the Updated Plan is under development.

Question reference: S7W-03989

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the availability of a skilled workforce to deliver its heat network ambitions, and what action it is taking to address any identified shortages in engineering, construction and heat network operation skills.

To achieve our ambitious heat network targets for the amount of heat to be supplied by heat networks, reaching 7 TWh of output by 2035, we will require a substantial capacity across heat network supply chains. Our grant funding through Scotland’s Heat Network Fund helps develop the supply chain in Scotland by allowing heat network projects to proceed to construction. Applications must demonstrate their ability to have a positive impact on Scotland’s skills and supply chain, with an expectation that strong applications will quantify the overall project’s positive impact to the economy. This could include the number of jobs supported as a result of the project, whether the project’s procurement approach will encourage consideration of local contractors and the spend expected from Scottish based suppliers.

Furthermore, the legislative framework that has been developed and continues to be developed, including the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS), also aims to provide the certainty that the sector needs to invest in recruiting and upskilling its workforce. Examples of skills development include the establishment of Scotland’s first dedicated district heating education centre in Dalkeith near Edinburgh and an annual programme of support for 20 local authorities in Scotland through the District Heating Mentoring Scheme. This scheme, delivered by the Heat Network Support Unit, in collaboration with the Danish Board of District Heating, the Royal Danish Embassy in London and the Danish Energy Agency, has been well received in respect of building skills and capacity.

Skills matters are an area of focus for the development of the Heat in Buildings Delivery Plan. A workshop themed ‘Industry, Skills and Delivery Capacity’ is taking place in Glasgow on 2 November and in Dundee on 3 November to identify the forward action required.

Question reference: S7W-03807

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support independent pumped storage hydro stations in the South Scotland region, in light of reports that they face high non-domestic rates bills, and what assessment it has made of the impact of such bills on their operations.

The Scottish Government values the contribution that the Hydro sector makes to the Scottish economy and to our low-carbon ambitions. The Scottish Budget set out a decrease in the Basic, Intermediate and Higher Property Rates for 2026-27 and a generous relief package worth almost a billion pounds in 2026-27.

We are undertaking a comprehensive review of non-domestic rates which will examine improvements and reforms that can be made to ensure the system provides the clarity, incentive and transparency which businesses need. This builds on our commitment to examine the impact and configuration of all our reliefs in advance of the next revaluation on 1 April 2029.