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-01714

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answer expected on 12 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in implementing the accepted recommendations of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 1 report, which was published on 18 July 2024.

Question reference: S7W-01671

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 14 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry's fifth report, 'Procurement' (Module 5), which is due to be published on 14 July 2026.

We welcome the publication of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 5 report focusing on the procurement and distribution to end-users across the four nations of the United Kingdom of key healthcare related equipment and supplies, including PPE, ventilators and oxygen during the Covid-19 pandemic. A copy of the report is available online at: https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/reports/

During the pandemic, the Scottish Government’s foremost priority was to protect the public from the novel Covid-19 virus. Ministers sought to be open, transparent and accountable in respect of the decisions made. We extend our sincere and deepest condolences to the many thousands who have lost loved ones and who continue to experience the profound impacts of Covid-19. We recognise the loss, hurt and suffering experienced by people across Scotland and the rest of the UK, and we would like to again acknowledge the efforts and sacrifices of our health and social care workforce during the pandemic.

Progress continues with implementing the accepted recommendations of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 1 report which covers pre-pandemic planning and preparedness. Six recommendations from the report have now been delivered, with our third progress report due to be published in July.

Our response to the Covid Inquiry’s Module 2 report into government decision-making was published in March. That response set out the steps we are taking in response to the Chair’s recommendations, and was informed by stakeholder engagement, including from the Covid Inquiries Response Engagement Group, chaired by the former Deputy First Minister, comprising organisations representing those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and those furthest from decision-making.

Work on recommendations set out by the UK Inquiry in its subsequent reports is under way, and will be responded to within the timescale set out by the inquiry Chair.

We recognise that there is further work to be done. The Scottish Government will now take the necessary time to fully and carefully consider the findings and recommendations set out in the Inquiry’s Module 5 report, and will provide a detailed response to the report’s recommendations in due course.

Question reference: S7W-01418

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide more information on the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to exploring Compulsory Sales Orders (CSO), including when it plans to publish proposals for CSOs within the next five years.

Question reference: S7W-01539

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to increasing investment in Scotland through Local Government Pension Scheme funds, which are reported to hold assets of around £75 billion, and savings held by individuals in Scotland, including around £30 billion in Cash ISAs and £30 billion in Stocks and Shares ISAs.

Question reference: S7W-01540

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the fiduciary duty of Scotland’s local government pension funds and their obligations to community wealth building.

Question reference: S7W-01542

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what scenario planning it has carried out to assess the likely impact of (a) Scottish independence and (b) any increase in the perceived likelihood of Scottish independence on future credit ratings and interest rates for new bond issuances and bonds traded on the secondary market.

Question reference: S7W-01543

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the 10-year horizon for public debt, what assumptions it has made in relation to Scottish independence, and what work it has undertaken to model the impact on the issuing of government bonds in an independent Scotland under scenarios in which the country continues to use sterling for a period or issues its own sovereign currency.

Question reference: S7W-01541

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to establishing a partnership between it, local government pension scheme funds, the Scottish National Investment Bank, local authorities, COSLA, Development Trusts Association Scotland and Scotland's economic development agencies to (a) deliver a public investment programme, (b) increase community ownership and (c) provide venture and growth capital for businesses in Scotland, with a view to reducing reliance on foreign investment.

Question reference: S7W-01417

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to simplify regulation and reform of the planning system to support jobs and economic growth, how and when it plans to implement the findings of the Compulsory Purchase Order review.

Question reference: S7O-00129

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking forward in partnership with East Lothian Council, Taylor Wimpey and Hargreaves, to deliver and expand the housing development at Blindwells, which has been classified as a strategic housing site.