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-00311

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest annual homelessness statistics.

Question reference: S7W-03193

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 23 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to prioritise investment in the timely development of Local Area Coordination.

The Scottish Government recognises the potential contribution that Local Area Coordination (LAC) can make in helping people, families and communities build resilience, improve wellbeing and access support at an early stage. The principles underpinning LAC align with our Getting It Right For Everyone (GIRFE) approach, which promotes co-ordinated, person-centred support through a ‘team around the person’ model.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to establish a dedicated national funding programme for Local Area Coordination, as decisions on the development and funding of local services are primarily for local authorities and Integration Joint Boards, reflecting local needs and priorities.

However, we remain committed to preventative, community-based and person-centred approaches that support people to live independent, connected and fulfilling lives. These priorities are reflected in our wider ambitions for health and social care reform and renewal, as set out in the Programme for Government, Service Renewal Framework and Population Health Framework.

Question reference: S7W-03151

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding its review of National Lottery Good Cause funding and how it is distributed, including any potential implications for funding in Scotland.

Officials from the UK Governments Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) engaged with relevant Scottish Government officials in July 2026 to advise on it's review of National Lottery Good Cause funding.

Since this initial engagement, Scottish Government officials have sat on a dedicated intergovernmental working group alongside DCMS and representatives from Wales and Northern Ireland. This devolved nations working group ensures that devolved policy contexts are respected, the interests of the funding recipients in the devolved nations are represented, and that UK-wide review objectives do not undermine devolved decision-making powers.

Question reference: S7W-03054

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the Independent Commission on the Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex will commence its work, and by what date all its members will be appointed.

Work on the Commission continues to progress well. This includes agreement between the Chair, Fiona Taylor, and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, of the Commission’s Remit and Terms of Reference. These were published on 26 August 2026 and are available at Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex in Scotland: Independent Commission - terms of reference - gov.scot

Work is actively underway for the consideration and appointment of expert panel members to the Commission. The Commission’s substantive work and first meeting will take place once members have been appointed. Updates will be provided to the Commission’s website in due course.

The Commission will undertake its work independently of government.

Question reference: S7W-02541

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Programme for Government 2026-27 will be closely aligned or mapped to the revised National Performance Framework.

In the Programme for Government, the First Minister states that his priorities and ambitions will help build a Scotland that is fair, healthy, prosperous, secure, skilled, sustainable, and connected. The Scottish Government’s five-year (corporate) plan explains that we will continue to improve how we track progress towards the National Outcomes by establishing a new system in 2026. I have written to committees this week regarding the proposed National Outcomes. We intend to launch the reformed National Performance Framework, including the National Indicators, later this year and will keep Parliament informed of progress.

Question reference: S7W-02962

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any cost estimates, financial modelling or resource assessments relating to the implementation of the commitments contained in Palliative Care Matters for All: palliative care strategy 2025 to 2030.

The Scottish Government’s Palliative Care Strategy 2025-2030 - Palliative Care Matters for All – was published on 10 September 2025, alongside an initial three year delivery plan containing 23 actions intended to deliver on the eight strategy outcomes.

Whilst specific cost estimates, financial modelling or resource assessments relating to the implementation of the overall strategy have not been published, we have worked closely with delivery partners to agree the work plans and project costs associated with the delivery of the actions.

We are also committed to publishing annual strategy progress reports providing updates on the delivery of the actions. The first of these will be published before the end of the year and will outline how we are seeking to ensure value for money and best use of resources throughout delivery of the strategy.

Question reference: S7W-02540

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in reviewing the National Performance Framework, including when the revised framework and National Outcomes will be published.

The Scottish Government is in the process of finalising the National Performance Framework (NPF) following an extensive programme of engagement earlier this year which included organisations from a range of sectors. I have written to committees this week to inform them of the proposed new National Outcomes that form part of the NPF, and that we intend to launch the reformed NPF, including the National Indicators, later this year. I will continue to keep Parliament informed of progress. We will also publish background information on the process as part of the evidence base

Question reference: S7W-02543

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address any gaps in data in order to improve reporting against the National Indicators.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving data availability and quality to support reporting against the National Indicators. The National Indicators bring together data published elsewhere and do not collect data specifically for monitoring. They provide a streamlined measure of progress across the work of the Scottish Government, the wider public sector, and Scotland more broadly. As source data improves, this will be reflected in the National Indicators.

Question reference: S7W-02542

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its approach and timeline for the development of the National Indicators that underpin the National Outcomes, and how it plans to consult with relevant sectors and organisations as part of this process.

The Scottish Government is in the process of finalising a streamlined set of National Indicators, drawing on international good practice such as the recent United Nations (UN) Expert Group on Beyond GDP report and which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Chief Statistician will recommend a National Indicator set to ministers. We intend to launch the reformed NPF, including the National Indicators, later this year and will continue to keep Parliament informed of progress.

Question reference: S7W-02750

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when Vessel Monitoring Systems will be rolled out to the under-12-metre inshore nephrops creel fleet.