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: S6O-05714

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether addressing affordable housing need and tackling homelessness will be More Homes Scotland's core mission.

Question reference: S6W-43899

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans for the new arrangements for withdrawal from religious education and religious observance in schools to come into force in time for the start of the academic year 2026-27.

Question reference: S6W-44119

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the new Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan.

The Scottish Government and COSLA have jointly published ‘Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland’s Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan’ today. Grounded in human rights, the Strategic Plan reaffirms our commitment to a public health, evidence-informed approach to alcohol and drug use.

It builds on the significant progress made throughout the National Mission, with a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, while strengthening vital harm reduction measures and improving treatment and care pathways to support long term recovery.

Whilst there has been a decrease in the most recent National Records of Scotland figures for both alcohol and drugs deaths, we know there is much more to do including addressing the escalating threat from synthetic drugs.

The Strategic Plan is a key component of Scotland’s broader public health reform agendas including the Population Health Framework and Service Renewal Framework.

Alongside the Plan, a revised Partnership Delivery Framework for Alcohol & Drugs Partnerships, and a National Specification for Alcohol and Drugs Services have also been published.

To deliver on our ambitions, we are sustaining the significant increase in investment made over the course of the National Mission. We are maintaining record levels of funding for alcohol and drug policy of more than £160 million in total. This includes £115 million for Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships across Scotland and continued investment in the third sector and voluntary organisations that provide invaluable support.

The Strategic Plan is available at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436835

The Partnership Delivery Framework is available at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806439843

The National Specification is available at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806439836

Question reference: S6O-05538

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details of the support provided to NHS boards to develop specialist care pathways for postural tachycardia syndrome.

Question reference: S6O-05485

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its Good Food Nation journey encourages local procurement, promotes local produce and reduces food miles.

Question reference: S6O-05288

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on pedestrian safety improvements.

Question reference: S6W-41937

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on (a) its progress towards the breastfeeding stretch aim to reduce drop-off in breastfeeding at six to eight weeks by 10% by 2025, as set out in the most recent Programme for Government, and (b) whether it plans to set a new stretch aim as part of its recently published Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Strategic Framework.

I can confirm that the commitment to reduce drop-off in breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks by 10% by 2025 has been achieved and exceeded. The rate of drop off has reduced from 34.5% in 2017-18, when the stretch aim was announced, to 25.3% in 2024-25, a reduction of 9.2 percentage points. This shows a 27% reduction, thereby exceeding the anticipated 10% by some margin.

As we set out in the Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Strategic Framework published earlier this year, we committed to setting out a new stretch aim before the end of 2025. Following engagement with Health Boards and key stakeholders, I can now confirm that this will be ‘to reduce drop-off in breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks by 10% by 2031’.

Much of the improvement over the last seven years has been driven by a combined approach within and between Health Boards, including further embedding of the Unicef UK Baby Friendly standards. From 2025-26 the Scottish Government is permanently transferring over £0.8 million annual additional investment into the baseline budgets of NHS Boards to provide a sustainable basis for funding for interventions to support breastfeeding. This builds on additional investment of over £11 million since 2018. This funding will continue to be used to support evidence-based interventions and to target those who need it most.

As part of our achievements for the highest rates of breastfeeding ever, at 69% initiation and 61% at First Visit, we now have more than half of all babies being breastfed at 6-8 weeks. The statistics from 11 November mark the first time since these statistics began in Scotland in 2002-03 that more babies are being breastfed than formula fed at that time point. It is also clear from the most recent Infant Feeding Statistics, that action on breastfeeding inequalities is making a difference, with the most marked differences for those who live in the most deprived areas and younger mothers.

We want all babies to have the best start in life, including the best nutritional start. Supporting, protecting and promoting breastfeeding remains one of the most important actions we can take to improve the health of both the mother and baby, in both the short and long term. However, we also recognise that breastfeeding might not be possible for every mother and baby and we will continue to support all parents with their infant feeding choices.

This work has been driven through our health services and partners, and in particular the role of Infant Feeding Leads and their teams across maternity, neonatal and community-based services. We will continue to work collaboratively with local leaders to ensure that all mothers across Scotland can be fully supported to achieve their breastfeeding goals.

Question reference: S6O-05175

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work it has been doing regarding people obtaining in-person GP appointments.

Question reference: S6F-04335

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2025

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of any implications for its work to address poverty amongst older people of recent findings by the Living Wage Foundation that a majority of people on a low-income pension in the UK are unable to cover basic living costs.

Question reference: S6O-04990

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045, including in relation to riparian woodland planting.