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-00169

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 3 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the potential establishment of a statutory framework to co-ordinate protections and responsibilities relating to war memorials.

No representations have been received suggesting that a new statutory framework to co-ordinate protections and responsibilities relating to war memorials in Scotland is required. However, Ministers are considering their position on the protection afforded to war memorials from damage by the criminal law and, in that context, would welcome representations from members on potential improvements to existing arrangements for the protection of, and responsibilities relating to, war memorials in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-00168

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 3 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee's proposal in its Stage 1 report on the Desecration of War Memorials (Scotland) Bill to legislate to create a statutory aggravation in relation to the protection and maintenance of war memorials.

Ministers recognise the importance of Scotland’s war memorials and the significant personal, cultural and community value they hold, as well as the deeply felt impact that damage to them can cause. Following the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee’s scrutiny of the Desecration of War Memorials (Scotland) Bill in the last parliamentary session, Ministers are taking full account of the Committee’s findings and recommendations, including its invitation to engage on the merits of a statutory aggravation.

Question reference: S6O-05712

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting first-time buyers.

Question reference: S6O-05673

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent further job losses in the oil and gas supply chain as a result of the energy transition.

Question reference: S6O-05630

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it was first informed of water and mould ingress at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Question reference: S6W-43475

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its inquiry into Skye House.

In February 2025 the Scottish Government commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) to undertake independent joint inspections and visits of all Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) inpatient units in Scotland as a matter of priority.

HIS and the MWC visited Skye House from 18-20 August 2025 and plan on publishing their joint visit and Safe Delivery of Care Inspection report later this month.

The Scottish Government will continue working closely with HIS, the MWC and relevant Health Boards to ensure long-term improvements in care for children and young people.

Question reference: S6O-05407

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how the increase in the international development fund that was announced in the draft 2026-27 Scottish Budget will be spent.

Question reference: S6O-05350

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve pupil attendance in schools.

Question reference: S6O-05279

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on increasing the number of overnight beds for parents in neonatal wards.

Question reference: S6W-41388

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussion it, or any of its agencies, including the Building Standards Division, has had with local authorities across Scotland regarding the use of the BS 8414 cladding system test, to ensure notification is given if the test is used to demonstrate compliance for external wall cladding systems.

The Scottish Government’s Building Standards Division (BSD) requires local authority verifiers to notify BSD under Section 34 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 when certain methods are used to demonstrate compliance with mandatory building standards. Specifically, notification is required where:

BS 8414 fire performance testing and associated guidance in BR 135, or
Extended field of application assessments under BS 9414

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Local Authority Building Standards Scotland (LABSS) played a key role through participation in expert working groups and panels convened by the Scottish Government, which included consideration of the role of BS8414.