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-00922

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made to ensure that all public sector bodies are adhering to the judgement of the Supreme Court in the For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers case.

Question reference: S7W-00946

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take during the current parliamentary session to improve workforce retention in children's social work services.

We know that demand for social work services continues to grow. The National Social Work Agency was launched on 17 March 2026, to empower the profession, champion social justice, and keep people safe. As part of the launch, investment of up to £994,000 was announced for 2026/27, supporting measures that directly respond to national workforce challenges around recruitment and retention, particularly in high demand areas such as mental health and practice education.

The Scottish Government and the National Social Work Agency, across the course of the parliament, are committed to identifying opportunities to strengthen the social work workforce, including children and families social work. We recognise that these skilled and dedicated professionals play an essential role protecting children and in achieving The Promise commitments by 2030.

Working alongside social workers and sector experts, we have developed Valuing Practice: The Framework for Social Work Education and Learning, which, for the first time, sets out standards for learning and development across the full span of social work careers. It aims to enable a skilled and confident workforce that makes a meaningful difference to people and communities. We will engage with the sector in the autumn seeking views on learning and skills priorities to inform development of a national training plan.

The National Social Work Agency aims to address ongoing sector challenges, including workforce capacity and consistency of practice, across all social work disciplines, including children and families. Recognising recruitment and retention as key to a resilient workforce, which is supported and sustainable, we will do this by:

improving and strengthening professional leadership and development, including learning opportunities,
reviewing workforce wellbeing, including measures to address stress and promote positive working environments, in recognition of the impacts of high caseloads on retention engaging with the workforce to develop career resources and clear pathways, increasing consistency in service delivery, and
enabling social workers to work more effectively with people (children, young people and adults) to transform their lives and implement rights-based practice across all services.

However, we cannot achieve all this alone and we are working alongside COSLA and Social Work Scotland, through the Scottish Social Work Partnership , to ensure a skilled, supported and sustainable social work workforce throughout Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-00887

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many biologically male prisoners are currently held in the female prison estate.

I have asked Linda Pollock, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS publishes prison numbers on a quarterly basis via the Prisoner Information Page (PIP), the most recent of which can be found here: Public Information Page

Additionally, SPS publish Prison Population Data Reports which illustrate the population in custody broken down by custody type, gender, and age, the most recent of which can be found here: Prison Population data 12 June 2026.xlsx.

Question reference: S7W-00573

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 5 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the new railway station at Winchburgh will be completed.

It is the project promoters, Winchburgh Developments Limited and West Lothian Council, who are currently responsible for setting the project delivery timeline for a new station at Winchburgh.

The funding application for capital construction costs submitted to the Scottish Government by West Lothian Council is under review and, as stated in our Budget 2026-27 statement, we are committed to working with partners to support delivery of a new station at Winchburgh.

Question reference: S7W-00170

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 whether it will commit to working in the current session to bring forward or support legislative amendments to strengthen protections for nationally and locally significant war memorials.

Ministers will always seek to engage openly and positively with all parties interested in strengthening the protection, preservation and maintenance of Scotland’s war memorials, including Members. Ministers will consider their position on the protection afforded to war memorials from damage by the criminal law. Ministers will give careful attention to any proposals brought forward in the Parliament for amendments to the law, examining their detail and practical implications before taking a view on support, in line with normal procedure.

Question reference: S7W-00171

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 steps it will take to reassure communities and armed forces groups that the preservation and protection of war memorials remains a ministerial priority.

Protecting and preserving war memorials remains a priority demonstrated through ongoing support, including funding from Historic Environment Scotland to the War Memorials Trust, and through the ability for sites to be considered for listing or designation. More broadly, Ministers remain committed to ensuring that service personnel, veterans and their families can access the support and services they need, reflected in their commitment to the UK Veterans Strategy.

On the protection afforded to war memorials from damage by the criminal law, Ministers can reassure communities and armed forces groups that existing law already allows such offences to be prosecuted, that current offences available to independent prosecutors includes a common law offence of malicious mischief where the sentencing powers are unlimited and that the court and prosecutors already take into account community impact and trauma as highlighted in evidence to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee during consideration of the Desecration of War Memorials (Scotland) Bill in the last session. Additionally, Ministers will be making decisions on further action and in that context, Ministers welcome representations - including from Members - on further action.

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.