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-00917

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will respond to data, which reportedly shows that 85% of emissions from the 2025 Dava Moor megafire resulted from subsurface soil dryness, and whether it will put in place a plan to transition towards large-scale hydrological re-saturation and natural habitat succession in areas vulnerable to wildfire.

Question reference: S7W-00918

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent research published in Nature Geoscience characterising the 2025 Dava Moor Wildfire as the UK's first megafire, what assessment it has made of the role of landscape-scale engineering by keystone species, such as Eurasian beavers, in creating natural wetlands that serve as systemic, megafire-resistant buffers.

Question reference: S7W-00916

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent research published in Nature Geoscience characterising the 2025 Dava Moor Wildfire as the UK's first megafire, what steps it is taking to accelerate large-scale hydrological restoration and peatland re-saturation, outside of existing deep-peat work, to prevent carbon loss during periods of prolonged drought.

Question reference: S7W-00734

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 10 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to establishing an independent body to investigate complaints regarding the financial practices of adult social care providers, with a role similar to that played by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in England.

The Scottish Government are not currently making any considerations to establish an independent body to investigate complaints regarding the financial practices of adult social care providers.

Scotland has in place the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) which provides a well-established, fully independent route for complaints relating to adult social care services provided by the public sector.

When a person is self-funding their care this becomes a contractual matter between the individual and their care home. Families in Scotland can contact their local trading standards team who will investigate any breach of contract.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which is a statutory body and accountable to the UK Parliament, has guidance for care homes on deposits and fees. We expect all providers operating in Scotland to abide by the guidance clearly set out by the CMA.

Question reference: S7W-00653

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any barriers that the current costs and legal requirements associated with obtaining a Power of Attorney create for (a) low-income households, (b) older people and (c) disabled people, and whether it will consider introducing officially approved standard templates or additional financial support for applicants.

Work is underway to modernise the Adults with Incapacity system in Scotland, including Powers of Attorney, with a specific focus on enhancing the rights and protections of people affected by incapacity law. We are working collaboratively with an Expert Working Group, convened in September 2025, to develop evidence-based recommendations for legislative and procedural reform and to improve the experience of those affected by incapacity law.

Financial support is already in place to obtain a Power of Attorney in circumstances where an individual may not otherwise be able to afford it. Legal aid may be available to support the cost of a solicitor drawing up a Power of Attorney and individuals may be able to claim a fee in relation to registering their Power of Attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian.

The Scottish Government is considering plans to deliver the commitment to temporarily reduce the power of attorney registration fees within this parliamentary term and will engage with relevant stakeholders to do so.

Question reference: S7W-00881

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 22 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports regarding the Bakkafrost Loch Torridon marine salmon farm site, where fish were allegedly found after the site had been declared fallow and weekly sea lice records were reportedly retrospectively altered, what assessment it has made of whether official reporting requirements were misrepresented; what powers the Fish Health Inspectorate has to investigate inaccurate or misleading declarations and retrospective changes to records, and what penalties, enforcement action or other sanctions have been, or could be, imposed in response.

Question reference: S7W-00242

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 8 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of serious bullying allegations at Ben Wyvis Primary School, what action it can take, including through engagement with the Highland Council and/or Education Scotland, to ensure that concerns regarding safeguarding and support for pupils are appropriately addressed.

Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and all children and young people have the right to learn in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment.

Responsibility for the operational management of schools, including responding to bullying incidents and safeguarding concerns, rests with local authorities and schools.

To support schools and local authorities, the Scottish Government published updated anti-bullying guidance in November 2024. We expect all local authorities, schools and organisations to develop and implement anti-bullying policies in line with Respect for All. The guidance is clear that responses to bullying should be addressed in line with a school’s relationships and behaviour policy, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and appropriate support for all children and young people involved.

In 2026-27, we are providing £310,480 to respectme, Scotland’s anti-bullying service to provide advice, resources, and training for schools, local authorities and parents to help prevent and address bullying.

Question reference: S7W-00634

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring is being undertaken of NHS board compliance with the recommendations of the rapid review into healthcare provision in police custody.

As I set out in my letter of 11 February 2026 to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee regarding Petition PE1900, NHS boards are asked to provide annual updates each November on progress in addressing the issues identified through the rapid review of healthcare provision in police custody.

These annual returns seek information on arrangements for the safe storage and supply of controlled drugs, the existence of written policies to ensure detainees can access prescribed medication (including opioid substitution therapy), and the operation of clinical governance processes such as the recording and review of adverse events, complaints and feedback. Boards are also asked to set out improvement actions and timescales where gaps are identified.

This monitoring is complemented by scrutiny from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Their joint work has established an inspection framework for healthcare services in police custody, underpinned by a human rights-based approach and aligned with Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s quality indicators, to provide assurance on the quality and safety of care.

Delivery of healthcare in police custody remains an operational responsibility for NHS boards. The Scottish Government will continue to work with partners to support consistent implementation across Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-00635

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter of 11 February 2026 by the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Sport to the Convener of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee regarding PE1900 (Access to prescribed medication for detainees in police custody), whether NHS Grampian now has appropriate arrangements in place to ensure timely access to prescribed medication, including controlled drugs, for detainees.

NHS Grampian has confirmed that arrangements are in place to support access to prescribed medication, including controlled drugs, within its current service model. Individuals are clinically assessed on entry to custody and prescribed medication is provided where clinically indicated, with processes in place to verify community prescriptions.

Arrangements are in place to provide opioid replacement therapy where required. However, at present, this is delivered from the Kittybrewster custody suite, with detainees transferred from other custody locations where necessary to ensure continuity of treatment. NHS Grampian has advised that it is continuing to work with partners to expand provision across all custody settings, including through the development of pharmacy, delivery and remote prescribing arrangements.

The delivery of healthcare services in police custody remains an operational responsibility for NHS boards. The Scottish Government will continue to support further improvement and consistent, timely access to prescribed medication.’

Question reference: S7W-00298

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 8 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Highland Council regarding reports of unsafe toilet facilities and class cancellations at Rosebank Primary School, and what support is available to local authorities to ensure that school buildings are fit for purpose.

While statutory responsibility for managing and maintaining school estates rests with local authorities, the Scottish Government has engaged with the Highland Council on the issues at Rosebank Primary School. The Council has confirmed that no further class cancellations are expected and that remedial works to the affected toilet facilities will be completed before the start of the new school session in August. It has also committed to keeping the Parent Council updated on progress.

Through the £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme, the Scottish Government is providing the Council with significant funding support for its Broadford Primary School, Nairn Academy and Tain Campus projects. This funding is intended to augment, rather than replace, the Council’s own investment in its school estate.

More broadly, the latest School Estate Statistics, published in September, show that the proportion of school buildings reported as being in “good” or “satisfactory” condition has increased to a record 92%, compared with 62.7% in 2007.