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-03529

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 6 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when, and whether, it plans to take action regarding provisions in the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 that would enable the removal of the licensing exemption, provided for at section 22(1)(c) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, for a vehicle while it is being used for carrying passengers for its exclusive hire for a period of not less than 24 hours.

Taxis and Private Hire Cars (PHCs) are licensed under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (“the 1982 Act”).

Section 22 of the 1982 Act currently provides that Taxi/ PHC licensing does not apply to any vehicle while it is being used for carrying passengers for its exclusive hire for a period of not less than 24 hours. This is commonly referred to as the ‘contract exemption’ and allows drivers and vehicles being used exclusively for contract work to fall out with the Taxi/ PHC licensing regime.

The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 made provisions that can be used for the removal of the contract exemption. When brought into force this will bring vehicles being used in such a manner into the Taxi/ PHC licensing regime as set out in the 1982 Act. However, the contract exemption remains in place at present.

There have been discussions with stakeholders in relation to the contract exemption over a period of time and these discussions have raised a number of practical issues to assess before the contract exemption is removed.

Further information is available in Chapter 5 of the Taxi and PHC licensing best practice guidance document published by the Scottish Government in 2023.

In 2025, the Scottish Government convened a Task Force on Civic Licensing to review a range of existing licensing provisions of the 1982 Act. One of the licensing policy areas being looked at is the legislation in relation to Taxi and PHC Licensing, and this includes the contract exemption issue.

It is expected that a report setting out any proposed reform, recommendations and potential changes to the 1982 Act, including in relation to the current Taxi/PHC licensing regime, will be presented to the Scottish Ministers for consideration in the next few months.

The report will be considered carefully by the Scottish Government before any next steps are taken.

Question reference: S7O-00330

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on patient engagement within NHS Scotland, including pilots for Martha's Rule.

Question reference: S7O-00219

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work with partners regarding the delivery of the Capercaillie Emergency Plan 2025-2030.

Question reference: S7W-01552

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 6 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what precautions it is taking to ensure that the development of data centres does not have a significant impact on energy and water resources

The Scottish Government is taking a whole system approach to understanding the full implications of data centre developments.

We recognise that data centres are a rapidly evolving sector. In a response to Gillian MacKay MSP on Thursday 25 June, the First Minister set out that he is giving active consideration on whether the Scottish Government should provide planning guidance to balance the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centres with national energy and climate goals which are vital to our future prosperity.

Question reference: S7W-01550

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the A96 is not included in Transport Scotland's bilingual signage policy, and what consideration it has given to reviewing the roads covered by that policy, in light of the Scottish Languages Act 2025.

The Scottish Government’s current policy on the use of bilingual signing provides an affordable and cost effective way of providing bilingual signs coverage on the network within available funds, and ensures that the Gaelic language is included on road signs where it is most relevant to communities.

The Scottish Languages Act, 2025 requires Scottish Ministers to prepare Gaelic Standards and Requirements. When prepared, these will shape the commitments which Scottish public authorities include in any Gaelic Language Plans they may produce. It is expected that the Standards and Requirements will cover Gaelic signage and visibility in certain areas.

Question reference: S7W-01546

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the funding and visibility of the British Transport Police in Scotland, and whether it has considered increasing the resources available to support responses to antisocial and dangerous behaviour on public transport.

British Transport Police (BTP) is funded principally by the rail industry, including Train Operating Companies. ScotRail has continuedly met its funding obligations towards BTP. BTP distribution of funding is a matter for British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). Both of these organisations operate under the UK Government’s Department for Transport.

The previous Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop raised concerns with the BTPA about the impact of budget reductions in Scotland.

ScotRail has delivered a range of measures to tackle anti-social behaviour, including the expansion of its Travel Safe Team, which works closely with BTP to support staff and passengers on trains and at stations.

The Scottish Government established the Rail Enforcement Powers Working Group to consider further action to improve safety for passengers and staff. The Group published its final report and recommendations, which can be found here, and included a specific recommendation on preventing further reductions to BTP numbers in Scotland. The former Cabinet Secretary for Transport accepted these recommendations in full, with officials at Transport Scotland now considering the feasibility of these recommendations and how can they be delivered.

Question reference: S7W-01545

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds and collects on incidents of antisocial behaviour and assaults on trains.

Question reference: S7W-01822

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for its planned review of the factoring system.

Question reference: S7W-01544

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 21 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that funding for hospices reaches the organisations delivering hospice care.

The Scottish Budget for 2026-27 includes £9.4 million of investment to support independent hospices to provide pay parity with NHS levels for staff who deliver essential palliative care services.

We are working with the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group (SHLG) to gather relevant information from hospices to help ensure our governance and approval procedures are correctly followed prior to any allocation of funding being agreed.

This funding will be provided to hospices via allocations to NHS boards, with the clear expectation set that this funding should be immediately paid onward to the hospices.

We will continue to engage with SHLG and NHS boards to ensure that all independent hospices receive the funding as intended.

Question reference: S7W-01286

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 21 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has an agreed definition of relational care, if so, (a) whether it will set this out and (b) how it will promote and support its approach to the provision of such care.

Relational care, or relational continuity aims to ensure the same healthcare professional provides treatment and care for a person over time, allowing development of trust and understanding.

Relational continuity is discussed in more detail in the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland's 2024-25 Annual Report Realistic Medicine: Critical Connections.

The Chief Medical Officer has again promoted the need for greater relational continuity of care in his latest annual report Our Path Ahead.

We are exploring options to increase the focus on relational continuity of care as part of this year's Frailty Directed Enhanced Service in general practice.

Our record investment package of £310 million over 3 years to expand the general practice workforce is supported by guidance which recognises the importance of relational continuity of care and advises practices to consider how best to assure GP capacity in ways that actively provide relational continuity of care for patients where this is in their interests.