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-04985

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had, or plans to have, with the UK Government regarding the £7 million feasibility study for a UK Olympic and Paralympic bid in the 2040s, and what proactive steps it is taking to advocate for the inclusion of Glasgow and other Scottish cities, given that the study's current exclusive focus is on a joint bid by a consortium of northern English cities.

Question reference: S7W-04954

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has paid to Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP to date for legal services in connection with case number 1775/12/13/26, McGill's Bus Service Ltd v Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S7W-04896

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent to date under the £2 Bus Fare Cap scheme on subsidising airport bus services.

Question reference: S7W-04894

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government which airport bus services are currently eligible for reimbursement under the £2 Bus Fare Cap scheme, and what assessment it has made of the total public expenditure attributable to these services.

Question reference: S7W-04895

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 06 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many passenger journeys on airport bus services have been subsidised through the £2 Bus Fare Cap scheme to date.

Question reference: S7W-04232

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to Scotland's national parks, (a) what research has been carried out regarding the reported rise in e-bike usage and (b) what assessment it has made of whether the current rules regarding e-bikes are sufficient to protect walkers and hikers on walking paths.

The Scottish Government has not commissioned research on electric bike (e-bike) use in Scotland’s national parks.

E-bikes which meet the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983, amended by SI 2015/24, are treated as pedal cycles under road traffic law. These e-bikes are treated within access rights under the Land Reform (Scotland) act 2003 (the 2003 Act) on the same basis as other cycles. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code advises cyclists not to endanger walkers, to give advance warning of their presence and to give way on narrow paths. It also advises cyclists to take care not to alarm farm animals, horses and wildlife.

The Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authorities are the access authorities for their areas and have duties under the 2003 Act including to uphold and manage public access rights. Local access forums are also in place to advise on outdoor access issues and to help resolve any disputes between land managers and access users. The Scottish Government considers this framework provides appropriate protection for walkers and hikers.

Question reference: S7W-04395

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to leverage Scotland's Critical Technologies Supercluster to attract global tier-1 semiconductor manufacturers to establish dedicated research, development and design bases in Scotland.

Seven of the top twenty global semiconductor companies already have a presence in Scotland and we are considered a worldwide centre of excellence in semiconductor design and IP development.

Semiconductors form part of our Critical Technologies Supercluster which the Scottish Government is committed to supporting achieve its ambition of £10bn in turnover by 2035 and creating an additional 6,600 jobs. A key component of the industry-led action plan is to assist the growth of existing international companies and attract new foreign direct investment.

Critical technologies are a core part of Scottish Enterprise’s Scaling Innovation Mission and the Scottish government has increased core funding to Technology Scotland by fifty percent last year to support their ongoing delivery.

More broadly, the Scottish Government continues to support Scotland’s advanced technology cluster ecosystem as a key mechanism for driving productivity, innovation and economic growth across Scotland. Through our Cluster Development Programme, we are strengthening support for high-growth clusters, building on our commitment in the Programme for Government and increasing investment through our Core and Stimulus Funds in 2026-27.

Question reference: S7W-04394

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions Scottish Enterprise, Scottish universities or other relevant agencies have had with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) regarding potential foreign direct investment projects in Scotland's advanced packaging ecosystem, including in relation to the National Advanced Semiconductor Packaging and Integration Centre (NASPIC) in the Glasgow City Region.

Scotland has leading strengths in semiconductor design, wafer manufacture and packaging with companies and academic excellence spanning the complete value chain. The Scottish Government is committed to growing capability across our semiconductor ecosystem, which forms a fundamental part of Scotland’s critical technologies supercluster. The supercluster initiative acts as a magnet for investment and provides a platform to boost Scotland’s profile as an attractive advanced packaging ecosystem on the world stage.

Scottish Enterprise are developing semiconductor-focused lead generation activity in markets including Taiwan to generate investment opportunities, and the Supercluster forms part of their Scaling Innovation Mission proposition.

Our universities are autonomous institutions and undertake their own programmes of engagement.

Question reference: S7W-04396

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential for specific capital grant funding or joint venture frameworks to support the expansion of domestic open-foundry capabilities for compound semiconductors, including silicon carbide, and to integrate domestic manufacturing into the global supply chains of companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

The Scottish Government recognises the unique value of Scotland's semiconductor manufacturing capability and the opportunity presented by world leading companies such as the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to integrate into global supply chains.

Clas-SiC Wafer Fab in Fife is the UK’s only commercial open-access wafer fabrication facility dedicated to silicon carbide and received £1.9m as one of the first recipients of Scottish Enterprise’s new Capital Grant, designed to help drive levels of business investment and productivity. Scottish Enterprise have a range of options for supporting companies to expand, including capital grants, research and development grants and a loan scheme to support semiconductor supply chain opportunities.

Semiconductors are prioritised as part of Scotland’s Critical Technologies Supercluster; one of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Industry Clusters and noted in the 2026 Programme for Government as a key growth opportunity.

Question reference: S7W-04681

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to instruct Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited to seek formal advice from the UK Government’s National Security Unit for Procurement regarding any national security considerations arising from the award of the Northern Isles freight-flex vessel contract to a Chinese state-owned shipyard.