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: S6W-39722

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the contractual commitment of around £70 million that is reportedly still outstanding on the Glasgow Subway modernisation project is fully funded so that the key milestone of achieving unattended train operation by the third quarter of 2026 is achieved.

The Scottish Government recognises the crucial role that the Subway plays in Glasgow’s transport system and the importance of the modernisation programme.

By the end of 2024-25 it had contributed £199.9 million to this vital project. With a further £25.1 million allocated for 2025-26, cumulatively this will discharge the Scottish Government’s £225 million commitment to the programme in full. Transport Scotland officials continue to engage regularly with SPT. The most recent meeting took place on 19 June 2025, focusing on the current financial profile of the Subway Modernisation Programme and ensuring ongoing dialogue is maintained.

We remain strongly committed to infrastructure investment as a cornerstone of economic growth and the delivery of high-quality public services across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-39736

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of recent reported medical breakthroughs, including the new Aberdeen-designed Field Cycling Imaging brain scan, whether it will work with partners in the medical equipment industry to create a dedicated medical equipment manufacturing site in Scotland to ensure that any innovations developed in Scotland are exploited in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is supportive of innovations developed in Scotland being commercialised in Scotland.

Through Scottish Enterprise we have established the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre(MDMC) which is a pan-Scotland collaboration with five universities (Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Robert Gordon). This provides Scottish medical device developers and manufacturers with free advice, technical expertise, and facilities essential for companies that are seeking to translate medical device concepts to commercial products. Technology specialists assist companies with the translation of medical device concepts into small-batch prototypes by offering technical expertise, state-of-the-art equipment and access to health informatics and NHS collaboration. Additionally, the MDMC provides support for clinical trial design.

As well as commercialisation, the Scottish Government also wants to see patients in Scotland benefit from Scottish innovations. The Scottish Government fund three NHS Regional Innovation Hubs to facilitate the development of new technologies, products and services. They enhance the NHS's capacity and capability to engage in innovative activities across the triple helix of industry, academia, third sector and the NHS to develop and scale innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of our healthcare system.

Question reference: S6W-39715

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Water owns the Glasgow Harbour Tunnel, or only the water main pipe within the tunnel.

Question reference: S6W-39732

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many Petroineos workers who were made redundant as a result of the closure of the Grangemouth refinery have, to date, subsequently been offered new employment by Ineos and other firms operating within the Grangemouth petrochemical industrial cluster.

The Scottish Government is working with Forth Valley College, UK Government, Skills Development Scotland and Petroineos to track workers affected by the closure of the Grangemouth refinery as part of our jointly funded Refinery Skills Intervention which is currently ongoing. Ministers have persistently requested this information from Petroineos but this has not been received despite the business previous commitments to do so.

Our initial evidence shows that workers are being supported into new employment in in-demand industries, including roles with Scottish Power, Forth Ports and Syngenta. However, we do not have exact figures despite asking PetroIneos to share any data on destinations they may have.

The Scottish Government is continuing to do all it can to support workers at the Grangemouth refinery through the funding of training, tailored specifically to their future career needs.

Question reference: S6W-39784

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38881 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 July 2025, what actions Social Security Scotland (SSS) is exploring to strengthen its support for veterans and service members, and whether these will include the establishment of a network of armed forces and veterans champions in SSS.

Social Security Scotland is committed to delivering services with dignity, fairness and respect for all people, including veterans and service members. This includes activities to advance its equality outcome to improve the service and experiences of diverse clients, including veterans. Progress will be formally reported in the organisation’s Mainstreaming Equality Report in 2027.

Whilst there are no current plans establish a separate internal network of champions for veterans within Social Security Scotland, the organisation already works with the Scottish Government to engage established Veterans Champions Networks, including those based in local authorities across Scotland to address barriers when accessing services.

Social Security Scotland also ensures knowledge and practical skills are embedded for trauma informed approach when delivering services to clients. This enables clients, such as veterans, to receive better support.

Question reference: S6W-40068

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 22 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will specify the use of Scottish-grown and manufactured cross-laminated timber (CLT) in the building standards technical handbooks and supporting documents.

Question reference: S6W-39712

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commission a new design options appraisal for the cancelled Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL) project as a means of providing a direct heavy rail connection between Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Queen Street Station.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to investigate a new rail link connecting Edinburgh airport to the current Edinburgh to Glasgow rail line.

The second Strategic Transport Projects Review, published in 2022, did consider this but did not identify this as a priority for investment given the current opportunities that exist for air passengers travelling by rail from Glasgow and the west, to interchange with the Edinburgh Tram service to the airport.

The Government remains committed to supporting sustainable and integrated transport solutions that strengthen Scotland’s connectivity and economic resilience.

Question reference: S6W-39959

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the recent Strategic Defence Review, particularly those contained in chapter 6 (Home Defence and Resilience: A Whole-of-Society Approach) and chapter 7.2 (Maritime Domain), whether it will consider the potential designation of future vessels procured by Scottish Government-owned public corporations and executive agencies, including roll-on/roll-off ferries and marine protection and research vessels, as necessary for national security purposes and apply the exemption from the provisions under section 45 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

Question reference: S6W-39999

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its policy to not use public money to support the manufacture of munitions or weapons, what its position is on whether an SSN submarine is a weapon in itself, as opposed to a naval vessel that may be used as a platform to carry conventional non-nuclear weapons or munitions.

Question reference: S6W-39946

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take in response to reported concerns that low-level fraud has effectively been decriminalised, with there being no one to report it to and the platforms that enable it not taking any action to stop it.