Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-41401

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will instruct CMAL to disregard any tenders from Chinese shipbuilding firms, in light of reported concerns regarding unfair, market-distorting state support for Chinese shipbuilding firms, and the lack of a trade agreement between the UK and China as defined by section 89 of the Procurement Act 2023.

There is no policy or approach that excludes Chinese companies from bidding for work on Scottish Government led or funded projects. CMAL, as the Procuring Authority, considers bids for vessel contracts in accordance with the requirements of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

We expect CMAL, as the Procuring Authority, to carry out appropriate due diligence, including financial and other checks on all of the companies they invite to tender

Question reference: S6W-41402

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its procurement of lifeline ferries, whether it will request that CMAL seek advice from the UK Government National Security Unit for Procurement regarding an assessment of any potential national security concerns in relation to any prospective non-UK based suppliers for the design and construction of lifeline ferries, including in relation to Northern Isles services.

Question reference: S6W-41282

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider including a requirement for bids to include public equity stakes in any future offshore leasing rounds.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39996 on 3 September 2025, that the assessment process for seabed leasing for offshore wind and other marine renewable developments and the criteria that underpins that process, is a matter for Crown Estate Scotland.

Specific assessment criteria are developed in the run-up to the launch of leasing rounds.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-41280

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there should be trade union representation on the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting strong trade unions in Scotland for the benefit of workers and our economy. The STUC is a member of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board, of which the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council is a sub-group. Trade unions are represented on the UK Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) of which the Scottish Government is also a member. This is the most appropriate forum for trade unions to engage with government on reserved matters such as employment rights. The STUC also sat on the Offshore Wind Skills Short-Life Working Group convened by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-41278

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Crown Estate Scotland regarding the introduction of Fair Work principles to any future offshore leasing rounds.

I refer to the answer provided to question S6W-39996 on 3 September 2025, that the assessment process for seabed leasing for offshore wind and other marine renewable developments and the criteria that underpins that process, is a matter for Crown Estate Scotland.

Crown Estate Scotland is committed to the Fair Work Framework and its underlying principles. With regard to seabed leasing, they require a Statement of Commitment and, for the most recent Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing round, that Statement required inclusion of a commitment to adopting Fair Work practices.

The Scottish Government encourages all employers across Scotland, including those involved in the Offshore Wind sector, to adopt Fair Work practices.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-41641

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the recently launched Scottish National Building Standards Hub is equipped to provide the expertise of conservation accredited structural engineers, who are on the Conservation Accreditation Register of Engineers (CARE), to local authorities that may require such specialised advice but may not have access to it in-house, including when decisions are being made around dangerous historic buildings and the potential need for demolition works.

Question reference: S6W-41410

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of any impact that limited transparency and accountability in mental health spending has had on service provision, particularly in relation to disproportionate reductions affecting services for the most vulnerable groups, including veterans.

The Scottish Government’s published mental health programme budget for 2025-26 remains as originally published at £270.5 million.

The vast majority of spending on Mental Health continues to be delivered through NHS Board budgets. Between the Scottish Government and NHS Boards, we expect spending on Mental Health to be around £1.5 billion in 2025-26.

With regard to veterans mental health care, we have maintained funding levels for NHS health boards providing bespoke veterans mental health services. Work is ongoing to develop a Veterans Mental Health & Wellbeing Pathway across Scotland, with the intention to launch the Pathway on a phased basis during financial year 2026-2027.

Question reference: S6W-41411

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered engaging with the UK Government to explore the potential for a proportion of the increased UK defence budget to be ring-fenced specifically for veteran mental health support.

As the member will be aware, defence is a reserved matter. Scottish Government officials continue to engage closely with colleagues at the Ministry of Defence and the Office for Veterans to ensure that the needs of veterans living in Scotland are considered fully in all projects.

Work is ongoing by the Scottish Government to develop a Veterans Mental Health & Wellbeing Pathway across Scotland. Working with veterans, the third sector and statutory services, the core aim of the pathway is to ensure that all veterans living in Scotland are able to access the best possible care and support, including safe, effective and person-centred healthcare.

The intention to launch the Pathway on a phased basis during financial year 2026-2027.

Question reference: S6W-41412

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the apparent reduction in the Mental Health Services budget line to £133.9 million in the 2025 26 Autumn Budget Revision, given that this figure includes a £120 million internal transfer to local government for the Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan, and whether it will confirm (a) whether the remaining £16 million shortfall from the original £270 million allocation constitutes a reduction to the mental health budget, (b) the rationale for any such reduction and (c) which programmes, services or projects will be affected, and how this aligns with the ambitions of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The 2025-26 direct mental health programme budget remains as originally published at £270.5 million. There is no reduction to that budget. In keeping with normal practice, some of this budget is transferred to other portfolios for mental health projects and, for example, to NHS Boards to support improvement activity and local mental health provision. However, the reference to a £120 million internal transfer to Local Government is a transfer from another budget which supports a wide range of social care activity and bears no relation to the mental health services direct programme budget.

Question reference: S6W-41508

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the permitted development rights are of (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords in relation to social house-building, and what its position is on the greater use of these powers.

Under Class 33 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, local authorities have permitted development rights (PDR) to carry out works for the erection of dwellings, provided that such works conform with the adopted local development plan. Use of the PDR is a matter for individual local authorities. There are no PDR specifically for registered social landlords.

The Scottish Government is exploring whether PDR can play a greater role in helping to address the housing emergency. The recent public consultation on Permitted development rights to support provision of new homes sought views on simplifying planning processes to encourage the provision of new homes in rural areas and town and city centres. The consultation closed on 27 October and feedback from respondents will help inform the formation and refinement of any proposals for new or amended PDR.

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