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-37294

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the time limit for potential judicial review regarding planning consent in Scotland is 12 weeks, in light of it reportedly being six weeks in England.

Question reference: S6W-37275

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the £14.2 million investment programme at Ferguson Marine will commence.

Question reference: S6W-36725

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 30 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask Historic Environment Scotland to undertake a study to designate important examples of early electricity generation and transmission infrastructure, in light of reports that some utility companies are destroying significant such infrastructure, such as G-route pylons in Renfrewshire and Glasgow Corporation Electricity Department cabinets.

As the lead public body responsible for preserving, maintaining and promoting the historic environment Historic Environment Scotland will consider any application for designation in line with its published policy ‘Designation Policy and Selection Guidance’.

Any individual can apply for a site to be designated and the designation consideration process by Historic Environment Scotland ensures that the historical and cultural significance of each site is fully considered.

Question reference: S6W-36515

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 30 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Historic Environment Scotland (a) define what it means by “development proposals” and “development proposals at an advanced stage”, where these have been used as a reason for not proceeding with designation in instances where there are no live planning applications for the site/building in question, and (b) clarify how determinations should be handled in instances where planning applications or applications for building warrants are initiated while a building is under consideration for designation.

The Scottish Government delivers support for the historic environment through our sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, the lead public body responsible for preserving, maintaining and promoting the historic environment.

Historic Environment Scotland has published guidance setting out its policy for designation on its website titled ‘Designation Policy and Selection Guidance’. If further clarification is required, Historic Environment Scotland would be best placed to answer the member directly at [email protected].

Question reference: S6W-36517

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 30 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Historic Environment Scotland introduce a policy to recommend to planning authorities that they serve a building preservation notice at the outset of any instance where it has been requested to assess a building for designation but where that building may be subject to development proposals, or otherwise at risk of demolition during the designation assessment process.

The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 sets out that it is for planning authorities to issue a Building Preservation Notice, as such, any policy Historic Environment Scotland may introduce would be guidance only and would not supersede the legislation.

Designation is not a barrier to development proposals or to applications for planning permission, rather it is designed to ensure that appropriate consideration of the cultural, social, environmental and economic value of Scotland’s historic environment is taken into account during any planning process.

Question reference: S6W-36516

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 30 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Historic Environment Scotland revise its policy to not normally list buildings that are subject to development proposals at an advanced stage, in light of reports of recent cases where this has been seen as counterproductive.

As detailed in its ‘Designation Policy and Selection Guidance’, Historic Environment Scotland aims to act proportionately within the Scottish Regulators Code of Practice.

Although that means usually avoiding any unnecessary intervention in the planning process or other regulatory processes where there are development proposals by adding a new designation, the individual circumstances are fully considered, including the implications of the proposed designation and the effect development proposals would have in each case.

I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to write to the member to explain its policy further.

Question reference: S6W-36425

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement its enterprise agencies plan with Anduril Industries regarding it locating in Scotland its proposed factory and research and development site.

Question reference: S6W-36426

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the establishment of the online health visiting learning site outlined at Action 1.1 of Scotland's Health Visiting Action Plan 2025 - 2035.

Question reference: S6W-36391

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council regarding funding the capital works necessary to fully reopen Whitehill Pool in Dennistoun.

The Scottish Government understands the important role that sport and leisure services play in improving people’s lives, and the physical, mental, and social health benefits they can bring.

The Scottish Government recognises the financial challenges that local government are facing and that local authorities and their employees play a crucial role in communities and that is why the 2025-26 Scottish Budget provides record block grant funding of over £15.1 billion for local government, an increase of £1.1 billion or 5.5 per cent in real terms compared to 2024-25.

In 2025-26, Glasgow City Council will receive over £1.8 billion to support day to day services and capital investment plans, which equates to an extra £96.8 million or an additional 5.5% compared to 2024-25. In addition, all Councils will receive their fair share of the currently undistributed sum of £245 million and £144 million allocated for employers' National Insurance Contributions.

While it is for local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, we will work together to find collective solutions about issues that matter to the people of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-36320

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Veterens expects to attend the Forces Children Scotland event, Forces Children's Charter Roundtable, which is scheduled for 25 April 2025.

The Scottish Government want all children and young people to get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential, no matter their circumstances. As such we highly value the work of Forces Children Scotland in advocating for children and young people from service families across the country.

The Scottish Government will continue to meet regularly with Forces Children Scotland to discuss our shared interests in supporting service children. The Minister for Children and Young People met with Forces Children Scotland on 18 September 2024. Forces Children Scotland are a member of the Scottish Armed Forces Education Support Group, which is chaired by a Scottish Government Official and meets quarterly. We are currently funding Forces Children Scotland through the Scottish Veterans Fund to support their Future Transitions project. In addition, the Minister for Veterans is meeting with the Armed Forces Families Federations on 6 May.

Unfortunately the Minister for Veterans was unable to attend the Forces Children's Rights Charter Roundtable on 25 April due to a pre-existing diary commitment.