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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 1183 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-41288

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides any support to local authorities to encourage the creation of communal community gardens and urban food forests.

The Scottish Government recognises the wide-ranging benefits of community growing, not only for physical and mental wellbeing, but also for fostering social cohesion and resilience within local communities. Community food growing activities have potential to support our ambition to become a Good Food Nation by providing inclusive spaces where people can learn to grow their own food and improve access to nutritious, local produce.

Since 2012, we have provided over £2.4 million in grant funding to directly support organisations who promote, encourage and establish community food growing sites and initiatives. This funding has helped increase the land under cultivation and has supported a variety of organisations to build the skills and capacity needed to empower individuals and groups to engage in food growing activities.

In addition, the Scottish Government provides support to local authorities in fulfilling their statutory duties under Part 9 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, including development of food growing strategies. In its food growing strategy, a local authority must identify areas of land that could be used as allotments as well as land that could be used by a community for the cultivation of vegetables, fruit, herbs or flowers.

It is for each local authority to determine whether the inclusion of urban food forests and community growing sites are appropriate to their local needs and requirements. This includes the development of food growing strategies, which must identify land suitable for allotments and other locally appropriate forms of community growing. Support provided by the Scottish Government has included providing guidance, arranging workshops, and enabling collaborative networks to strengthen local expertise and encourage best practice.

Question reference: S6W-41279

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out to increase the number of companies that have worker representatives on their company board.

The Scottish Government’s Fair Work Action Plan includes a commitment to working with employers, workers and trade unions to strengthen effective voice, through a range of appropriate channels. Worker representation on company boards could be a potential channel for effective voice, noting that the forms of worker representation will vary across sectors and organisations.

While employment and industrial relations legislation continue to be reserved, the Scottish Government cannot mandate employers to provide effective voice channels for workers however recipients of public sector grants awarded on or after 1 July 2023 are now subject to Fair Work First conditionality. This requires them to pay at least the real Living Wage to their workers and provide appropriate channels for effective workers’ voice.

Question reference: S6O-05087

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will engage with Transport Scotland, ScotRail, First Glasgow, McGill's Buses and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport regarding the possible introduction of free public transport across Glasgow for those attending the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Question reference: S6W-41043

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to advise businesses that employ courier staff that any e-bikes being utilised must not be ridden on pedestrian footpaths and pavements.

The Scottish Government works closely with local authorities, Police Scotland, and other stakeholders in this area. Enforcement of traffic laws is, however, a matter for Police Scotland. In 2025-26, Police Scotland is receiving a record £1.64 billion in funding. Police Scotland’s Road Policing Division has been engaging with stakeholders regarding the safe use of e-bikes.

Police Scotland have actively collaborated with food delivery companies and have recently supported a rider engagement event in Glasgow City Council. The food delivery company set up a tent, provided safety equipment to riders and Police Scotland were on hand for advice and positive engagement.

Question reference: S6W-41044

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to ensure that e-bikes on public roads and footpaths do not exceed the legal limit of 15.5mph.

The Scottish Government is working closely with Police Scotland regarding the antisocial use of vehicles, including e-bikes. Enforcement is, however, a matter for Police Scotland, and Police Scotland regularly keep their approach to the illegal use of e-bikes under review. Local policing teams are best placed to identify misuse and work to prevent future incidents.

If e-bikes exceed the legal limit of 15.5mph and have a power output of more than 250 watts, police officers are able to treat the bikes as vehicles under the Road Traffic Act. Vehicles can be seized if the driver does not have a full driving licence, the vehicle is not insured, or if the driver is not wearing an approved helmet.

Question reference: S6W-41045

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to local authorities to stop e-bikes being ridden on pedestrian-only footpaths and pavements.

Enforcement of the law in respect of moving e-bikes is a matter for Police Scotland. More generally, under section 1 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 all local authorities have a statutory responsibility with Police Scotland to develop a strategy for dealing with antisocial behaviour in their local areas which they shall keep under review. The Scottish Government supports local authorities with record funding, with an increase in real terms of 5.5% for 2025–26.

Question reference: S6W-40893

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is carrying out with NHS Scotland to optimise the use of evidence-supported technology to detect and manage the risk factors associated with heart attacks and strokes.

Our work with NHS Scotland to optimise the use of evidence supported technology to detect and manage the risk factors associated with heart attacks and strokes includes;

Investing £1.9 million (2026-28) to support the use of Ambulatory ECG patch monitors, potentially preventing nearly 700 strokes over five years.
The Connect Me remote monitoring and self-management service has helped around 120,000 people self-manage their hypertension, including over 19,000 in the past year.
Committing £4.5 million (2025-28) to a national diabetes programme, offering intensive weight management support to 3,000 more people with newly or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-40683

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any recent discussions with the UK Government regarding the potential legalisation of the traditional herbal medicine Ayahuasca for medicinal purposes.

Question reference: S6W-41406

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) pause the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan (FPP), in light of reports that members of credit unions across Scotland face the sudden loss of this long-standing insurance policy, which was brokered by CMutual and underwritten by Maiden Life Forsakrings AB (UK Branch), in order to help families cover funeral costs.

Question reference: S6W-41405

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government of the 21 transfers of engagements of housing associations approved and actioned across Scotland since 2010, which of those involved (a) the transfer of a community-based housing association (CBHA) to a neighbouring CBHA, thereby retaining local accountability and (b) the transfer of a CBHA to a larger registered social landlord.