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-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-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-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-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-41415

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 instruct Glasgow City Council and all of the city’s registered social landlords to establish a common housing register, either on a single city wide or on a district basis.

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.

Question reference: S6W-40960

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of the reported benefits of the Community Syringe Redemption Program (CSRP) pilot schemes delivered in New York City and the City of Boston in the US and, if so, whether it will consider promoting similar pilot schemes with local integration joint boards in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is aware of the Community Syringe Redemption Program pilot schemes currently delivered in New York City and the City of Boston in the United States. However, while this specific scheme has not been assessed, we will continue to monitor it, and other international developments, and are open to reviewing any robust evaluation of such initiatives.

Our priority remains to support services that reduce harm, promote recovery, and protect the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs. We will continue to work closely with partners to ensure that harm reduction interventions are evidence-based, locally responsive, and aligned with Scotland’s public health priorities.

Question reference: S6W-40892

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is carrying out with Public Health Scotland to help promote healthy hearts and reduce the risk factors that might lead to cardiovascular disease.

Public Health Scotland are key partners in delivery of our Population Health Framework (PHF). The actions in the PHF – promoting healthy eating, investing in sport and active living, and work to reduce the harms of smoking – are relevant to improving heart health in Scotland.

Our Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework (SRF) includes a focus on early detection to support intervention and treatment to reduce the level of harm. For example, our CVD Risk Factors programme involves working with a range of partners, including PHS, to improve the identification and management of key risk factors (obesity, smoking, high blood sugar, blood pressure or cholesterol).

As part of this programme, we will support 100,000 patients, who may be at risk of cardiovascular disease, with extra GP appointments by March next year, with a particular focus on supporting people living in areas of deprivation.

Question reference: S6W-40989

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how Social Security Scotland is embedding the Armed Forces Covenant throughout its work processes and delivery outcomes.

Social Security Scotland is committed to treating all individuals with dignity, fairness, and respect, including veterans and their families. In line with the Armed Forces Covenant, the organisation works to ensure no one from that community faces disadvantage when accessing devolved benefits.

To support this, Social Security Scotland engages with veterans’ groups and other stakeholders to better understand and respond to their specific needs. This collaborative approach informs the design and delivery of services that are not only inclusive but also rooted in empathy.

Inclusive practices are embedded across the organisation – from accessible application processes to staff training and frontline service delivery. The goal is to foster an environment where compassion, dignity, and fairness guide behaviour, and where clients feel heard, understood, and supported. Social Security Scotland is committed to building a culture that recognises people’s experiences and needs, and ensures every interaction reflects empathy, respect, and understanding.

The organisation also actively engages with the Armed Forces community to build trust and improve accessibility and regularly reviews its procedures to uphold the values of the Covenant. The Scottish Government strongly supports the Covenant’s aims and the wider efforts across Scotland to strengthen support and integration for the Armed Forces community.