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-44116

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) engagement it has carried out and (b) incentives it has provided to bus operators to procure Scottish-manufactured buses under Phase 3 of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB).

The Scottish Government announced its intention to launch ScotZEB on 17 November 2025 with the scheme opening to bids on 5 December 2025. Officials met with interested stakeholders on request, and responded to all queries regarding eligibility, scheme guidance and technical requirements, both directly and through the scheme administrator, the Energy Saving Trust. The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) was also notified at the point of scheme launch.

ScotZEB operates as a capital grant subsidy scheme and must comply with the UK subsidy control regime, including the Subsidy Control Act 2022. This legislation expressly prohibits the use of incentives or conditions linked to local content, such as any requirement or preference for Scottish-manufactured vehicles. The Scottish Government cannot encourage, require or financially advantage operators to purchase buses from specific manufacturers. Procurement decisions rest solely with operators, in line with their own commercial and legal obligations.

Question reference: S6W-44078

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) consultation it has had and (b) support it has provided to Glasgow City Council to develop, agree and implement a new pay and grading structure, based on the results of job evaluation, to replace the current Workforce Pay and Benefits Review scheme.

The Scottish Government respects the independence of Local Government and the position of each council, including Glasgow City Council, as an independent employer with responsibility for their own budgets, workforce planning and job evaluation processes. The Scottish Government has no formal role in these issues at a local level and encourages all councils to make decisions, through engagement with trade unions, that meet their responsibility to secure value for money and meet their legal obligations to their employees.

Question reference: S6W-43959

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Transport Scotland undertakes additional modelling of the local and regional bypass traffic impacts of replacing the M8 Woodside Viaducts with an urban six-lane surface-level boulevard with at-grade junctions as part of its options appraisal for the potential permanent repair, replacement, or removal of the viaducts.

At the Strategic Outline Case stage of a project it is important to consider a range of alternative approaches so that the benefits and disbenefits of each approach are considered in terms of fit with strategic policy considerations. For this project, the strategic approaches under consideration are Repair, Replace and Remove; each of which provides different benefits and disbenefits. Whilst it is recognised that the Remove approach is anticipated to have major detrimental impacts on the traffic flows, network and Glasgow's local roads, it has been included to ensure that a comprehensive assessment is undertaken of all potential approaches. The preferred approach will balance a range of engineering, environmental, economic, health and safety and social value factors.

Question reference: S6W-44035

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the International Olympic Committee removing the requirement that host cities be elected seven years before the Games and revising its criteria to allow joint bids from multiple cities, regions or countries, what its position is on engaging with the “Great North” partnership of northern English cities, which is preparing a bid for the 2036 Summer Games, or on taking forward a joint Scottish bid for the event in 2036 or 2040.

Scotland is the perfect stage for events and has an enviable record in hosting mega events including this summer’s Commonwealth Games. We work closely with partners to attract events to Scotland and have an outstanding pipeline of events in the coming years with the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2027, UEFA EURO 2028 and the bid for the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Any hosting bid to the International Olympic Committee would need to follow the IOC guidance. It would be led by the British Olympic Association, who are not in any active discussions with the Scottish Government at this time.

Question reference: S6W-44015

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action will be taken in response of the findings of an internal audit of Glasgow City Integration Joint Board into its decision to withdraw funding from the Scottish Huntington’s Association for the provision of specialist support for families affected by Huntington’s, in light of indications that due process may not have been followed on several fronts.

I am aware of the concerns raised by the Scottish Huntington’s Association regarding the running of Huntington’s services, and I met with the charity last year to discuss this.

While budgets are the responsibility of Health and Social Care Partnerships, we expect that any decisions are taken in consultation with people who use services.

Glasgow City Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has advised that the audit recommendations regarding the decision will be implemented by HSCP officers, who are accountable to the Finance, Audit and Scrutiny Committee. The HSCP has given assurance that wider organisational learning will be applied as an outcome of this implementation process.

We are undertaking a targeted engagement exercise with a small number of Boards and HSCPs to help understanding current models, challenges, and opportunities for improvement around the commissioning and delivery of support services for Huntington’s Disease.

Question reference: S6W-43974

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has undertaken of how radiographer and clinical radiologist staffing levels impact timely access to CT and MRI scans.

We have increased Radiography staff from 2,248.2 WTE to 2,773.0 WTE a 23.3% increase (Dec 2015 – Dec 2025). This includes:

24.1% increase in Diagnostic Radiographers (from 1,978.8 WTE as at Dec 2015 to 2,455.9 WTE as at Dec 2025).
17.7% increase in Therapeutic Radiographers (from 269.4 WTE as at Dec 2015 to 317.1 WTE as at Dec 2025).

The National Radiology Lead from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery meets regularly with Health Boards to discuss imaging performance, staffing levels and scanner stock. NHS Boards have been asked to provide plans to support delivery of the 95% target, of patients seen within 6 weeks, throughout 2026-27.

Question reference: S6W-43972

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve timely access to CT and MRI scans, and how the impact of initiatives such as seven-day services and mobile scanning units are being evaluated.

In 2025-26 we allocated more than £22 million additional funding to Health Boards to help tackle the longest waits for Radiology. The latest data shows that the Radiology list size decreased by 18.1% compared to last quarter. We are determined to continue to build on this momentum, ensuring people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.

We have also provided additional funding of more than £12 million for 13 MRI mobile scanners and 4 CT mobile scanners, this will provide capacity of almost 90,000 additional scans throughout 2025-26.

The Scottish Government commissioned Centre for Sustainable Delivery who routinely monitor planned and actual diagnostic performance, and work with Boards towards the delivery of the 95% of patients seen within 6 week target. Their evaluation of this work will help inform plans for 2026-27.

Question reference: S6W-43973

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the likelihood of meeting the March 2026 diagnostic waiting times target for radiology, in light of the most recent Public Health Scotland data.

The latest statistics show that as at 31 December 2025, of those waiting for Radiology tests, 62% had been waiting six weeks or less; higher than 30 September 2025 (58%) and December 2024 (57%). The radiology list size also decreased by 18.1% compared to last quarter. We are determined to continue to build on this momentum, ensuring people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.

Throughout 2025-26, all Boards were expected to incrementally ramp-up activity as the capacity provided by the £22 million additional funding operationalised, with some high volume initiatives commencing in the latter part of the year.

Question reference: S6W-43975

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the existing CT and MRI scanner stock across NHS boards is sufficient to meet (a) present and (b) future demand.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43974 on 5 March 2026. the National Radiology Lead from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery meets regularly with Health Boards to discuss imaging performance, staffing levels and scanner stock. NHS Boards have been asked to provide plans to support delivery of the 95% target of patients seen within 6 weeks throughout 2026-27.

Furthermore, we are looking at options to increase the amount of CT and MRI scanners as well as more robust replacement plans of the current stock to ensure technology advances are optimised which in turn can improve throughput, reduce radiation dose and improve energy efficiency.

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: S6O-05639

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet with stakeholders to discuss school provision and safe travel routes in Robroyston.