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-32818

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 17 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what return the Scottish Co-investment Fund has made on its initial investment in the country's first "unicorn" start-up, FanDual.

Question reference: S6W-32894

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is taking to improve access to urology services.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is maximising theatre access for all surgical specialties. The Health Board are also running additional waiting list sessions targeted at various surgical specialties, including urology.

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde North Sector, has established a one-stop urology, diagnostic and treatment service which provides earlier diagnosis for patients.

Significant additional activity is already underway following the allocation of £30 million funding to target reductions to the national backlogs that built up throughout the pandemic. This funding is being targeted at a series of national and local plans to reduce backlogs by maximising the use of local and national resources across Scotland. It is estimated this will help boards across the country deliver around 12,000 additional inpatient and day-case procedures, over 40,000 extra diagnostic procedures and around 12,000 new outpatient appointments.

Question reference: S6W-32817

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Network Rail replace the bridge height restriction signage on the railway bridge that carries the Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk line over Hawthorn Street in Glasgow, in light of reports that the westbound sign is damaged and the eastbound sign is missing.

Question reference: S6W-32777

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the second phase of the Glasgow Queen Street railway station redevelopment at the former car park adjacent to North Hanover Street.

Funding for the redevelopment of the North Hanover Street car park site was withdrawn after a review of priorities following the Capital Spending Review in 2020. Network Rail was tasked at that time with sourcing alternative funding and a consideration of options.

Network Rail continues to work with Glasgow City Council development and regeneration team on viable options for the site. It is worth noting that a planning application submitted by Network Rail in May 2021 was determined by the Council in December 2024.

Question reference: S6W-32814

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported comments from Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, that the Scottish Government should “either support one or two flights to North America from Glasgow or stop doing route development funding altogether” and that "every single route in the aviation strategy has gone to Edinburgh Airport".

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of Scotland’s international connectivity and we want to see it grow at all Scotland’s airports.

Our Aviation Statement commits to working with Scotland’s airports and airlines to help grow connectivity to the international markets that are important for inbound tourism, business connectivity and the economy as a whole. Scotland's International Strategy specifically mentions improving connectivity to North America.

We take a national approach to route development and our work with airlines is carried out strictly on an “airport-neutral” basis, leaving airlines to decide which Scottish airport to use.

Question reference: S6W-32815

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of its lease of 5 Atlantic Quay at 150 Broomielaw after its owner, Singapore-based Elite Partners Capital’s UK Commercial Fund III, reportedly instructed JLL to seek offers over £20 million for the building in April 2024, and whether it has assessed the potential cost and benefit of making an offer to purchase the building to establish a freehold instead of a leasehold on the property.

In line with Ministerial priorities in the current challenging fiscal context, officials are always considering options and opportunities for Scottish Government's estate that make the best possible use of our existing assets and deliver value for money. The Scottish Minister’s leasehold interest at 5 Atlantic Quay, Glasgow is being considered as part of that strategic estate work. We cannot comment further at this time due to the commercial sensitivities involved.

Question reference: S6W-32914

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the availability of (a) the drug, naloxegol, and (b) alternatives to this drug in the event of a shortage.

The supply of medicines is currently a reserved matter for the UK Government. We continue to engage with the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care on all medicines supply issues. The NHS in Scotland has robust processes in place to manage supply issues when they do arise and normally there are alternative products which can be prescribed and dispensed.

The Scottish Government is aware that, since April 2024, there has been ongoing supply issues with the availability of naloxegol (Moventig®) tablets. Initially both strengths (12.5mg and 25mg) were impacted by this supply issue. The latest information provided by the Department of Health and Social Care indicates that supplies of naloxegol (Moventig®) 25mg strength are back in stock however supply issues remain for the 12.5mg strength and that this supply issue is expected to continue until May 2025. The Scottish Government issued advice to NHS Scotland in April 2024 on this supply issue and available alternatives.

Question reference: S6W-32915

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) NHS National Services Scotland and (b) Community Pharmacy Scotland regarding the availability of the drug, naloxegol.

The Scottish Government is aware that, since April 2024, there has been ongoing supply issues with the availability of naloxegol (Moventig®) tablets. On 25 April 2024, the Scottish Government issued a Medicines Supply Alert Notice to NHS Scotland on the availability of naloxegol (Moventig®) tablets. Medicines Supply Alert Notices are circulated to Medical Directors and Directors of Pharmacy across all Health Boards including national Health Boards (such as NHS National Services Scotland) for onward dissemination to healthcare professionals. Community Pharmacy Scotland also receive a copy of the Medicines Supply Alert Notices for onward dissemination across their network.

Question reference: S6W-32822

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether Ferguson Marine is prepared to bid to build two floating docks for the Royal Navy under the Additional Fleet Time Docking Capability (AFTDC) project, which aims to acquire two floating dry docks and associated infrastructure for submarine maintenance at HMNB Clyde (Faslane).

Question reference: S6O-04227

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to dedicating 10% of frontline NHS spend to mental health and 1% to CAMHS.