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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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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 4 May 2021
  6. Current session: 13 May 2021 to 21 January 2026
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Displaying 1853 questions Show Answers

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Question reference: S6W-43137

  • Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
  • Current Status: Answer expected on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how accountability for Electricity Act 1989 consent decisions will be assigned where responsibilities span over more than one ministerial portfolio.

Question reference: S6W-43122

  • Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
  • Current Status: Answer expected on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will notify the Parliament of any future changes to ministerial responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents.

Question reference: S6W-43129

  • Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
  • Current Status: Answer expected on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions took place between the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and the (a) First Minister and (b) cabinet secretary with responsibility for planning regarding the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance.

Question reference: S6W-43121

  • Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
  • Current Status: Answer expected on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on how any impacts on the environment, landscape and communities are balanced against financial considerations in Electricity Act 1989 consent decisions following the change in ministerial responsibility.

Question reference: S6W-43134

  • Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
  • Current Status: Answer expected on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government who has ministerial oversight of the Energy Consents Unit and the associated development portal, following the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance.

Question reference: S6W-43140

  • Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
  • Current Status: Answer expected on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether any objections were raised by officials during the process of transferring responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance and, if so, at what level.

Question reference: S6W-43123

  • Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
  • Current Status: Answer expected on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance does not impact transparency and public confidence in the consent process.

Question reference: S6W-43127

  • Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
  • Current Status: Answer expected on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it sought legal advice in advance of the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance on 18 December 2025.

Question reference: S6W-43128

  • Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
  • Current Status: Answer expected on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the scope of any legal advice sought was in relation to the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance.

Question reference: S6W-43113

  • Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2026
  • Current Status: Answer expected on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to ensure that there is operational separation between decisions on Electricity Act 1989 consents and decisions relating to capital investment, infrastructure financing or budget allocation.