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: S7O-00229

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase funding for policing and community safety initiatives in rural areas, in light of recent data indicating upward trends in criminality in Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S7W-02603

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to the comments reportedly made by Scotland Food and Drink and published in Scottish Daily Mail on 20 August 2026 that the policy must avoid "unintended consequences" for food producers, manufacturers and supply chains.

The Scottish Government is aware of concerns raised regarding unintended consequences for food producers, manufacturers and supply chains in relation to the proposed price cap on essential food items.

That is why we are engaging constructively with all relevant stakeholders to support considered and informed discussion on this. We are consulting on draft proposals before any decisions are taken. The consultation seeks views and evidence from consumers, retailers, producers and other stakeholders on the potential benefits, risks and unintended consequences of any food price cap scheme including impacts on product availability, supply chains and implementation.

Question reference: S7W-02744

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to empower communities to engage in basic flood protection and flood preparedness activities.

Question reference: S7W-02743

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has committed to flood defence schemes in 2026-27, and how much it plans to commit in each year of the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S7W-02742

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to assist community-led flood protection activities.

Question reference: S7O-00146

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to recover £36 million of social security payments, which were reportedly made due to fraud and error, and how much has been recovered since 31 March 2026.

Question reference: S7W-01772

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 13 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the funding arrangements and eligibility criteria for residents in England who seek to work in Scotland but require additional qualifications to meet national occupational standards in sectors such as social care.

Individuals who are considered ordinarily resident in Scotland at the start of their course, and meet the relevant eligibility criteria, will be able to access the home tuition fee rate and student support to study courses of further and higher education.

There is no specific provision in place as part of the eligibility criteria for individuals coming to Scotland to work, and who require additional qualifications to meet national occupational standards.

Students who are ordinarily resident in other areas of the UK should apply to their relevant funding body for student support.

Question reference: S7W-01560

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) to process an application for Power of Attorney.

Question reference: S7W-01335

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reduce the standard mileage available via the Motability Scheme in Scotland to match the new standard mileage available from 1 July 2026 through the Motability Scheme in the rest of the UK

Question reference: S7W-01334

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the excess mileage fee, including standard rate VAT, which is applied via the Motability Scheme in Scotland, to match the fee applied to excess mileage from 1 July 2026 through the scheme in the rest of the UK.

The Scottish Government is aware that, as a result of the changes announced by the UK Government in its Budget in November 2025, Motability Operations announced in March 2026 that it would adapt its offer for new and renewing lease customers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 1 July 2026. The 1 July commencement is not set to apply in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has been working at pace with Motability to understand how any changes Motability makes to its customer offer as a result of the UK Government Budget announcements might affect the AVE Scheme and Motability customers in Scotland. Customers will be notified as soon as possible about changes that will apply in Scotland and the timeline for these.