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-42410

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) specialist nursing workforce to meet the IBD standards, in light of the finding in Crohn's & Colitis UK's research that almost a third of services in Scotland are not meeting safe staffing levels.

Question reference: S6O-05271

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take in its Budget to support high street retailers in the South Scotland region that are at risk of closing.

Question reference: S6W-42273

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent publication of the report by Carers Scotland, State of Caring, The cost of caring in Scotland 2025, which found that 62% of parent carers with a disabled child were cutting back on essentials such as heating and food to make ends meet, what action it is taking to address poverty amongst carers, and whether the upcoming Scottish Budget will consider carer poverty, including amongst parent carers of disabled children.

Question reference: S6W-41932

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to improve prevention of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

All women should be supported with compassion and with advice and services to promote lifestyle changes during their pregnancy to improve their own health and the health of their baby.

As part of the new maternity pathway published earlier this year, midwives begin conversations with women about alcohol use from their first maternity appointment, and revisit this as appropriate throughout the pregnancy.

Women experiencing social complexities such as alcohol use should have continuity of care, where the majority of their care is provided by their primary midwife. This can help women develop a strong, trusting relationship with their midwife throughout their pregnancy.

Midwives can refer women who need additional support to specialist services. In cases where there is significant alcohol use, midwives can also refer women to an obstetrician for their care planning, to make sure they are receiving the care they need.

Ready Steady Baby! includes information about alcohol in pregnancy. It advises women that the safest option is to stop drinking when trying to get pregnant or as soon as they know they are pregnant. It provides women with additional information about the impact of alcohol on their baby, and signposts women to resources of help and support.

Question reference: S6W-42194

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its paper, Surge and Winter Preparedness in Health and Social Care Services National Planning Priorities and Principles, which was published in November 2025, how national planning priorities and principles will address corridor care by NHS Scotland in winter 2025-26.

Question reference: S6W-42191

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional (a) paramedics and (b) ambulance care assistants have been recruited to support the Scottish Ambulance Service in winter 2025-26, and where they will be based, broken down by (i) Scottish Ambulance Service (A) station and (B) region and (ii) NHS board area.

Question reference: S6W-42190

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional staff have been recruited to NHS 24 for winter 2025-26, and how it determined (a) the number required and (b) their geographical placement.

Question reference: S6W-42193

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the planning cycle for the NHS Scotland 2025-26 winter preparedness plan began.

Question reference: S6W-42195

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement on 2025-26 Winter Preparedness by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on 13 November 2025, for what reason this statement was made at a later point in the year than the similar statement for 2024-25, which was delivered on 24 September 2024.

Question reference: S6W-41929

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve NHS boards' performance against the 62-day target for those diagnosed with prostate cancer.

We recognise the challenges in meeting the 62-day target and are taking action to support NHS Boards to reduce waiting times. Scottish Government has directed £14.23 million of the additional £135.5 million planned care funding to NHS Boards in 2025-26 towards Cancer Waiting Times. This is focussed on our most challenged pathways, which includes urology services that diagnose and treat prostate cancer.

NHS Boards have developed delivery plans for 2025-26 to support waiting list reductions and improve productivity. The Scottish Government and Centre for Sustainable Delivery are engaging with NHS Boards regularly and continue to scrutinise improvement plans to ensure they are deliverable, whilst considering how available funding may support additional activity.