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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 810 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-42195

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 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.

The statement on 13 November covered both winter preparedness and the broader work we have been undertaking on national planning. The timing reflects the Scottish Government’s strategic shift toward embedding surge and winter planning as a core year-round operational priority, rather than a discrete seasonal exercise.

It is important to recognise that the statement did not mark the start of the winter planning process, but rather was an opportunity to communicate to Parliament the work being undertaken within the context of national planning. Planning for winter pressures began immediately after last winter, informed by lessons learned from last year.

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-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-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.

Question reference: S6O-05252

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action that it is taking to develop apprenticeship models for healthcare workers.

Question reference: S6W-41930

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 26 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-33389 and S6W-38959 by Neil Gray on 24 January 2025 and 1 July 2025 respectively, whether the business case for a new pre-hospital emergency critical care replacement service has been completed and submitted for consideration, and, if so, by what date the commissioning of a new pre-hospital service to replace Medic One will be completed.

The Scottish Government is awaiting the final business case from the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) for a new pre-hospital emergency critical care replacement service.

The development of this business case has been a complex process and work is now nearing completion.

Once received, it will be reviewed through the relevant governance processes. Until that review is complete, it is not possible to confirm a commissioning date for the new service to replace Medic One. Interim arrangements continue to provide critical care.

Question reference: S6O-05213

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the financial sustainability of Ayrshire College.

Question reference: S6W-41428

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a flexible delivery model for roofing apprenticeships, including in South Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-41429

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the (a) accessibility and (b) affordability of scaffolding training, including in South Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-41748

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Health Information Integrity Strategy aims to ensure that public information about the risks of alcohol consumption is not influenced by the alcohol industry.

The Scottish Health Information Integrity Strategy is focused on supporting Scotland’s health and social care system, to help people access the best quality health information and make the best choices for their own health. For evidence-based and accurate information related to alcohol consumption, people should refer to Scotland’s national health information service, NHS Inform.

The Alcohol Framework published in 2018 sets out the Scottish Government’s approach to engaging with the alcohol industry in relation to public health policy.

The Scottish Government does not work with the alcohol industry on the development of health policy but engages on the potential impacts, effects and implementation of alcohol harm prevention policy, where appropriate.