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: S7W-01160

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether Historic Environment Scotland has obtained a direction under section 11 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 from the City of Edinburgh Council to exempt the Radical Road in Holyrood Park from access rights, and, if not, on what legal basis access to the road has been restricted for an extended period.

Question reference: S7W-01155

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Registers of Scotland missing its 2024 target to have 100% of land registered and the reported impacts of an incomplete land register on the delivery of public services, including delays to progress on housing and infrastructure projects, increased legal and administrative costs, difficulty in progressing community ownership schemes and data quality issues affecting policy and planning, whether it considers that completing the register as soon as possible would reduce costs and improve service delivery.

Question reference: S7W-01154

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to paragraph 142 of the 2025 final report of the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee, whether it plans to undertake a strategic mapping exercise to identify the functions of all Scottish public bodies, including areas of overlap; and, if so, whether it will provide details of (a) who will be responsible for carrying out this work and (b) the expected timeline for its completion.

Question reference: S7W-00196

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline how public bodies will be informed of their additional responsibilities under the enhanced biodiversity duty, which was legislated for by the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026.

A full review of the biodiversity duty reporting procedures is currently in progress.

Any proposed changes to the reporting process will be subject to consultation before being implemented through secondary legislation. We will engage with public bodies throughout the review process and write to them to advise of planned changes.

The current three-year biodiversity duty reporting cycle covers 2024-2026 inclusive, and reports for this period are due at the end of December 2026. We do not intend to make any changes to the reporting process before the end of this cycle, as this would not allow sufficient time for public bodies to consider and implement the changes. We will be writing to public bodies shortly to provide an update on the review process and reporting requirements for 2024-26.

Question reference: S6W-43952

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a ScotRail discount scheme similar to the 16-17 Saver Railcard used by other rail operators.

In Scotland, concessionary travel on rail is the responsibility of local authorities, which have discretionary powers under the Transport Act 1985 to provide and fund local concessionary travel schemes for residents. The extent and terms of any such scheme are for individual local authorities to consider and decide upon.

ScotRail currently offers discounted travel for those aged 16, 17 or 18 (or up to 25 years old and a full-time volunteer), who have a Young Scot National Entitlement Card. Eligible passengers receive 1/3 off most rail fares when travelling with ScotRail and 50% off weekly, monthly and annual tickets. Unlike the scheme the Member is referring to, ScotRail’s offer does not require the £35 upfront annual fee.

Question reference: S6W-42639

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the fundamental review of the adaptations system, as set out in its Housing to 2040 strategy, will take account of the needs of (a) minority ethnic communities, (b) other groups with protected characteristics and (c) the demands of an increasing ageing population, and when an update on the recommendations to improve the system will be published.

In September, I committed to begin work on the review of the housing adaptations system by the end of 2025. This review will make recommendations on how best to improve and streamline the system and better target resources.

I am pleased to be able to confirm that this work is underway and my officials are currently finalising a project plan and contacted stakeholders in December to formally invite them to participate in the advisory group. Formal engagement with the group will begin in early 2026.

This preparatory work will ensure that the needs of all older and disabled people in Scotland, including ethnic minorities and those with protected characteristics, will be represented and considered as part of the review and that we have a system that is fit for purpose for anyone who needs to use it.

Question reference: S6W-42642

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the commitment in its Housing to 2040 strategy to streamline and accelerate the adaptations system, and when it expects to complete the fundamental review of the system.

As set out in my answer to question S6W-42639 on 14 January 2026, I am pleased to be able to confirm that the review of the housing adaptations system, a commitment in our Housing to 2040 strategy, is underway.

My officials are currently finalising a project plan and contacted stakeholders in December to formally invite them to participate in the advisory group. Formal engagement will begin in early 2026.

We aim to publish a short report in the autumn of 2026, that sets out the future of adaptations in Scotland.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-42640

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the responses to its consultation, Enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland’s homes, which closed on 21 December 2023.

Question reference: S6W-42641

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the next steps are following the consultation, Enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland’s homes, and when it expects to update Part 1 of the Housing for Varying Needs design guide.

We reaffirmed our commitment to deliver change in this area during the passage of the Housing (Scotland) Bill and are giving detailed consideration to the consultation feedback to ensure that we get the fundamentals of this work right.

We recognise that enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland’s homes is essential to enable people to live well and stay in their homes for as long as they wish and, during Stage 3 of the Bill in the autumn of 2025, we committed to instituting change within two years.

To help ensure that (a) changes to Part 1 of the Housing for Varying Needs design guide and (b) the introduction of an all-tenure Scottish Accessible Homes Standard are meaningful and proportionate, we will work closely with the building sector and other stakeholders as work progresses. Crucially, this will include those with lived experience.

Question reference: S6W-42615

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government on what specific date its new cancer action plan will be published.

The Scottish Government Cancer Strategy for Scotland (2023 – 2033) is underpinned by multi-year phases of planned actions.

The initial three-year Cancer Action for Scotland Plan 2023-2026 has supported the strategy by determining actions to help us achieve our ambition to improve survival and provide excellent, equitably accessible care. The current plan runs until 2026, with work already underway on developing the actions required for the next phase. Parliament will be updated on timings for the next plan in due course.