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-02776

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government (a) when it received a proposal from the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) regarding the MWC undertaking reviews of all individuals who have committed homicide and who may have had mental health issues, pursuant to the undertaking given by the then Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health during the Stage 3 debate on the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015, and (b) when a decision on that proposal is expected.

Question reference: S7O-00162

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the designs for the replacement option for the M8 Woodside Viaducts.

Question reference: S7W-02083

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) building on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, should be retained as a cultural asset, and what steps it is taking to ensure this.

My clear preference, communicated to Creative Scotland, is for the former Centre for Contemporary Arts building to re-open as an important asset for Glasgow and Scotland’s culture and creative sector, and that as soon as possible.

Creative Scotland’s call for expressions of interest in operating the building closed on 12 August, with priority consideration being given to those which best align with the aim of ensuring the building continues to operate as a key asset in Scotland’s culture sector.

I am assured by Creative Scotland that the ongoing cultural value of the building is the key consideration in its consideration and I continue to closely monitor the situation.

Question reference: S7W-02081

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Creative Scotland regarding the sale of the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) building on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow.

I am in regular contact with Creative Scotland on this matter and have been crystal clear that the former Centre for Contemporary Arts building should re-open as an important asset for Glasgow and Scotland’s culture and creative sector as soon as possible. I am assured by Creative Scotland that the ongoing cultural value of the building is the key consideration in it’s process of seeking expressions of interest to see the empty building back open and operating.

Question reference: S7W-02082

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has agreed to the sale of the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) building on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow.

Question reference: S7W-02122

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 14 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report published by the Victims Commissioner in England and Wales, Justice delayed: The impact of the Crown Court backlog on victims, victim services and the criminal justice system, whether it plans to commission research on the impact of the court backlog on victims in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has already taken steps to acknowledge, measure and address the impact of the court backlog in Scotland, including the impact on victims of crime.

Our Improving victims’ experiences of the justice system consultation, in 2022, sought views on balancing a trauma informed approach to court scheduling with the need for continued action to address the court backlog, and the impact that can have on victims. Responses to the consultation helped to shape the provisions in the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, including those in Part 2 requiring the Lord President to take trauma-informed practice into account in scheduling court business.

The Audit Scotland Criminal courts backlog report in May 2023 highlighted the impact that the backlog has had on victims. In its follow up report of May this year, Audit Scotland recognised the significant progress that had been made in reducing the court backlog, reflecting targeted investment from the Scottish Government and positive collaboration across justice partners.

The Victims Taskforce, co-chaired by the Lord Advocate and I, has heard directly from victims and support organisations regarding the impact of the backlog. The work of the Taskforce is informed by lived experience via the Victim Survivor Advisory Board. There is also regular engagement at both ministerial and official level with support organisations to facilitate feedback and knowledge exchange on the issues affecting victims in the justice system.

There are no current plans to commission further research given the existing evidence. We will continue to focus on improving efficiency, reducing delays and freeing up court capacity for the most serious cases and on implementing measures in the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.

Question reference: S7W-02458

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether existing Scots law provides adequate protection against the covert recording of individuals using AI-enabled smart glasses or similar wearable technology, and whether, to address this issue, it will consider introducing a standalone right to privacy in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-01907

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with UK Government on its proposals to introduce a licensing scheme for the sale of knives, and what assessment it has made of any implications of this scheme for Scotland.

In May 2025, UK Government officials made the Scottish Government aware that the UK Government intended to publish a consultation relating to licensing of the sale of knives. This was subsequently published in December 2025 with the consultation finishing in February 2026. As yet, the Scottish Government is not aware of specific proposals from the UK Government to introduce such a scheme following the consultation and will be happy to discuss with the UK Government as any such proposals are developed in terms of any impact for Scotland. In particular, the need to consider the operation of any licensing scheme in respect of the importation of knives will be required by the UK Government for Scotland as this area of law is likely reserved under the Scotland Act 1998.

There is long-standing knife dealer licensing in Scotland operated by local authorities that applies to all retailers including online retailers who sell weapons covered by the licensing scheme. This is unlike the situation in England and Wales.

Question reference: S7W-01908

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce the necessary regulations to implement the age restrictions on the online sale of knives, as set out in the Crime and Policing Act 2026.

A remote sale is any sale where the seller or a person acting on the seller's behalf is not in the presence of the buyer at the point of sale. Section 33 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 (2026 Act) makes changes to the current requirements falling on remote sellers of bladed products found within the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Section 35 of the 2026 Act makes changes to the current requirements arising for the delivery of bladed products purchased remotely found within the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.

Royal Assent for the 2026 Act was received in late April 2026 and the relevant changes in sections 33 and 35, most of which also apply across the UK, will be commenced in due course further to engagement with UK Government and justice agencies.

Question reference: S7W-01906

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how its licensing regulations for the sale of non-domestic knives are applied to online sales.

Knife dealer licensing is a licensing scheme which allows for the sale of relevant weapons whilst helping minimise risks to public safety. It is a criminal offence for a person to sell the types of weapons covered by the licensing scheme without a licence.

Knife dealer licensing applies to any retailer including any online retailer based in Scotland. The licensing scheme requires a licence to sell certain weapons. These weapons are:

All knives other than folding pocket knives whose blades do not exceed 3.5 inches (8.91 centimetres) in length and knives designed for domestic use;
All daggers other than kirpans or skean dhus whose blades do not exceed 3.5 inches (8.91 centimetres) in length;
All knife blades other than those designed for domestic use;
All swords
Any other article which has a blade or which is sharply pointed and which is made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person.

Knife dealer licensing is operated by local authorities in Scotland. The issuing of a licence includes background checks on the person seeking the licence. Conditions will attach to a licence including keeping written records of transactions for three years, records kept can be at any reasonable time looked at by the police on request and – for physical retail locations - no display of articles visible from the street or public entrance and signage indicating age laws that apply. These requirements apply in addition to other more general offensive weapon laws that apply such as restrictions on the age of purchasers.