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-01907

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 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.

Question reference: S7W-01908

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 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.

Question reference: S7W-01906

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 August 2026

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

Question reference: S7W-01630

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals held on remand and in custody, who were subsequently either found not guilty or received a non-custodial sentence, have not gone on to receive a prison sentence, in each of the last five years.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The data held by Scottish Government (SG) on individuals held on remand is taken from the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) Prisoner Records System. SG do publish information on the number of departures from the remand population and the number of transitions from the remand population into the sentenced population in each financial year here: Supporting documents - Scottish Prison Population Statistics 2024-25 - gov.scot. However, this indicates prisoner movement rather than the outcome of the case/s individuals are involved in. Prisoner records do not contain information on the outcomes of court cases.

Question reference: S7W-01244

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42445 by Angela Constance on 9 December 2025, whether, in addition to the original 2005 investigation, the Terms of Reference for the Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry will allow for an examination of any investigations pursued by Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service between 2013 and 2024.

As set out in the answer to question S6W-42445, the Terms of Reference for the Emma Caldwell Inquiry were developed following consultation with the Chair and discussions with relevant parties. The Terms of Reference remain firmly focused on the original investigation into Emma’s death, while being framed with sufficient breadth to enable the Inquiry Chair to consider any wider matters he considers pertinent to the Inquiry. From its setting up date on 9 December 2025, this statutory Public Inquiry is now independent of Ministers and the Chair is responsible for directing the Inquiry to deliver the Terms of Reference.

Question reference: S7W-01141

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 2 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what powers Police Scotland has to issue warnings and fines for the dangerous use of e-bikes and e-scooters in pedestrian and residential areas.

An e-scooter, or an e-bike that does not meet the requirements for an electrically assisted pedal cycle, are treated as motor vehicles, and in relation to these Police Scotland can issue a fixed penalty notice for using the vehicle without insurance or without a licence, seize and remove the vehicle under road traffic law, and charge the rider with careless or dangerous driving. An e-bike that meets those requirements is treated as a pedal cycle, and the police can act against careless or dangerous cycling and against riding on a footway. Also, police can issue a warning to the driver if the vehicle is used in a manner causing alarm, distress, or annoyance. If caught repeating the antisocial behaviour within 12 months, officers can immediately seize the vehicle.

Question reference: S7O-00131

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to renew its strategy on preventing knife crime, particularly among young people.

Question reference: S7W-00776

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 16 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the £200,000 fund for Social Impact Partners as outlined in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto, whether it has now established it, and, if not, when it will do so and what outcomes it expects that it will achieve.

Officials are engaging with potential partners to develop a programme of work that seeks to increase investment that supports the growth and development of outcomes based commissioning through the use of Social Impact Partnerships to support interventions that:

1) prevent and stop re-offending

2) provide safe spaces for young people to divert them from anti-social behaviour and crime

The Scottish Government will keep Parliament updated regarding all progress made towards achieving this commitment.

Question reference: S7W-00775

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 16 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers is a successful enough outcome from the £200,000 fund for Social Impact Partners for it to decide to establish a new £10 million Social Impact Investment Fund, as outlined in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto.

Outcomes and outcomes frameworks will be scoped out as part of a programme of work that seeks to increase investment that supports the growth and development of outcomes based commissioning through the use of Social Impact Partnerships to support interventions that:

1) prevent and stop re-offending

2) provide safe spaces for young people to divert them from anti-social behaviour and crime

The Scottish Government will keep Parliament updated regarding all progress made towards achieving this commitment.

Question reference: S7W-00647

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 29 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 11 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to adopt a public financing model for the purchase of new trains, similar to that proposed in the report commissioned by ASLEF and written by Glasgow University academics, A Public Vision for Financing Scotland’s Railways.

Train ownership and operational costs over the asset’s lifespan constitute a substantially greater share of total expenditure than the initial purchase price. It is therefore essential to explore a range of financing and procurement options to ensure best value for money and long-term affordability.

As the First Minister has set out in the previous government, we are making good progress towards initiating a programme of bond issuances from 2026-27, with a total programme of around £1.5 billion over the next parliamentary term, subject to market conditions.

As set out in the published outline business case (https://www.gov.scot/policies/investment-finance/scottish-government-bonds), this programme will support capital investment within our existing borrowing powers and limits. Any proceeds will be used exclusively for capital spending and infrastructure, in line with our legal powers.

The business case considers a range of borrowing options, including continued use of the National Loans Fund and other sources, and concludes that a bond programme can represent value for money while supporting our wider economic objectives.

ASLEF’s recent report on Green Bonds provided a useful contribution, and we remain open to further discussion and analysis alongside current Scottish Government policy for the procurement of significant contracts in the future.

In terms of bond structures, we are keeping our options open, including the potential use of green bonds alongside conventional or unlabelled issuances.