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: S7O-00272

Asked by: Alan Brown, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of Scotland-based students gaining entry to university for the academic session 2026-27.

Question reference: S7O-00233

Asked by: Alan Brown, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the availability of African and Asian donor eggs for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment within the NHS.

Question reference: S7O-00191

Asked by: Alan Brown, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the latest assessment it has made of the impact of PFI payments on public sector finances.

Question reference: S7W-01817

Asked by: Alan Brown, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of domestic properties in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley have access to fibre broadband, how many properties have still to be provided with access to fibre broadband, and what the timescales are for completion of the rollout of fibre broadband in the constituency.

The UK’s telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, regularly publishes information in relation to full fibre and gigabit-capable broadband coverage in Scotland as part of their Connected Nations updates. The most recent update was published on 13 May 2026, showing coverage figures for January 2026.

Latest figures show that, as of January 2026, a total of 35,261 homes across Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley can access a full fibre connection, which equates to 87% of all eligible homes across the constituency.

More detailed information can be found through Ofcom’s interactive dashboard at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/connected-nations-update-spring-2026#interactive-report

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the delivery timelines for commercially funded broadband infrastructure projects. However, gigabit-capable full fibre deployment is being delivered in Scotland through Project Gigabit, including within the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley constituency. Project Gigabit delivery is currently expected to be completed by 2030.

Question reference: S7W-01500

Asked by: Alan Brown, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 10 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding any assessment it has made of any implications of the UK–US trade deal for the pricing of new medicines in Scotland, including the potential impact on NHS Scotland's budget.

Whilst the UK Government is yet to share any detailed impact assessment with Scottish Ministers, we are continuing to work closely with the UK Government to assess the costs and benefits of the deal, including the implications of recently announced implementation measures and pilot programmes.

When the impact assessments are made available, we will consider the implications the price changes for medicines will have on the NHS in Scotland.

Question reference: S7O-00115

Asked by: Alan Brown, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to carry out a cumulative impact assessment of the number of planning applications proposed for AI data centres, including the power and water resources required and the impact on climate emissions.

Question reference: S7O-00076

Asked by: Alan Brown, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how the CashBack for Communities programme is supporting projects and young people in the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley constituency during its phase 7.

Question reference: S7W-00003

Asked by: Alan Brown, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 1 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what Barnett consequential funding is expected to arise from the support granted to the British Steel plant, Scunthorpe steelworks.

Question reference: S7W-00004

Asked by: Alan Brown, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 28 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact might be (a) on its climate emission targets and (b) job creation in North East Scotland of the funding allocated by the UK Government to the East Coast Cluster and HyNet carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) clusters compared with the Acorn cluster, and what assessment it has made of this funding.

The Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan makes clear that the Acorn Project is essential to meeting Scotland’s emissions targets, while our Green Industrial Strategy highlights the significant economic benefits CCUS can deliver for Scotland, particularly in the North East.

The UK Government pledged close to £22 billion for the HyNet and East Coast Cluster projects in 2024, last month the East Coast Cluster confirmed it has already awarded £1.5 billion to UK supply chain firms. This is the type of economic boost that Scotland should be experiencing, but the UK Government has yet to provide a timeline for the £200 million development support for the Acorn Project that was announced last year.

The failure by successive UK Governments to provide a full funding package for the Acorn project is risking emissions reductions and denying the North East the job creation and economic benefits that would be realised if Acorn were funded comparatively with the East Coast Cluster and HyNet Cluster projects.

Question reference: S7W-00002

Asked by: Alan Brown, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for announcing the (a) location and (b) opening date of the proposed walk-in GP clinic for East Ayrshire.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran are part of phase two of the GP walk-in services pilot and are leading the design and implementation of the East Ayrshire service. Phase two sites will be based in high street or former retail premises, similar to some vaccination clinics. These locations require longer lead times, as converting retail spaces into clinically compliant facilities must meet strict safety standards, particularly for vulnerable patients. Further details on the pilot site will be shared once commercial and clinical agreements are finalised.