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-01961

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing legislation to prohibit the sale, supply and release of sky lanterns, and the release of helium balloons, into the atmosphere, in similar terms to the Sky Lanterns and Balloons (Prohibition) Act 2021 on the Isle of Man.

Question reference: S7W-01706

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its commitment to support the future of the site, whether it will consider including the former ethylene plant at Mossmorran within the purview of the Forth Green Freeport.

Question reference: S7O-00130

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Police Scotland's review of the deployment of forensic tagging spray, including when it expects a decision on their future operational use.

Question reference: S7O-00092

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the next steps are towards delivering a direct ferry service between Rosyth and mainland Europe.

Question reference: S7W-00552

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 10 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what regulatory powers are available to local authorities to limit the density of retail premises selling vape products in particular areas.

As planning authorities, local authorities are able to regulate development including the creation of new shops. Changes to the specific range of goods sold within an existing shop do not constitute development so are not within the scope of planning control.

Scotland has a Tobacco and Vapes Retail Register. All businesses need to be registered to be able to sell these products in Scotland. It is the responsibility of local authorities to enforce compliance with the register in their local areas.

Question reference: S7W-00547

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 10 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what further support it is providing to local authorities to help increase enforcement activity by Trading Standards officers.

Trading standards officers are appointed by local authorities in order to comply with their statutory obligations.

While it is up to each local authority to manage its own day-to-day business, including decisions in relation to the delivery of statutory services locally, Scottish Government retains a strategic interest in the effective delivery of trading standards services across Scotland.

Scottish Ministers have asked Consumer Scotland to develop recommendations that will inform Scottish Government’s continued support for local authorities in delivering effective, well resourced, trading standards services that deliver positive outcomes for people and communities.

Question reference: S7W-00550

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 10 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address recruitment and retention challenges within the Trading Standards workforce.

Trading standards officers are appointed by local authorities. Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) is the national team for trading standards in Scotland and is funded by UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT). Workforce planning is an operational matter for individual local authorities and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) as employers.

Question reference: S7W-00548

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 10 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to local authorities regarding the prioritisation of Trading Standards enforcement activity.

Scottish Government does not provide guidance on prioritisation of enforcement activity to local authorities. It is for each local authority to manage its own day-to-day business, including decisions in relation to the delivery of statutory services locally.

Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) is the national team for trading standards in Scotland. The team is funded by UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and managed by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). TSS has a duty to coordinate and enforce cross boundary and national casework.

Question reference: S7W-00545

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 10 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its second consultation on the regulation of the electrical industry, which closed in February 2021, whether it plans to bring forward plans to regulate the industry.

Question reference: S7W-00543

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 10 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication in June 2019 of the research paper, The Regulation of electricians in Scotland, whether it has commenced work on any of the four recommended steps detailed in the report's section 6, "Business Case".

Scottish Government agrees that anyone carrying out electrical work should be appropriately qualified. However, the regulation of electricians is complex.

The Scotland Act reserves the regulation of the sale of goods and services and consumer protection to the UK Parliament. This means that Scottish Parliament may not have the devolved competence to legislate in this area.

Scottish Government has previously considered the regulation of electricians further to the advice of the Electricians Working Group. However, there are no plans to re-establish the group or legislate at this time. We will keep our position under review and continue in the meantime to invest in consumer advice and advocacy services.

We would urge consumers to always use trusted websites when contracting a tradesperson to carry out work, including:

Trading Standards Trusted Trader website: Learn about Trading Standards Trusted Trader

Electrical Safety First website: Electricians Scotland | Electrical Safety First

Electrical Competent Person website: Home

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