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-00183

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, following the publication of the Programme for Government, how it is planning to assist local authorities with regenerating town centres and strengthening local economies.

Question reference: S7W-02380

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its pre-election statements and manifesto commitment to introduce anti-SLAPP legislation in Scotland, what progress has been made in preparing, and when it expects to introduce, such legislation.

In 2025, the Scottish Government consulted on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), including a draft Model Law prepared by interested stakeholders. The majority view expressed by respondents was that SLAPPs need to be tackled and that reform should resemble the Model Law consulted on. The Scottish Government agreed and further work is being carried out on aspects of the Model Law, including how it would operate in practice. The Scottish Government continues to consider how this may be taken forward. The legislative programme will be agreed by Ministers and announced to Parliament in due course in the usual way.

Question reference: S7O-00139

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to prevent the release of sky lanterns and helium balloons into the environment, including whether it supports legislation prohibiting their sale, supply and release to reduce litter and protect wildlife, livestock and marine animals.

Question reference: S7W-01961

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie 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.

The Scottish Government is aware of the risks that sky lanterns and helium balloons can pose to wildlife, livestock and marine animals through ingestion and entanglement. That is why we will continue to work with Keep Scotland Beautiful and other partners through delivery of the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy to prevent all sources of litter, raise awareness of their environmental impacts and encourage responsible behaviours that help protect Scotland’s natural environment.

Question reference: S7W-01706

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 11 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.