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-03940

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many notifications SEPA has received from producers or managers of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) seeking to continue sending waste to landfill sites without this being considered a breach of permit conditions.

Since the introduction of the Temporary Regulatory Position Statement (tRPS) which came into effect on 1 January 2026, SEPA have issued a total of 315 confirmations of satisfactory receipt following notifications from operators wishing to continue to send biodegradable waste to landfill.

These figures reflect the full reporting period from 1 January 2026 to 5 October 2026. Confirmations are valid for a maximum of 6 months and further notification is required after the initial 6 month period should operators wish to continue landfilling and the above figures include 112 renotifications. This demonstrates that the tRPS is achieving its aim of giving waste businesses the time to put compliant solutions in place whilst additional incinerators are being built.

Question reference: S7W-03945

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it first became aware of (a) the closure of the Polmadie incinerator and (b) the issues around landfill capacity, on which the BBC reported on 23 September 2026.

The Scottish Government was made aware of the closure of the Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre’s (GRREC) incinerator in early April and has been receiving updates during regular meetings with SEPA since then.

During these regular meetings, Scotland’s landfill capacity is also discussed and, in addition, Zero Waste Scotland produced a landfill capacity assessment in October last year in order to assist the Scottish Government and other policy makers to make informed assessments into 2026 and beyond.

Finally, Scottish Government officials meet regularly with waste industry representatives to discuss among other matters the ongoing implementation of the biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) landfill ban. The matter of remaining landfill capacity is also discussed during these meetings.

Question reference: S7W-03762

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the National Year of Reading, what its response is to research by the National Literacy Trust and Penguin Books suggesting that one in four primary schools does not have a library.

Question reference: S7W-03760

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 29 October 2026

To ask Scottish Government what its position is on ensuring that every primary school has a library, and whether it considers that doing so would be a powerful legacy of the National Year of Reading.

It is for local authorities to determine how they manage their services, including primary school libraries, because they understand the needs of their communities. Nevertheless, the Scottish Government is clear that these spaces promote reading, attainment and equity, and help prepare children and young people for the future.

That is why we continue to invest in our national School Library Improvement Fund and why we published the ‘School Libraries: Statement of Intent’ earlier this year, which reaffirms the value of these services and commits to bringing forward a refreshed School Libraries Strategy.

Question reference: S7W-03761

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent PISA results, which suggested that there has been a long-term decline in Scotland’s reading performance, what its position is on the National Literacy Trust and Penguin Books’ Libraries for Primaries campaign to ensure that every primary school has a library.

Question reference: S7W-03942

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions and (b) meetings it has had with relevant stakeholders about the management of landfill in Scotland, following the closure of the incinerator at Polmadie and the reduction in the number of sites that manage residual waste.

Scottish Government officials have both regularly scheduled and ad hoc meetings with representatives from the waste sector and broader stakeholders to discuss the management of waste, including Scotland’s landfill capacity and other matters. The most recent BMW Landfill Ban Working Group meeting occurred on Thursday 29 October. Officials also hold regular meetings with SEPA to discuss issues arising in the waste sector.

At the Ministerial level, the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs met with representatives from the waste sector trade associations and local government on Thursday 24 September to discuss these topics.

Question reference: S7W-04551

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the civil nuclear sector is not included in its Energy Skills Passport.

Question reference: S7W-04319

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Scotland is introducing measurable indoor air quality standards, including standards relating to ventilation assessment and CO2 monitoring.

Question reference: S7W-04322

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry’s findings on ventilation and air filtration in healthcare, what steps will be taken to ensure that clinically vulnerable patients can access healthcare safely, including through the provision of reasonable adjustments where required.

Question reference: S7W-04320

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how ventilation and infection-risk reduction will be incorporated into new NHS facilities and the refurbishment of the existing NHS estate.