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-02180

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of changes to the Motability Scheme on the accessibility of the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme (AVES) to disabled people in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02217

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how its investment in homelessness prevention and alcohol and drug services will improve access to integrated mental health and addiction support for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including during evenings and weekends, and what action it is taking to ensure that any such support is provided consistently across all local authority areas.

The Scottish Government's investment in homelessness prevention and alcohol and drug services is supporting earlier intervention, improved partnership working and more person-centred support for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

When they are brought into force, the new homelessness prevention duties in Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act will require relevant bodies, which include health boards, to identify people at risk of homelessness and take action to help prevent it, creating a collective responsibility across public services to provide earlier and more joined-up support.

Decisions on local service provision, including arrangements for evening and weekend support, are the responsibility of NHS boards, health and social care partnerships and local authorities.

In most parts of Scotland, alcohol and drug services are delivered through integrated arrangements. Our Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan highlights the importance of services working together to meet the wider needs of individuals, including mental health, housing and other forms of support.

Scotland's Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards provide a national framework for improving consistency and integration. In particular, MAT Standard 8 states that people should have access to advocacy and support for housing, welfare and income needs at the point of treatment.

While there is no national requirement for evening or weekend provision within alcohol and drug services, the MAT Standards emphasise timely access to treatment, proactive outreach to those at greatest risk, and reducing barriers to care.

Question reference: S7W-02179

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support Motability customers in receipt of Social Security Scotland benefits who are affected by the changes to the Motability Scheme.

Question reference: S7W-02594

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that its recruitment, workplace attendance and location policies support equitable access to employment opportunities for people living in all parts of Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02589

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact on electricity consumers in Scotland of UK Government financing arrangements for new nuclear power stations elsewhere in Great Britain, including the regulated asset base model.

Question reference: S7W-01909

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) depot, (b) grid and (c) charging infrastructure required to support the next phase of zero-emission bus deployment, including the role of Scottish manufacturers and supply chains, such as Alexander Dennis.

The Scottish Government recognises that successful deployment of further zero-emission buses requires appropriate depot infrastructure, sufficient grid capacity and vehicle charging infrastructure. Funding through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) has supported the deployment of charging infrastructure at bus depots across Scotland to establish the foundations of a wider heavy-duty vehicle charging network. As a result of Scottish Government investment, Scotland has the highest proportion of zero emission buses of any UK nation, according to the most recent data.

The Scottish Government has established a Strategic Transport Electrification Group (STEG) to bring together electricity network operators, the National Energy System Operator and Scottish Futures Trust to support sharing of information and planning so that the energy network is in a position to respond to the changing energy demand from transport. This provides a forum for discussion of future transport energy requirements, including those associated with bus fleet decarbonisation. Bus operators are encouraged to engage directly with network operators at an early stage to ensure depot electricity connections can be secured in the required timescales

Manufacturers and supply chains have a key role to play in supporting the transition to zero-emission transport. The Scottish Government continues to examine opportunities for Scottish firms in vehicle manufacture, adaptation, charging infrastructure and associated engineering services. We continue to engage with manufacturers, operators and industry stakeholders to understand the opportunities and challenges associated with the transition to zero-emission buses.

Question reference: S7W-01910

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) whole-life cost, (b) infrastructure reliability and (c) operational risk of applying different zero-emission technologies to public-sector fleets, including refuse vehicles, buses, highway vehicles and depot-based vans, and how lessons from recent fleet deployments, including Aberdeen’s hydrogen bus experience, are informing future support for local authorities in this area.

The Scottish Government has developed, with fleet managers, a public sector fleet decarbonisation Action Plan. This takes into consideration key factors such as whole life vehicle cost, access to infrastructure and operational requirements.

The Plan is based on most public-sector fleet vehicles decarbonising through battery electric technology, reflecting the advanced nature of this solution, whole-life costs and access to expanding charging infrastructure. The Plan also recommends Public Bodies to develop bespoke fleet decarbonisation strategies for their organisations, supporting development of operating models that ensure access to reliable infrastructure, meet operational requirements and mitigate risks. Alternative technologies, including hydrogen, may have a role, particularly for some heavier-duty or specialist applications. However, hydrogen vehicles and green hydrogen currently remain more expensive than battery electric alternatives, with limited refuelling infrastructure. Lessons from deployments, including Aberdeen's hydrogen buses, add to the evidence base to support a bespoke fleet decarbonisation by each local authority.

Question reference: S7W-01911

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) network operators, (b) local authorities and (c) fleet infrastructure providers regarding mapping future power demand from (i) bus depots, (ii) logistics sites, (iii) local authority depots and (iv) public-sector fleet locations.

Transport Scotland holds a quarterly Strategic Transport Electrification Group with the two Scottish electricity network operators, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and Scottish Futures Trust. This seeks to co-ordinate research and analysis and ensure the electricity networks are aware of the overall requirements for energy infrastructure to support decarbonised transport, as well as existing data to inform business planning. Fleet operators should discuss specific future power requirements directly with electricity networks to secure appropriate connections in good time.

Transport Scotland has undertaken significant research to identify where charging will be required for zero emission road transport. This has been shared with the Scottish electricity network operators and NESO, as well as fleet infrastructure providers, trade bodies and commercial investors. The next iteration into charging requirements for zero emission heavy goods vehicles will be published in September, based on an substantially increased sample of vehicle data and incorporating an interactive tool to help infrastructure providers, fleet operators and others to make investment decisions. COSLA and Regional Transport Partnerships are aware of this work, the current version of which can be found at Towards Zero Emission HGV Infrastructure in Scotland: Phase 2 Report | Transport Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02085

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 18 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering any reforms to Permitted Development Rights to support the faster deployment of mobile telecommunications networks across Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02510

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to implement the financial inclusion priority within the revised Dormant Assets Policy Direction Framework, and what role it anticipates credit unions and community finance providers will play in improving access to affordable credit.