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-04360

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01958 by Kirsten Oswald on 10 August 2026 regarding granting prescribed status to Independent Humanist Ceremonies under the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004, whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made by officials.

Question reference: S7W-03706

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it has considered putting in place to encourage individuals to enter the counselling profession.

The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that counsellors make in supporting mental health and wellbeing in Scotland. Individuals undertaking counselling qualifications may be able to access a range of student support available through Scotland’s higher and further education funding arrangements, subject to eligibility criteria.

Higher education in Scotland is based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay. Through our investment in colleges, universities and student support, we are helping people of all ages to access education and training opportunities while supporting the workforce needs to deliver high-quality public services across Scotland.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce any profession-specific financial support for individuals entering the counselling profession.

Question reference: S7W-03707

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered providing funding for pre-qualification placements for trainee counsellors to help meet the increasing demand for mental health services.

Placements form an important element of many qualifications, including counselling qualifications. In most cases, the responsibility for arranging placements generally rests with the individual, education providers and placement organisations. These placements can take place across a range of settings, including health, third and voluntary sector, and private organisations.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a national funding scheme for counselling placements. The Scottish Government will continue to work collaboratively with partners across health and social care to ensure workforce planning is evidence-based, sustainable and supports the ambitions set out in the refreshed Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan, Service Renewal Framework and Population Health Framework.

Question reference: S7W-03708

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered introducing bursaries for trainee counsellors to help meet the increasing demand for mental health services.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a national bursary scheme for trainee counsellors. However, individuals undertaking counselling qualifications may be eligible for financial support through Scotland’s higher and further education funding arrangements, subject to eligibility.

The refreshed Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan, published on 29 September 2026, sets out our ambition for system reform and sustainable improvements across mental health and wellbeing services.

Question reference: S7W-03705

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered introducing probationary pay for trainee counsellors to help meet the increasing demand for mental health services.

The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that counsellors make in supporting mental health and wellbeing. All NHS terms and conditions are negotiated and agreed nationally in partnership between Staff Side organisations, NHS Employers and the Scottish Government. The Agenda for Change Handbook sets out the agreed terms and conditions for nearly all non-medical staff in the NHS and Annex 21 of the Handbook provides a mechanism to pay a set percentage of the top of the fully qualified pay band each year that a staff member is in training for a particular role.

We recognise the challenges in meeting demand for mental health services and continue to work with partners across health and care to ensure we have the right workforce, with the right skill mix, to meet the needs of the people of Scotland. This includes considering workforce requirements across the mental health system, recognising the important contribution of a range of professions, which includes counsellors, in delivering high-quality, sustainable improvements in mental health and wellbeing services in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-04316

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent reports that chrysotile (white) asbestos has been identified in certain imported wind turbine components, what action it is taking to establish how many of the 1,000 affected turbines in the UK are located in Scotland, and whether enforcement action has been taken to isolate affected turbines or to restrict operations until the relevant parts are replaced.

Question reference: S7W-04262

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing legislation to ensure that children have a legal right of contact with their grandparents and extended family.

Question reference: S7W-04080

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it will make of any potential impact on the sustainability of the college sector before determining future funding arrangements in its 2027-28 Budget.

Question reference: S7W-04082

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what interim measures can be taken regarding the prescription of Bedrolite to children with severe forms of epilepsy pending completion of the National Institute for Health and Care Research clinical trial in July 2029.

Question reference: S7W-04083

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Scotland will develop guidance for GPs on shared-care arrangements involving the prescribing of unlicensed cannabis-based medicinal products for people with drug-resistant epilepsy.