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-03377

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what additional funding it plans to allocate for the treatment of lung cancer and what provisions it will make to support people living with other life-threatening respiratory conditions.

Question reference: S7W-03376

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for patients requiring treatment for lung conditions, in light of the Asthma + Lung UK Scotland findings that people with lung conditions in Scotland can face some of the longest waiting times for respiratory care in the UK.

Question reference: S7W-03378

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the number of people who have used GP walk-in clinics to date, and whether any findings could result in the delay or cancellation of any of the 40 clinics that have yet to open.

Question reference: S7W-03385

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent NHS boards across Scotland have been using AI for administrative tasks, patient screening or diagnostic purposes, and whether the appropriate safety reviews have been undertaken to ensure that the use of AI produces accurate medical information.

Question reference: S7W-03213

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it will allocate to repurposing homes that have been left derelict, abandoned or unused, in response to evidence provided by the Scottish Empty Homes partnership suggesting that there are 2,630 unused homes that have been empty for six months or more in Fife.

Question reference: S7W-03211

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what implications the recently proposed East Coast Arc initiative might have for planned and existing infrastructure projects in North East Fife, and whether it expects that any additional funding will be made available to the area as a result.

Question reference: S7W-03212

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to a new rail link for St Andrews as part of the recently proposed East Coast Arc initiative for planned and existing infrastructure projects in North East Fife.

Question reference: S7W-02483

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to address the reported increased pressures faced by schools in supporting pupils who speak English as a second language, in light of recent figures indicating that the number of pupils with English as an additional language currently stands at around 60,000, compared with 10,000 in 2006.

The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution that children and young people who speak English as an additional language (EAL) make to Scotland's schools and communities. We are aware that the number of pupils recorded as having English as an additional language has increased over recent years, reflecting Scotland's increasingly diverse population and our proud reputation as an attractive and welcoming country.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people receive the support they need to access learning and achieve their full potential. Responsibility for the delivery of education and for meeting the needs of pupils who require EAL support rests with local authorities. Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, education authorities must identify, make provision for and review the additional support needs of children and young people whose education they are responsible for. We recognise that support for EAL will reduce as pupils’ English language levels increase.

Through the local government finance settlement, local authorities receive funding to provide education services and to respond to local needs and demographic changes. Between 2012-13 and 2024-25, ASL spending has increased from £540m across all local authorities to almost £1.1 billion - an increase of £560m in the last 10 years. The Scottish Government also funds Enquire, the national advice and information service on additional support for learning, who provide information, advice, training, learning resources and support services to help support children and young people with specific additional support needs, including those with English as an additional language.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with local authorities, Education Scotland and other partners to monitor emerging pressures, share effective practice and ensure that schools have access to appropriate guidance and support to meet the needs of Scotland's increasingly diverse learner population.

Question reference: S7W-03084

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to minimise disruption for ScotRail commuters in Fife due to the temporary closure of various rail lines in the months ahead for maintenance, and how it will ensure greater resilience across Scotland's domestic rail network.

Question reference: S7W-03085

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to updated figures recording that the total number of devolved public sector workers increased by 3,800 staff throughout 2025-26, in light of its previous commitment to reduce staff numbers by 0.5% annually.