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-03167

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding witnesses who are deemed to be vulnerable under the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004, what plans it has to (a) provide all such witnesses with the same presumption that their evidence may be taken by a commissioner, (b) expand the scope of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019 so that in cases involving any form of assault they are afforded the same presumption that their evidence may be taken by a commissioner, and (c) ensure that those whose vulnerability arises from a mental disorder are provided with the same protections and special measures as those afforded under the 2019 Act.

The published Implementation Plan for the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019, which has been agreed in discussion with justice partners, sets out our current plans to extend the presumption in favour of pre-recorded evidence to child witnesses aged 16 and 17 in the most serious sheriff and jury cases and all deemed vulnerable adult witnesses in the most serious cases in the High Court. In addition, through the provisions within the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, we will extend the presumption in favour of pre-recorded evidence to all vulnerable complainers and child witnesses in the Sexual Offences Court when that is operational.

We all recognise that the expansion of taking evidence by commissioner is a significant reform for the justice system and will bring with it several practical and operational challenges. That is why it needs to be introduced in a controlled and achievable way, targeting first the youngest witnesses in the most serious cases. It is also important that any extension of the presumption is appropriately evaluated so that vital lessons can be learned before progressing further. It is essential that in all respects that we do what we can to ensure that any new intervention does not inadvertently overwhelm the system to the detriment of victims and witnesses.

While we do not currently have any plans to expand eligibility for a presumption in favour of pre-recorded evidence beyond what I have outlined, the court can approve applications for the use of pre-recorded evidence as a special measure in their individual cases. A deemed vulnerable adult witness is a victim of a serious intimate or sexual offence, such as sexual offences, human trafficking, domestic abuse or stalking; a vulnerable witness is someone who may, for example, suffer from fear or distress in giving their evidence, or who may have more difficulty in giving their evidence due to a learning disability. Vulnerable adult witnesses are also able to access pre-recorded evidence as a special measure upon application.

Question reference: S7W-03166

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are in place for terminally ill victims of assault who are deemed to be vulnerable witnesses but are unable to testify at trial.

Guidance on the assistance available to victims and witnesses to help give evidence is available om the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service website - Vulnerable victims and witnesses (special measures) | COPFS.

In the circumstance where a terminally ill victim is deemed to be a vulnerable witness, then they would be entitled to give their evidence by special measures. The special measures that can be authorised could include the taking evidence by a commissioner; the use of a live television link; the use of a screen; the use of a supporter, the giving evidence in chief in the form of a prior statement and excluding the public during the taking of evidence, or a combination of these measures. Where a victim is unable to come to court to give evidence in any competent manner because they are unfit or unable to do so because of a mental or physical condition their statement may be admitted in evidence.

Question reference: S7O-00297

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, regarding its proposed facial authentication security access system, when is it due to be introduced and whether MSPs and parliamentary staff will be permitted to opt out of its use.

Question reference: S7W-02841

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has considered to support the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) in addressing the reported backlog of cases, and what its position is on whether the requirement for property factors to hold formal qualifications would prevent some cases from reaching this stage.

Question reference: S7W-03368

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding proposals to reopen the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway for passenger services, which would provide an orbital rail service for residents from Craiglockhart to Portobello.

Question reference: S7W-03315

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm which companies have been subject to and failed human rights due diligence checks since Scottish Enterprise’s revised human rights due diligence checks came into force, including on what basis Barclays reportedly passed the due diligence process.

Question reference: S7W-03314

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to Scottish Enterprise regarding the publication of its Human Rights Due Diligence procedure, following previous indications that the agency planned to publish this guidance.

Question reference: S7W-03316

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis further Scottish Enterprise payments can continue to be made to companies that have previously received awards and have retrospectively been found to be implicated in genocide or other grave international law violations.

Question reference: S7W-03318

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to ensure that any company restricted from access to public funding is also restricted from involvement in the governance of public funds, including holding a leadership role on public bodies and assets such as Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board (SAAB) and Apprenticeship Approvals Group (AAG).

Question reference: S7W-03317

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of companies that receive Scottish Enterprise funding and are involved in illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian Territories.