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-02978

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking in preparation for winter 2026-27, to reduce instances of corridor care, and support NHS staff and patient safety.

The Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026-2031 sets out the urgent action that is required to prepare for the period of surge that is expected in our hospitals over the winter.

The plan recognizes corridor care is unacceptable, and is best tackled through reducing overcrowding in hospitals. Reducing delayed discharge is one of the most effective actions available to increase capacity, reduce overcrowding, improve patient experience and prepare services for winter demand. That’s why the plan asks all Health Boards to make improving discharge and reducing delays in acute hospitals an immediate priority. By winter 2026-27, every Board is expected to have implemented the core principles of the Discharge Without Delay approach and established improvement trajectories for discharge performance and average length of stay.

Vaccination also remains a key part of our approach to winter preparedness. We are working with Health Boards and partners to strengthen this year's winter vaccination programme and maximise uptake among eligible groups. A national public information campaign will support this effort, encouraging people to come forward for vaccination when invited, helping to reduce serious illness.

Question reference: S7W-02947

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many adults have received treatment for an eating disorder since 1999, broken down by (a) year and (b) NHS board.

The data required to answer this question is not held or collected by the Scottish Government.

While Public Health Scotland holds data on adults admitted to psychiatric or general/acute hospitals for treatment, there is no information collected on those treated in other settings, including in outpatient and primary care settings. As a result, available data is likely to substantially undercount the number of adults that have received treatment for an eating disorder in Scotland over the period requested.

It would therefore be misleading to use the data currently available from Public Health Scotland to answer the question.

Question reference: S7O-00293

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it developed the four job families and pay scales for MSP staff, including the criteria used to weigh different functions within and between families, and when these will next be reviewed.

Question reference: S7W-02945

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to make a decision on the implementation of mandatory calorie labelling in the out-of-home food sector, following the pause in the policy announced on 30 May 2023.

Scottish Government continue to work with Food Standards Scotland and Public Health Scotland to review the available evidence and consider the potential impacts of the policy on public health, the hospitality sector and on people with lived or living experience of an eating disorder.

The Scottish Government is developing a Diet and Healthy Weight Plan as part of the delivery of our Population Health Framework. As part of this work, we will continue to keep our position on calorie labelling under review and consider any emerging evidence as part of the ongoing development of the implementation plan.

Question reference: S7O-00197

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how the proposed reform of NHS boards will contribute to its public service reform agenda, including by reducing administrative costs and enabling resources to be directed towards frontline services.

Question reference: S7W-02277

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns regarding the health impact of increasing temperatures in Scotland during the summer months and the higher prevalence of wildfires affecting local air quality, what (a) preparedness plans are in place and (b) engagement has been had with (i) NHS Scotland and (ii) third sector organisation partners.

In July 2024, Public Health Scotland published a three-year Adverse Weather and Health Plan. With support from the Scottish Government and key stakeholders, the plan will help to protect the health of the population from adverse weather-related harm, including extreme temperatures.

To monitor effectiveness of the plan, a multi-agency steering group was developed which includes key stakeholders, the Scottish Government and third sector partners.

Public Health Scotland has published guidance on outdoor air quality and wildfires which is available on NHS Inform.

Public health messaging and preparedness plans for increasing temperatures and wildfires are the responsibility of the local emergency services and health boards with support from Public Health Scotland, if required.

Question reference: S7O-00137

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported 17% increase in recorded hate crime charges in 2025-26, including rises in race, sexual orientation and disability-aggravated charges, alongside providing appropriate support to victims and affected communities.

Question reference: S7W-02273

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects a Seabird Compensation Plan to be submitted by the developer of Berwick Bank offshore windfarm to Scottish Ministers for approval as required by the section 36 consent, and what consultation will be carried out as part of the consideration of any such plan.

Question reference: S7W-02272

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had during the current parliamentary session with SSE Renewables regarding any impact on seabirds of the Berwick Bank offshore windfarm.

Question reference: S7W-02276

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of electricity generated by Berwick Bank offshore windfarm is expected to be (a) exported outwith Scotland and (b) purchased by data centres, such as the proposed QTS data centre at Cambois, Northumberland, where Berwick Bank offshore windfarm is planned to connect to the grid.

The Berwick Bank offshore wind farm consent and marine licences, granted in July 2025, included export cables to a grid connection point at Branxton, located south-west of Torness Power Station. Following the National Grid Electricity Systems Operator (NGESO) Holistic Network Review in 2022, an additional grid connection at Blyth, Northumberland (referred to as the Cambois connection) was also identified and a separate marine licence application was submitted by SSE Renewables and a marine licence granted in August 2025. No further information was provided through the Section 36/marine licence application process as to the onward use of electricity once exported to the grid.