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-01708

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to source an alternative liquid hydrocortisone product for people with adrenal insufficiency, following the permanent discontinuation of liquid hydrocortisone manufactured by ADVANZ PHARMA.

The supply of medicines, and the associated legislation, is a matter reserved to the UK Government.

Since the outset of the supply disruption, the UK Medicines Shortage Response Group (MSRG)'s advice to prescribers has been to switch patients to hydrocortisone sodium succinate 100mg powder for injection, where clinically appropriate. This was communicated to Health Boards and prescribers via a Scottish Government Medicines Supply Alert Notice (MSAN) on 22 January 2025.

Patients who are concerned about the additional preparation steps required when using this powder formulation for emergency injections may wish to discuss with their clinician whether an alternative unlicensed hydrocortisone product would be appropriate for them.

Question reference: S7W-01711

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for autism assessments in the Highlands and Islands parliamentary region.

Question reference: S7W-01707

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the recruitment of GPs in rural and remote practices where people are reportedly experiencing difficulties securing appointments due to unfilled vacancies.

We offer a range of support to GPs to take up posts in rural and island settings.

This includes incentives such as the Golden Hello Scheme, which offers payments of up to £10,000 to GPs taking up eligible posts in rural and island settings.

ScotGEM is helping to build the rural medical workforce through its four-year graduate-entry medical degree programme, which focuses on rural medicine and General Practice. We also fund fellowships to help GPs to develop the right skills and experience required to work in, rural and island settings.

The Rediscover the Joy of General Practice programme enables experienced GPs to undertake placements in practices across rural and island areas which require additional short-term capacity.

Question reference: S7W-00610

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with disability organisations in the Highlands and Islands regarding the impact of proposed changes to the Motability scheme.

Question reference: S7W-00612

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers have raised concerns directly with the UK Government regarding the risk of increasing social isolation for service users living in rural Scotland that the changes to the Motability scheme could create.

Question reference: S7W-00609

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing mitigation measures to support Motability users in remote rural and island communities in Scotland who may be disproportionately affected by reduced mileage allowances.

Question reference: S7W-00607

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of the additional mileage requirements experienced by Motability users in rural and island communities when accessing healthcare appointments, employment, education and essential services.

Question reference: S7W-00608

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Motability Operations regarding the introduction of any rural or island exemptions to revised mileage limits and excess mileage charges.

Question reference: S7W-00611

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake a Rural Communities Impact Assessment regarding changes to Motability mileage allowances and excess mileage charges.

Question reference: S7O-00066

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how any reduction in hours or withdrawal of pupil support assistant posts will impact rural primary schools, particularly in the Highlands and Islands region.