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: S6W-41349

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how much the increase in employer national insurance contributions will cost each local authority in Scotland in the financial year 2025-26.

The Scottish Government have published an estimated increase of £240 million for local authorities in Scotland in the financial year 2025–2026, following the UK Government’s hike in employer National Insurance Contributions. This estimate was provided by COSLA, and includes teachers.

The Scottish Government have provided record funding of over £15.1 billion through the Local Government Settlement, including £144 million to specifically contribute to the increased cost of employer National Insurance Contributions.

This government has consistently made the case to the UK Government to fully fund the additional costs to public services of its increase in employer National Insurance contributions. Despite our calls for full reimbursement, it’s clear that the support to meet these costs from the UK Government will fall over £400 million short of what is required.

Question reference: S6W-41351

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how much the increase in employer national insurance contributions will cost the business sector in Scotland in the financial year 2025-26.

Scottish Government analysis shows that changes to employer National Insurance Contributions will disproportionately impact on businesses in industries such as hospitality where almost 4,000 jobs have been lost since March, hitting lower paid and part-time staff. Additional analysis suggests that the increase will result in an average additional cost of £850 per employee, with total costs per affected business estimated at approximately £24,500.

Question reference: S6O-05151

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has revised the funding model for higher and further education and apprenticeships, to ensure it reflects current requirements.

Question reference: S6O-05102

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will determine where the 15 pilots for the planned GP walk-in centres will be located.

Question reference: S6O-05083

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Heads of Terms agreement for the purchase of Ardrossan Harbour from Peel Ports will be signed.

Question reference: S6O-05019

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the work of its Ministerial Population Taskforce, what action it will undertake to support people to have larger families, should they want more children.

Question reference: S6O-04951

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with ScotRail regarding an increase to the service frequency on the Largs to Glasgow Central route.

Question reference: S6T-02625

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Cabinet Secretary for Transport's announcement on 19 February 2025, whether it will provide an update on its discussions with Peel Ports regarding bringing Ardrossan harbour into public ownership.

Question reference: S6O-04874

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on the public finances of working age economic inactivity.

Question reference: S6W-39516

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 August 2025

Scotland level information on costs for each of the years requested is not available. However, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) commissioned Landman Economics to provide updated analysis on costs of smoking which was published in January 2025. This analysis estimates the UK wide costs of smoking on Social Care in 2024 were £16.541 billion. The Scottish Government undertook additional analysis of this data for the Public Service Reform Strategy. This estimated a public spending cost of smoking to Scotland, including wider costs to the health service, social care and responding to fire-related incidents, of £1.56bn in 2024, projected to reach £2.5 billion by 2035-36 unless further action is taken.