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-00038

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of World Migratory Bird Day on 9 May 2026 and the reported decline in the number of swifts in recent years, when it plans to consult on the changes to building regulations required to bring into force the requirement for swift bricks included in the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of supporting biodiversity, including addressing the decline in species such as swifts, and acknowledges the significance of initiatives such as World Migratory Bird Day.

The Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 includes provision to introduce regulations requiring the installation of swift nest boxes in specified new buildings where reasonably practicable and appropriate. We anticipate that these provisions will be brought forward as part of a phased implementation programme. We will set out further details about the timetable for commencing and implementing the individual provisions in the Act, in due course. We will continue to fully engage with stakeholders throughout the commencement and implementation phases. This will include engagement in relation to changes to building regulations and consultation arrangements. We will ensure stakeholders and members of the public have sufficient time to prepare before we commence any provisions that would directly impact on them.

Question reference: S7W-00056

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 26 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the roll-out of 20mph speed limits on all appropriate roads by local authorities.

Question reference: S7W-00075

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 26 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to local authorities for the rollout of 20mph speed limits in 2026-27.

Question reference: S7W-00074

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 26 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the national 20mph implementation group last met and what it discussed.

A national 20 mph Task Group was established to ensure a coordinated and effective approach to the implementation of 20 mph speed limits across Scotland. The group last met on 24 January 2024 and guidance to support the rollout can be viewed at: The Implementation Guide for 20 mph Speed Limits in Scotland | Transport Scotland

Since then, matters relating to the delivery of 20 mph speed limits have been discussed on a regular basis with individual local authorities to allow us to monitor progress. 20 mph has also been discussed through existing road safety governance structures, including Local Partnership Forums.

Question reference: S7W-00149

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S6W-44327 by Jackson Carlaw on 9 April 2026, whether it will provide an update on when it will conclude its work to review the provision of paternity and partner leave for MSP staff.

Question reference: S6W-44327

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the SPCB) on 9 April 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what progress has been made towards reviewing allowances for paternity and parental partner leave for all staff.

The SPCB is responsible for setting the minimum terms and conditions on which staff must be employed. The SPCB works in partnership with its recognised trade unions to agree terms and conditions for Scottish Parliamentary Service staff. Any changes to terms and conditions would have cost and productivity implications which the SPCB would require to consider.

MSPs may exercise discretion to offer terms and conditions in excess of these minimum terms and conditions, provided they are able to do so within their capped Staff Cost Provision. The SPCB is aware that MSPs and parliamentary groups have taken the opportunity to do so, particularly in respect of enhanced parental leave entitlements.

The SPCB is committed to meeting the different needs of colleagues and to delivering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. The SPCB will consider these matters further at the earliest opportunity in Session 7 and in doing so will work with MSPs, their staff and staff representatives, including MSP staff trade unions, to ensure that staff are employed on terms and conditions which are comparable with staff employed by Members of other UK legislatures.

Question reference: S6O-05702

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential public health impact of silica air pollution.

Question reference: S6W-44172

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress that Transport Scotland has made towards changing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on appropriate roads for which it is the transport authority.

The Scottish Government is committed to introducing 20mph limits on appropriate roads across Scotland by the end of March 2026. Of the 75 locations on the trunk road network that were assessed as being appropriate for a reduced speed limit. Good progress has been made in implementing these with 64 already having a 20mph speed limit in place. 10 of the remaining locations are currently programmed to have a 20mph speed limit in place by 31 March 2026. The exception is the A78 in Greenock. While Transport Scotland will have the necessary Temporary Traffic Regulation Order made and associated works on the trunk road complete by 31 March, the 20mph speed limit will not become live until Inverclyde Council complete their works on the adjacent side roads. Inverclyde Council have indicated that this will be done on 27 April.

Question reference: S6W-44173

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding will be available to local authorities that are still undertaking the roll out of 20mph zones to move forward, in light of the targeted £4 million funding not continuing beyond the fiscal year 2024-25.

Question reference: S6W-43619

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 17 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any potential environmental impact, what its position is on the decommissioning and storage of nuclear submarines at dockyards in Scotland, including Rosyth.