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-03917

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to involve communities affected by proposed hyperscale AI data centre developments, including the Auchtertool community in Fife, in the development of its forthcoming national planning guidance and spatial framework, and what opportunities there will be for communities to contribute before these are finalised.

Through the Programme for Government, the Scottish Government has committed to publish a strategic approach to attracting and securing responsible green data centre investment in Scotland, with clear expectations around environmental sustainability, resource use, community benefit and the economic and strategic value these developments should deliver.

We have also committed to publishing planning guidance on data centres before Christmas. In preparing the planning guidance, we will seek targeted input from planning authorities, key agencies and relevant experts from within the scientific community to ensure the guidance is informed by the best available evidence and expertise. There are existing mechanisms within the planning system which provide opportunities for communities and the public to influence decisions about future development proposals, and the guidance will help support that.

Question reference: S7W-03915

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any implications of hyperscale data centre applications already in the planning system on its forthcoming national planning guidance, and whether it expects planning authorities to determine such applications before the guidance is published.

Before making a decision on a planning application, it is for the planning authority to interpret and implement all relevant planning legislation, policies and guidance as it deems appropriate, given the circumstances in each case, and to ensure that the provisions of the planning system are applied properly.

We do not anticipate any applications will be determined by planning authorities before our planning guidance on data centres is issued later this year. Through the notification direction we issued during the summer we are actively monitoring live applications and their intended timescales for determination.

Question reference: S7W-03916

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alyn Smith on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards developing a national strategic framework for hyperscale AI data centres, including how it is taking account of the number and scale of proposed developments and by what date it expects to publish the framework.

As part of the Programme for Government 2026–2031, the Scottish Government announced the intention to publish a new strategic approach to attracting and securing responsible green data centre investment in Scotland.

This will include clear expectations around environmental sustainability, resource use, community benefit and the economic and strategic value these developments should deliver. We are progressing work to deliver this early in 2027, following the planning guidance that is due to be published in December this year.

Question reference: S7W-04151

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in order to achieve Net Zero by 2045, how many homes require (a) insulation and retrofitting and (b) decarbonised heating.

Question reference: S7W-04150

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to (a) homeowners, (b) social housing providers and (c) private landlords to retrofit or insulate properties and how (i) much of that funding is available for the installation of low-carbon heating systems, such as heat pumps and (ii) many homes, broken down by tenure, have received support from each funding scheme.

Scottish Government has a capital budget for Heat in Buildings of £302.5 million for financial year 26/27, the details of which are published at Heat in Buildings Budget Allocations. Please note that the allocation for Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loans includes an allocation for the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan (c£500,000) and for WABS Loan (c£500,000), which offers funding for Warmer Homes Scotland and Area Based Schemes customers where a personal contribution is required.

The funding available for each delivery scheme for the installation of low-carbon heating systems is variable, as schemes are demand-led and installations are subject to assessment. Details of measures installed are reported in the Annual Progress Report: Heat in Buildings Progress Report 2026.

Homes by tenure for each delivery scheme by the most recent reporting are as follows:

HES Grants and Loan: In FY25-26 supported installs in 4,059 owner-occupied homes.
Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan: In FY25-26 supported installs in 48 private landlord properties.
Warmer Homes Scotland: In FY26-26 supported installs in 6,027 owner-occupied homes, 93 life rent homes, and 150 private landlord properties.
Area Based Schemes: In FY24-25 supported 3,645 owner occupier homes, 104 private landlord properties, and 1,482 social landlord properties.
Social Housing Net Zero Fund: The scheme has supported improvements in over 13,000 social homes since 2021. These figures do not include FY25-26 and FY26-27, which will be available on receipt of project completion reports.

Question reference: S7W-03853

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 23 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-02101 by Stephen Flynn on 25 August 2026, whether it will provide an update on (a) the publication date of the updated code of conduct on the treatment of passengers and staff using public transport, as outlined in the National Bus Travel Concession Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026, and (b) on what date the updated code and underpinning processes supporting the suspension of access to free travel if the code is breached will take effect.

Transport Scotland is continuing to work with stakeholders, including bus operators and local authorities, to finalise the updated Code of Conduct and the supporting operational processes required for its implementation.

The updated code of conduct and associated suspension processes will be published when they are brought into operation. A commencement date for the operation of the Code of Conduct and the associated suspension processes will be confirmed shortly.

Question reference: S7W-04018

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards delivering a Third Sector Partnership Agreement and Fairer Funding for the voluntary and community sector.

The Third Sector Partnership Agreement is an opportunity to build on progress made through Fairer Funding, recognise the vital contribution of the third sector, and strengthen how we work together to design and deliver policy. We are establishing a Steering Group to support the co-design of the Partnership Agreement. This will bring together representatives from the third sector, national and local government, and independent funders; membership of the group will be published shortly. It will provide strategic leadership, expert insight, and development oversight to guide the co-design of the Partnership Agreement and support its effective implementation.

Question reference: S7W-04090

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 19 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its proposal to increase the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership from 16 to 18, when it expects to publish a formal response to its Family Law consultation.

The Scottish Government’s Family Law consultation closed on 21 April this year. It sought views on a range of matters, including whether we should legislate to raise the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership. The responses are being analysed and an independent report of the analysis will be published later this year. A formal response to the consultation will follow thereafter setting out our next steps.

Question reference: S7W-04122

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints relating to childminding services the Care Inspectorate has received in each of the last five years, broken down by how many resulted in further regulatory action.

Question reference: S7W-04116

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether, following serious reported incidents involving regulated childcare services, it routinely considers whether changes are required to the regulation, inspection or enforcement of those services, and, if so, what the process involves.