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: S7O-00458

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with SMEs regarding the accessibility and effectiveness of public procurement processes.

Question reference: S7W-03802

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 22 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the A720 Sheriffhall roundabout project.

The Scottish Government remains committed to improvements at Sheriffhall Roundabout.

Following publication of the draft Orders and Environmental Statement, more than 2,700 objections were received, requiring a Public Local Inquiry.

The Inquiry Report is currently under consideration by my officials before advice is provided to and a decision made by Scottish Ministers on whether to complete the statutory process. I am of course keen to see progress made, however, it is essential that due process is followed.

Question reference: S7O-00400

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to expand care at home and community-based services in order to prevent avoidable hospital admissions.

Question reference: S7O-00366

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will assess whether its public sector reforms achieve their intended outcome.

Question reference: S7O-00298

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it considers it equitable that staff employed by MSPs receive lower employer pension contributions than staff it and the Scottish Government directly employ, and what action it is taking to address any such disparity.

Question reference: S7O-00212

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what additional powers it considers local authorities require to enforce legislation relating to the sale of vaping products effectively.

Question reference: S7W-02160

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what lessons it has learned from the response to the July 2026 Cairngorms wildfire.

I have commissioned a review of the Scottish Government’s Wildfires Strategic Action Plan and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) standard operational assurance processes will capture debriefs from attending crews and officers.

In addition, the SFRS have also commissioned an independently led review at a wider partner and multi-agency level to identify issues arising from the Cairngorms wildfire in order to maximise organisational learning and instil public confidence.

These reviews will provide partners with the opportunities to explore issues and experiences arising during this wildfire, ensuring lessons learned are taken forward and that future arrangements are fully informed by operational experience and the expertise of those at the forefront of wildfire management.

Question reference: S7O-00135

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of community cohesion and resilience, including the role that local galas play in promoting this.

Question reference: S7O-00071

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what conversations it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to expand the role of firefighters to support the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Question reference: S7O-00002

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Sheriffhall Roundabout project.