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-01934

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 4 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking, through guidance, engagement or training, to raise awareness among licensing authorities, taxi and private hire vehicle drivers and operators, and disabled passengers in Scotland, of the duties under sections 164A and 165A of the Equality Act 2010, as inserted by the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 and the associated requirement to (a) carry disabled passengers and their mobility aids, (b) provide such mobility assistance as is reasonably required and (c) assist passengers who need help to identify and find their vehicle or assist them to their destination, and not to make any additional charge for doing so.

The Scottish Government acknowledges the importance of Taxis and Private Hire Car (PHC) vehicles, and wheelchair accessible vehicles in particular, for disabled people.

The Scottish Government’s vision is that all disabled people can travel with the same freedom, choice, dignity and opportunity as other citizens. Scotland’s Accessible Travel Framework is at the heart of achieving that. Alongside this national vision, the Framework provides specific outcomes for accessible travel and a high level action plan to tackle the key issues facing disabled people.

It is important to note that the Scottish Government does not have powers to enforce accessibility requirements on Taxi operators or licensing authorities. This remains reserved to the UK Parliament under the Equality Act 2010.

Nevertheless, the Scottish Government has actively sought opportunities to improve the accessibility of Taxi services where we can, and we would like to see the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles increase.

Taxis and PHCs are licensed in Scotland under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The aim of the licensing system is to ensure that Taxi and PHC customers have a safe, reliable and accessible service.

While the Scottish Government has responsibility for the overarching legislation, the day to day administration of the licensing regime is devolved to independent licensing authorities – in effect the 32 Scottish local authorities. All licensing authorities have wide discretion to determine appropriate licensing arrangements according to local needs and circumstances and their own legal advice.

While the Scottish Ministers do not have any specific functions in relation to the day to day operation of the Taxi/ PHC licensing regime in any given local authority area, the Scottish Government can provide best practice guidance to inform and assist local licensing authorities in their decision making.

In May 2023 the Scottish Government published updated best practice guidance for local licensing authorities and Taxi and PHC operators on the licensing of Taxis and PHCs and their drivers. (https://www.gov.scot/publications/taxi-private-hire-car-licensing-best-practice-licensing-authorities-taxi-private-hire-car-operators-3rd-edition/).

I would refer you to Chapter 4 of the guidance, which specifically relates to accessibility requirements. That chapter of the best practice guidance contains information on issues such as legal duties for drivers and operators under the Equality Act 2010.

Written in conjunction with Transport Scotland, local authorities and the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) the Scottish Government best practice guidance was produced to ensure the provision of Taxis and PHCs meet the needs of disabled people.

Question reference: S7W-01935

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 4 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in the implementation of Section 20 (2A) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, what guidance or regulation it has issued to licensing authorities on disability (a) equality and (b) awareness training for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers and what its position is on encouraging or requiring such training as a condition of licensing.

Question reference: S7W-01937

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it carries out of the number of collisions and injuries involving cyclists and pedestrians at or around floating bus stops and bus boarders, and whether such incidents are separately identified in road casualty statistics.

Question reference: S7W-01936

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the requirement for disabled National Entitlement Card holders whose condition is permanent, including people registered severely sight impaired, to renew their card periodically and re-submit evidence of eligibility, noting that cards issued to people aged 60 and over carry no expiry date.

Question reference: S7W-01674

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the development of a funding model that recognises the heritage and community value of listed places of worship in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-01217

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it has made regarding Delivery Plan for Sprint 1 for its Life Sciences Strategy for Scotland 2035 Vision.

Following the publication of the Life Sciences Scotland Industry Leadership Group’s (LSSILG) strategy in November 2025, the LSSILG published its delivery plan for sprint 1 in March 2026. Activity is underway across a range of priority actions to support delivery of the Strategy’s ambitions. At the end of the 2026/27 financial year, the LSSILG, with input from the Scottish Government, will publish a report setting out the activities delivered and the progress made against the Delivery Plan.

Question reference: S7W-01218

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government (a) when the new cluster development organisation for Scottish life sciences, as set out in the Life Sciences Strategy for Scotland 2035 Vision, was, or will, be constituted, (b) what its role and remit are, and (c) what is, or will be, its governance and oversight structure.

Strong industry led clusters are a proven means of delivering economic growth. The Scottish Government commissioned a report in 2025 to take views from industry and other stakeholders and inform the design of a cluster development function to augment and support existing engagement. (a) We will shortly be procuring the cluster development organisation. (b) Given that Life Sciences in Scotland is a mature landscape, with a number of existing sub-cluster entities, the structures and scale of the cluster development organisation can be expected to evolve over time. Its initial role and remit will be to provide a focal point to support sectoral growth and integration across the Life Sciences cluster; deliver the actions assigned to it within the first year delivery plan; and work with all stakeholders to develop a year 2/3 delivery plan. (c) We are working with the Life Sciences Scotland Industry Leadership Group to develop appropriate governance and oversight.

Question reference: S7W-01216

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government which minister has responsibility for life sciences policy and delivery, and what its position is for not including life sciences as a specific ministerial responsibility, as had previously been the case.

I have overall responsibility for Life Sciences policy and delivery, as part of my wider remit for economic policy, including business, industry, manufacturing support and entrepreneurship.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the Life Sciences sector as a key driver of economic growth, innovation, and improved health outcomes, as reflected in Scotland’s Life Sciences Strategy and its associated delivery plan.

Question reference: S7W-01215

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 30 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the role, remit, and governance and oversight structure for the NHS National Pharmaceutical Agency, which is listed as a responsibility of the Minister for Community Care, are or will be.

Question reference: S7W-00632

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made toward establishing a register of ancient woodlands.

In line with the action in the Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan, the development of a new Ancient Woodland Register is in progress.

NatureScot is leading this and has set up a steering group which includes public bodies and wider stakeholders to support the development of the Register. Resources have been allocated to commission a contractor over the next two years to work with the steering group to develop and publish the Register.