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: S6O-04672

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on Scotland’s economic growth of the UK Government white paper on immigration.

Question reference: S6O-04617

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support is currently available for those experiencing long waiting times for an ADHD assessment.

Question reference: S6O-04596

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to parents, carers and pupils to help with stress during the exam season.

Question reference: S6W-36266

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 22 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what regulations are in place for (a) developers, (b) landlords, (c) agents and (d) contractors working in alternative, non-traditional, housing to ensure quality, and parity with approved installer registration schemes regarding fire and electrical safety, broken down by property type,

Under Scottish law all houses must meet a minimum standard to be considered fit for human habitation.

1.Developers of residential properties must adhere to specific fire safety regulations to ensure occupancy. Developers should consult the Building Standards Technical Handbook for comprehensive guidance on compliance. Building standards technical handbook April 2024: domestic - gov.scot.

2.All homes in Scotland are required by law to meet the minimum Tolerable Standard. Local Authority landlords and registered social landlords are required to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) Improving housing standards - Social housing - gov.scot which includes compliance with the Tolerable Standard. Private landlords are required by law to meet the Repairing Standard. The standards that private landlords are required to meet from 1 March 2024 are available online Repairing standard: statutory guidance for landlords - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

3.The Housing (Scotland) 2014 introduced a registration scheme for letting agents. Under the Letting Agent Code of Practice, the duties on letting agents depend on whether they manage repairs and maintenance directly for the landlord. If they provide that service for the landlord, they must have written procedures for the notification of any repairs and maintenance required. Repairs and maintenance must be dealt with promptly in line with the letting agent’s agreement with the landlord and the letting agent’s written procedures.

4.Contactors and site operators (dutyholders) involved in construction and renovation projects must adhere to specific fire safety regulations to ensure the safety of both workers and future occupants. Key legislative framework and guidelines include the Fire Scotland Act 2005 (for the safety of workers). Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) 2015; Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Guidance and Building Standard Technical Handbooks.

The specific requirements depend on the type of structure, but key areas include alarms, escape routes, materials, and heating systems.

Question reference: S6W-36264

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 22 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what fire and electrical safety requirements there are for alternative, non-traditional, housing, broken down by property type,

Fire Safety laws for all homes in Scotland, including non-traditional homes, are primarily governed by:

The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Guidance
The Tolerable Standard under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987

The tolerable standard is a minimum standard for all houses in Scotland including houses constructed using non-traditional construction techniques. The tolerable standard sets out the basic requirements for a safe and habitable home including standards relating to electrical and fire safety. From February 1 2022, an amendment to the statutory tolerable standard requires that all houses, regardless of tenure (or method of construction), must have satisfactory provision for detecting and giving warning of fire or suspected fire.

All new build houses, including non-traditional housing must comply with the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 which includes requirements for electrical and fire safety.

The mandatory tolerable standard and building regulations do not differentiate between traditional and non-traditional housing. Detailed guidance on compliance with the tolerable standard and building regulations is available on the Scottish Government website: Fire and smoke alarms: changes to the law - gov.scot (www.gov.scot);Fire safety guidance - gov.scot: Building standards technical handbook April 2024: domestic - gov.scot.

Question reference: S6W-36267

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 22 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that people living in alternative, non-traditional, housing, broken down by property type, have parity with those in traditional housing with regard tofire and electrical safety standards.

The mandatory Tolerable Standard under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 do not differentiate between traditional and non-traditional housing. Detailed guidance on compliance with the tolerable standard and building regulations is available on the Scottish Government website.

Furthermore, The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) deliver a programme of Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSV) which provide people with fire safety advice for their homes. The SFRS visits are based on the person’s vulnerability and how they live, not the structure of the home.

Question reference: S6W-36265

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 22 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it provides regarding fire and electrical safety to owners of alternative, non-traditional, housing, broken down by property type,

Question reference: S6O-04488

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Budget 2025-26 will improve local services in Motherwell and Wishaw.

Question reference: S6O-04469

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that local authorities provide co-ordinated support plans for pupils who need extra support.

Question reference: S6O-04424

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting people to access gynaecological health services.