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: S6W-41130

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the visit to Japan by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy in September 2025 to lead a delegation from Scotland's offshore wind sector, on what dates the delegates who attended the visit with the cabinet secretary were provided with the visit's itinerary.

Question reference: S6W-41125

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the visit to Japan by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy in September 2025 to lead a delegation from Scotland's offshore wind sector, on what date the visit was confirmed in the cabinet secretary’s diary.

Question reference: S6W-40682

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 6 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the recent visit to Japan by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, to lead a delegation from Scotland's offshore wind sector, on what (a) date she left the UK to travel to Japan, (b) dates she was in Japan leading the delegation, (c) date the visit was (i) provisionally entered and (ii) confirmed in the cabinet secretary’s diary, (d) date each diary event in Japan was provisionally entered or confirmed in the ministerial diary, (e) date the cabinet secretary (1) informally and (2) formally agreed to go to Japan, and who this was confirmed to; whether it will provide a list of all the delegates who attended the visit with the cabinet secretary, and on what date the other members of the delegation had the date of the visit confirmed to them.

I undertook Scotland’s Offshore Wind and Clean Energy Technologies programme at Expo Osaka, Kansai 2025. She also undertook a programme of business engagements to support a Scottish trade mission. I travelled to Tokyo on 14 September and departed on 19 September having undertaken a full programme of engagements.

I followed the steps for seeking approval for international travel and the slip request was confirmed by the Minister for Parliamentary Business on 3 September, confirming the visit could go ahead.

I was supported in Japan by three Scottish Government officials and three SDI officials based in Northeast Asia.

The following companies made up the trade delegation:

Energy Transition Zone (ETZ)
Enerfloat
Eodex
OEG Renewables
James Fisher Renewables
Orkney Islands Council
Eyemouth Harbour
Fraserburgh Harbour
Highland Deephaven Ltd

Question reference: S6O-05032

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the veterans minister has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the role of local authorities in maintaining Commonwealth War Graves to a national standard.

Question reference: S6W-39330

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that Police Scotland, NHS boards and local authorities work together to support vulnerable people.

The Scottish Government ensures that Police Scotland, NHS Boards, and local authorities work together to support our most vulnerable adults through the framework established by the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007. This legislation sets out the criteria for identifying an adult at risk and requires public bodies to work together and share information when they believe an adult may be at risk of harm. Where action is needed to support and protect the person, the case must be referred to the local council for the area where the adult is located.

Additionally, in respect of supporting people in distress the Scottish Government has worked with the Partnership Delivery Group (PDG) to publish the Framework for Collaboration and the Collaborative Commitments Action Plan to strengthen multi-agency working between Police Scotland, NHS Boards, and local authorities. These initiatives are designed to ensure that individuals experiencing distress or crisis receive timely, appropriate, and compassionate care and support.

Question reference: S6W-38956

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the revised Heat in Buildings legislation.

Question reference: S6W-38957

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consult on the proposed measures in the revised Heat in Buildings legislation before its publication.

We consulted on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill between November 2023 and March 2024, in response to which we received a wide a range of views. We recently outlined our intention to introduce a revised Heat in Buildings Bill during this Parliamentary session, which builds upon many of the issues raised in response to the consultation – including ensuring that it does not negatively affect those in or at risk of fuel poverty. There may be some elements on which we decide to seek further views; however, we will do this directly with key stakeholders to ensure that we meet legislative timeframes.

Question reference: S6W-38446

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 20 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the remuneration global sum for stoma dispensing suppliers will be increased by at least 13.5%, the same percentage as reportedly awarded to pharmacy contractors over the last four years, and, if so, by when it expects this to happen.

The financial arrangements put in place for Dispensing Appliance Contractors and community pharmacies for stoma products are separate from NHS pharmaceutical care service financial arrangements and, as such, are not subject to the same uplift or negotiating framework. The Scottish Government recognises the requirement to keep arrangements under review and will engage with representatives from the sector to explore changes ready for the next financial year, ensuring they are within the affordability of wider public sector finances.

Question reference: S6W-38445

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to support stoma dispensing suppliers, which dispense stoma pouches and other stoma products to over 20,000 stoma patients across Scotland, as they reportedly face severe financial pressure from various costs increases, as well as a reported 8% reduction in Scottish Government fees over the last four years.

The Scottish Government is grateful to all Dispensing Appliance Contractors and community pharmacies for the service offered to stoma patients across Scotland and is committed to putting in place arrangements to best support them. Data shows that the volume of items provided by stoma suppliers has steadily increased by over two thirds (72.5%) since 2011 and suppliers are reimbursed for all items dispensed, resulting in a £2.539m increase (48%). Suppliers also benefit from a Global Sum of £3.8 million. Nevertheless, the Scottish Government recognises the requirement to keep arrangements under review and will explore whether changes are required to the fee structure and are within the affordability of the wider public sector finances.

1.New commercial arrangements were introduced in 2011 for the supply of stoma appliances to patients in the community and have been in place since. These arrangements are set up through contractual arrangements put in place by NHS Scotland National Procurement acting on behalf of Health Boards. They provide a framework which controls the cost of dispensing these items which is carried out by both Dispensing Appliance Contractors (DACs) and community pharmacy contractors who sign up to offer the service.

2.The arrangements are made up of a Global Sum for stoma appliance supply remuneration and fees for customisation and delivery. Suppliers are able to make profit on the sales and customisation aspects of the service. The Scottish Government’s Pharmacy Policy team holds meetings with the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) who represent DACs in the UK. They have called for improvements to the current arrangements and discussions are currently being arranged to hear details of these proposals.

Question reference: S6O-04655

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how Police Scotland shares information with other statutory bodies about vulnerable individuals.