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-44068

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 18 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many parents and families have had a funded cross-border nursery placement in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority.

Question reference: S6W-44448

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 18 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects on how early learning and childcare funding is spent in local authorities.

Local Authority level expenditure data is published annually in the Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics (SLGFS). This Official Statistics publication includes details of Local Authority spending on all pre-primary education and details spending on the 1140 funded early learning and childcare offer.

The most recent SLGFS publication was published on the 3rd of February 2026 and covers expenditure from the financial year 2024-25. This data is available online at: Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics 2024-25 - gov.scot, with individual workbooks available at: Scottish local government finance statistics (SLGFS) 2024-25: workbooks - gov.scot

Question reference: S6W-44069

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 16 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many parents and families have had a funded cross-border nursery placement ended in each year since 2007 to date, broken down by local authority.

Question reference: S6W-44085

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what level of priority is given to the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian.

The Scottish Government has received assurance from the Chief Executives’ Offices of both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian that implementing emergency department opt-out blood borne virus testing is a high priority within their Boards. Teams in both NHS Boards have committed to ensuring the safe and effective roll-out of this important intervention in their areas by the end of June 2026.

Question reference: S6W-44081

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its planned introduction of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with colleagues in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian to support the implementation of emergency department opt-out testing for blood borne viruses. Both Boards have made substantial progress in preparing for the safe and effective roll-out of this important intervention, including putting in place robust digital solutions to support test ordering and results management. Due to the challenging nature of some of these IT solutions, and existing Board pressures, it has taken longer than expected to implement this programme however it is vital we do so in a sustainable and robust manner. Subject to final operational readiness, opt-out testing is now expected to go live in both NHS Boards by the end of June 2026.

As part of the first phase of implementation, NHS Grampian commenced opt-out testing in the emergency department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in October 2025.

Question reference: S6W-44084

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments, what discussions it has had with NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian on the compatibility of IT systems with infectious disease reporting systems.

Question reference: S6W-44083

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian has commenced in March 2026 as previously indicated, and, if not, what the reasons are for any delay.

Question reference: S6W-44082

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether funding has been confirmed for the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Lothian, in 2025-26.

Question reference: S6W-44070

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have opted to not attend an appointment following receipt of a text message in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S6O-05675

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make an announcement regarding the development of the Sheriffhall Junction before the end of the parliamentary session.