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-02968

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the claim in the Serious Organised Crime & Anti-Corruption Evidence Research Programme research paper, Russian War-Related Illicit Trade in the Black Sea: International Networks and Policy Options, that central Glasgow property is owned by a company linked to the owner of a Russian port, and that this may raise questions about the screening of inbound investment.

Since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Scottish Government has taken a clear stance in support of the people of Ukraine and has encouraged organisations to review their links with Russia. In March 2022, the then Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy called on businesses in Scotland to review their links to Russia and sever them wherever possible. This was an additional discretionary measure taken by the Scottish Government, over and above the legally binding UK sanctions regime.

However, the Scottish Government cannot compel businesses to sever links where activity is lawful and does not breach UK sanctions. The regulation of companies, inward investment screening, anti-money laundering measures and the sanctions regime are largely reserved matters for the UK Government.

While we do not comment on allegations relating to specific properties or companies, any evidence of sanctions breaches, money laundering or other criminality should be referred to the appropriate authorities for investigation. We continue to work with partners to support measures to strengthen transparency, tackle economic crime and ensure that Scotland is not a destination for illicit finance.

Question reference: S7O-00286

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the proposal to reopen a railway station at Newburgh, Fife.

Question reference: S7W-02693

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the availability of graduate apprenticeships in early learning and childcare in Scotland and what steps it is taking to ensure that there is adequate provision to support a highly-skilled early learning and childcare workforce.

The Scottish Government recognises that a highly skilled early learning and childcare (ELC) workforce is central to delivering high-quality outcomes for children and families.

Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are employer-led and designed to align with current and future skills needs. They provide one route into the sector, alongside other pathways such as college qualifications, Modern Apprenticeships and university-based study.

We continue to monitor demand for GAs through engagement with employers, labour market intelligence and consultation with organisations such as the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). This helps to ensure that provision remains responsive to the needs of the sector and supports the development of a skilled ELC workforce.

Question reference: S7W-03250

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware of NHS’s Tayside’s reported low rate of compliance with Standard 3 of the Scottish Standards for Electroconvulsive Therapy, and what subsequent action it took after this was brought to its attention.

Question reference: S7W-03252

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken since the Scottish Standards for Electroconvulsive Therapy were introduced in 2023 to ensure compliance with the standards, including what engagement it has had with NHS boards.

Question reference: S7W-03253

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with NHS (a) Ayrshire & Arran, (b) Borders, (c) Fife and (d) Tayside regarding compliance with Standard 7 of the Scottish Standards for Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Question reference: S7W-03251

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the 2025 Scottish ECT Audit Network’s report on data, and what steps it is taking to improve compliance with the Scottish Standards for Electroconvulsive Therapy that were introduced in 2023.

Question reference: S7W-03254

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with NHS Tayside regarding compliance with Standard 3 of the Scottish Standards for Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Question reference: S7W-02692

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the size of the early learning and childcare workforce is sufficient to meet the needs of childcare provision in Scotland, including funded childcare provision and private and voluntary sector provision.

The Scottish Government keeps the sufficiency of the early learning and childcare (ELC) workforce under continual review through a range of national data sources, including Care Inspectorate statistics, Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) workforce data, engagement with local authorities and providers, and the ELC census.

The latest SSSC workforce statistics, published on 8 September 2026, show that the daycare of children services workforce increased to 42,450 in 2025, representing the highest recorded headcount for the sector.

We recognise that parts of the sector continue to face workforce and sustainability challenges. We are therefore working with local authorities, providers, sector bodies and other partners to support workforce sustainability through ongoing workforce planning activity, investment in training and qualifications, childminder recruitment, and additional funding to support payment of at least the real Living Wage for staff delivering funded ELC in private and third sector settings.

We will continue to monitor workforce and capacity trends closely to help ensure that funded childcare remains available to children and families across Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-03186

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported proposals to replace the current fleet of Pendolino trains that operate on services between Scotland and London with new tilting trains capable of running on the HS2 line, including any implications for passengers travelling to and from Scotland.