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-41345

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Renfrewshire Council regarding the decision to put the Park Mains High School expansion plan before the Planning Board in November 2025, in light of the reported concerns regarding the plan raised by Audit Scotland and members of the community, and what assessment it has made of the local authority's decision, including the extent to which the plan fits with National Planning Framework 4.

Question reference: S6W-40756

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that migraine is recognised as a serious condition, in the context of welfare applications.

We recognise the distress and pain that migraines cause in so many people and we take the issue of migraines seriously. We know that migraine attacks can be debilitating and significantly impact a person’s daily life.

The Scottish Government’s Disability Assistance provides financial support to help mitigate the additional costs of being disabled or living with a long-term health condition. We want everyone eligible for disability benefits to access their entitlements.

Social Security Scotland make decisions on applications based on individuals’ level of need, rather than a specific condition or diagnosis.

We have removed anxiety inducing and unreliable private-sector assessments which only offer a snapshot of an individual’s needs. Our person-centred approach ensures that the full impacts of a long-term health condition, including the impacts of migraines, are taken into account when someone applies for a disability benefit.

Question reference: S6W-40648

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 30 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much it is spending on bringing the Tour de France to Scotland in 2027.

Question reference: S6W-39530

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 15 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Ferguson Marine meets the (a) control and (b) functional test for applying the Teckal exemption.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39529 on 15 August 2025.

Taking Fergusons into public ownership saved the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde, rescued over 300 jobs and ensured Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa would be delivered in Scotland.

The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to supporting Ferguson Marine to competitively bid for future contracts and to securing a sustainable, long term future for the yard.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-39529

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 15 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider using the Teckal exemption for the direct award of the (a) the MV Lord of the Isles replacement and (b) round 2 of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme contract to Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow.

Shipbuilding is a competitive global market and any direct award of a public contract must comply with procurement rules and be capable of withstanding legal challenge.

Ministers will consider future vessel contracts, including those mentioned, from public agencies at an appropriate time and on a case-by-case basis to determine whether any might legally be open to direct award. Under public procurement and subsidy control rules, direct award of public contracts is only possible in strictly limited circumstances.

We are currently considering the business case and next steps in relation to the Lord of the Isles replacement and will confirm these in due course.

Question reference: S6W-39527

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow’s turnover came from public entities, such as the Scottish Government, CMAL or Transport Scotland, in each year since it was taken into public ownership.

Question reference: S6W-38493

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 23 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage regularly funded organisations to adopt the use of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Fair Work for Freelancers Checklist within the STUC report, Freelance and Forgotten: a report on worker exploitation in Scotland’s creative industries.

The Scottish Government’s Fair Work First Guidance already explains the Scottish Government approach, provides good practice examples to guide employers’ approaches and, importantly, explains the benefits of fair work for workers and organisations.

This guidance has been developed through engagement with key stakeholders, including trade unions and the STUC, the Fair Work Convention, Flexibility Works, CIPD Scotland, and business, public and third sector partners.

In addition organisations applying for funding from Creative Scotland are already referred to a range of existing best practice as part of Creative Scotland application guidance and are expected to demonstrate how they will meet fair pay requirements.

The current evaluation of Fair Work First by the Scottish Government is providing an opportunity to look closely at how effectively Fair Work First is delivering our policy intent, and to consider what more we can do to shape the future direction of the policy and strengthen our approach.

This includes an examination of appropriate resources and guidance to deliver the intended outcomes together with how Fair Work First conditions could be extended to other forms of support, and to different types of workers, ensuring all have the opportunity to participate in fair and respectful work environments.

Question reference: S6W-38495

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 23 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will give Creative Scotland a role in monitoring and enforcing fair working practices within the sector, in light of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) report, Freelance and Forgotten: a report on worker exploitation in Scotland’s creative industries.

Supporting Fair Work is one of Creative Scotland's current strategic priorities.

The Review of Creative Scotland - which was announced in the Programme for Government last September as part of wider work into how the culture sector is supported - will consider Creative Scotland’s purpose and functions; structure and performance; governance and leadership, finances and distribution of funds; and collaboration, relationships and partnerships

The Review is independent of the Scottish Government and will deliver its recommendations in November 2025.

Question reference: S6W-38494

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 23 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will revise its Fair Work First Guidance to account for freelancers, in light of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) report, Freelance and Forgotten: a report on worker exploitation in Scotland’s creative industries.

Following the Scottish Government commitment in the December 2023 Culture Strategy Action Plan the short-life Culture Fair Work Task Force was created with an independent Chair appointed in April 2024. The aim of the taskforce is to consider and develop actions to further implement Fair Work in Scotland’s Creative industries to be put forward as recommendations for a sectoral Culture Fair Work Agreement.

The details and narrative in the STUC report "Freelance and forgotten", together with other relevant evidence, will be considered as part of the work of the Task Force. This reflects a commitment to worker participation and consultation - although it is solely the responsibility of the members of the Culture Fair Work Taskforce to shape and agree the final proposed recommendations.

The final report of the Culture Fair Work Task Force will contribute to the current evaluation of Fair Work First by the Scottish Government which will provide another opportunity to look closely at how effectively Fair Work First is delivering our policy intent, and to consider what more we can do to strengthen the Scottish Government approach. The project will provide ample opportunities for stakeholder engagement.

Question reference: S6O-04605

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met CMAL and what issues were discussed.