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-05146

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the steps it is taking to support households struggling with energy bill debt.

Energy prices are reserved and we have been pressing the UK Government to tackle energy debt by immediately delivering a targeted and automatic unit rate discount on energy bills.

In 2025/26, we are delivering a £16.9 million package for free advice on income maximisation and debt, including over £11 million to debt advice services, with almost £1 million of additional funding for energy debt advice.

We are also providing an estimated £28.3 million through our Winter Heating Payment, £11.4 million through our Child Winter Heating Payment, and £157 million through our Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

Question reference: S6O-05181

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting communities and local authorities to adapt to the impacts of climate change, including through nature-based solutions.

Question reference: S6O-05027

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-05012

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that Scotland remains at the forefront of hydrogen development and deployment.

Question reference: S6O-04877

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with local authorities to deliver transformation programmes and accelerate any reforms needed to achieve financial sustainability and ensure that local services are fit for the future.

Question reference: S6O-04846

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its engagement with stakeholders on violence prevention during its youth violence summit on 12 June.

Question reference: S6O-04805

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that NatureScot will complete its review of the bird species on schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Question reference: S6O-04774

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the impact on Scotland's economic growth of the increase in employer national insurance contributions.

Question reference: S6O-04739

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the constitution secretary last met, and will next meet, with UK Government ministers.

Question reference: S6O-04710

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impacts of the EU-UK agreement on Scotland’s rural economy.