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-41408

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39405 by Tom Arthur on 6 August 2025, whether bereavement and grief support provided by NHS boards or third sector organisations is always available free of charge; and whether the Maternity and Neonatal Psychological Intervention services can be accessed at any time following pregnancy or baby loss.

Question reference: S6W-41414

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve early diagnosis, treatment and survival rates of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer).

Question reference: S6W-41416

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the proposal for universal BRCA gene testing being offered to everyone with breast cancer.

Question reference: S6W-40942

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the designation of green data centres as a national development in the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), what its position is regarding whether NPF4 is consistent with local authority approval being given for data centres for AI and related purposes without sufficient associated renewable generation to meet their future needs.

Scotland’s abundant renewable energy generating capacity presents an opportunity for the country to become a leader in green data centres. In 2023, 70% of electricity generated in Scotland was from renewable sources – a marked increase compared to 32% in 2013 - and, as of June 2025, there is an estimated capacity of 76.5 GW of renewable energy projects, including storage, in the planning pipeline in Scotland.

Where new development proposals come forward, all planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicated otherwise. In Scotland the development plan consists of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and the relevant Local Development Plan. National development status does not grant planning permission for the development and all relevant consents are required. Designation establishes the need for such infrastructure and means that the principle of the development does not need to be agreed in later consenting processes, providing more certainty for communities, business and investors.

Question reference: S6W-40943

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 16 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the AI Growth Zones initiative, as set out in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26: progress report 2024 to 2025, will require all data centres for AI and related purposes that are supported by it, to be what it considers "green data centres".

While the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26 Progress Report for 2024-2025 refers to the AI Growth Zones initiative, it is led by the UK Government.

The Scottish Government is in regular engagement and discussion with officials at the UKG’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and will continue to press Scotland’s policy interests in this area.

This includes securing data centre investment that makes best use of Scotland’s capacity to generate energy from renewable sources. There is an opportunity for the country to become a leader in green data centres, powered by our abundant renewable energy generating capacity and benefiting from the dynamic innovation and tech ecosystems that exist across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-41304

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the NASUWT's October 2025 survey findings, which were published during Challenge Poverty Week, that 72% of teachers who responded have cut back on food expenditure and that 49% of pupils are unable to afford school uniforms.

Question reference: S6W-41306

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of poverty on pupils, in light of the NASUWT’s October 2025 survey findings that 89% of teachers who were surveyed said that pupil behaviour has worsened over the last year and 76% said more pupils are lacking in energy and concentration.

Question reference: S6W-41358

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it carries out to assess the compliance of NHS boards with section (a) 120 and (b) 121 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, and what discussions it had has with the NHS boards about their compliance, including how they will report on this.

Question reference: S6W-41274

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent UK-Faroe Islands fisheries negotiations and regarding any impact on cetacean populations in Scottish waters, what assessment it has made of any potential merits of including animal welfare and wildlife protection clauses in future fisheries agreements with the Faroe Islands.

Question reference: S6W-41305

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to monitor and respond to any implications of teachers' financial stress on recruitment, retention and educational outcomes, in light of the NASUWT’s October 2025 survey findings that 53% of teachers have increased their use of credit cards and 14% have taken a second job.