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-04113

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 27 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7O-00340 by Neil Gray on 6 October 2026, what further consideration it has given to the calls for children who are twins or multiples to automatically receive 1,140 hours of funded childcare from the age of two, regardless of household income.

As set out in my answers to Monica Lennon MSP and Meghan Gallacher MSP in the chamber on 6 October, I understand the impact that childcare costs have on families and that families of twins and other multiple-birth children face particular challenges.

We are developing a blueprint for a transformed childcare offer, which will be published for consultation in 2027.

The development of that blueprint will consider a range of evidence and stakeholder views on future childcare provision and I would encourage anyone with an interest, including families with twin or multiple births, to participate in the consultation.

Decisions on future eligibility criteria will be informed by that process and a full assessment of future childcare delivery options and costs will be undertaken as part of the parliamentary and budgetary process.

Question reference: S7W-03958

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the announcement by the Prime Minister that the UK Government plans to replace the pension triple lock.

The UK Government's decision to amend the State Pension triple lock from 2030 is a significant change that will affect more than one million pensioners in Scotland. Using the Department of Work and Pensions’ analysis, we estimate the real-terms loss of annual pension at around £2,000 per person by 2049-50.

Cost of living pressures continue to hit pensioners hard and any move to weaken or remove the State Pension triple lock risks creating further financial uncertainty and anxiety, particularly for those already struggling with household costs.

We will continue to express these concerns directly to the UK Government.

Question reference: S7O-00402

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support people with Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome and Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections, commonly referred to as PANS and PANDAS.

Question reference: S7O-00355

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to communities seeking to take ownership of vacant or underused assets, including how it is working with local authorities to facilitate such projects.

Question reference: S7W-02604

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 7 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that lengthy and uncertain waiting times for tribunal hearings have on people bringing appeals, and what steps it is taking, working with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and the judiciary, to reduce waiting times and provide appellants with greater certainty about when their cases will be heard.

The Scottish Government recognises the impact waiting times for a tribunal hearing can have on parties.

The scheduling of tribunal hearings is a matter for the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and the Scottish Government continues to engage with them in respect of wait times. There are multiple factors which can impact the timescales for cases to be heard, such as the volume and complexity of legal issues, evidence to be considered, or the availability of tribunals members.

The Scottish Government continues to work with Judicial Office and the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland to ensure the scheduled and planned recruitment of tribunals members. A larger pool of members will enhance overall scheduling capacity and reduce wait times.

Question reference: S7O-00204

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to lower waiting times for CAMHS and ensure that all children and young people are getting access to treatment at the right time.

Question reference: S7O-00150

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the waiting times faced by applicants awaiting an enhanced award of the Adult Disability Payment, in light of reports that some can wait up to six months for a decision.

Question reference: S7W-00906

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the guidance provided to local authorities on home-to-school transport policies, to ensure that children who live across more than one residence are not disadvantaged compared with those living at a single address.

Local councils have a statutory duty under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to make home to school transport arrangements for eligible pupils and have significant discretion in how those arrangements are provided.

The Scottish Government updated its school transport guidance in December 2025, providing advice to local councils on their responsibilities in relation to children who live in more than one residence during the school week. This update was informed by engagement with relevant stakeholders, including Connect and Shared Parenting Scotland.

The guidance makes clear there is no legislative barrier to prevent councils from taking account within school transport arrangements the needs of pupils who live in more than one household during the school week.

We will continue to keep this guidance under review. It remains the responsibility of local councils to determine how best to meet the needs of pupils and their families within the existing legal and policy framework for home to school transport.

Question reference: S7O-00085

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on NHS Lanarkshire’s plans for the new University Hospital Monklands.

Question reference: S6O-05700

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Community Right to Buy Review.