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-41442

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, what action it is taking to improve earlier and faster diagnosis in children and young people with cancer, given that national initiatives such as Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services often exclude under-18s, and what data it plans to publish on (a) waiting times and (b) routes to diagnosis for under-25s.

The Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care: The Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021–2026, is a dedicated cancer strategy for children and young people, in Scotland.

The strategy sets out our ambitions and actions to provide the best possible treatment and care, as early as possible, to children and young people with cancer. There are several actions that specifically relate to an early, precise diagnosis of cancer. The Managed Clinical Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MCN CYPC) are responsible for the implementation and evaluation of the Children and Young People’s cancer strategy.

We published the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer on 6 August this year, with updates on supporting a diagnosis of cancer in children and young people specifically. This includes considerations for non-specific symptoms of cancer for under-18s, like those considered for Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services.

The Scottish Government does not hold data for diagnostic waiting times and routes to diagnosis for children and young people presenting with potential cancer symptoms.

Question reference: S6W-41277

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported recent fire incidents at recycling facilities, including one at S. Morton & Co recycling facility in Glasgow East, what safety regulations and enforcement measures are in place to protect public safety and nearby communities.

The following regulations apply to waste and recycling facilities in Scotland.

Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004
Building (Scotland) Act 2003 (and associated legislation)
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012
Waste Management (Scotland) Regulations 2011

The following table covers the various organisations involved in authorising the creation and operation of waste and recycling sites, including their responsibilities and enforcement duties.

Organisation	Responsibilities
Site operators (Dutyholder)	Fire – There is a requirement under the Fire Scotland Act 2005 to ensure a competent fire risk assessment is carried out and dutyholders should ensure all actions and requirements of the Fire Risk Assessment are completed.
SEPA	Licence or permit waste management sites to mitigate the environmental and public health risks from waste activities, through the provision of Waste Management Licences and Waste Management Licence exemptions, or Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Permits. In making determinations on Waste Management Licences or PPC permit applications, will consider Site Management Plans, which could include storage conditions for example. Undertakes enforcement activities, including site inspections, to ensure relevant compliance with Waste Management Licence and PPC permit conditions and the conditions of waste management licence exemptions. Key Agency in the Land Use Planning system in Scotland, SEPA a consultee on applications for Environmental Impact Assessment development, and all National Developments.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Provides fire safety advice when required to all relevant (non-domestic) sites (including waste sites). Where concerns are raised SFRS can provide fire safety advice and where the risk is deemed high a fire safety audit may be carried out. Following a fire incident, SFRS will carry out a post fire audit or investigation where required and may enforce any required actions from the audit. Relevant partners may be notified where necessary.
Health & Safety Executive	National Regulator for Health and Safety. Enforce the relevant health and safety regulations
Local Authority (Planning departments)	Determine planning applications for waste management facilities (land use suitability)
Local Authority (Building standards)	Responsible for administering and enforcing the Scottish building standards system.

Question reference: S6O-05113

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with North Lanarkshire Council regarding the reported coal spoil fire in Shawhead, Coatbridge, and any assurances that can be given to the public.

Question reference: S6W-41449

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-05028

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support libraries within local communities.

Question reference: S6W-40560

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to graduates in (a) immunology and (b) pharmacology to find employment in their chosen field.

Although we are not aware of any bespoke programmes aimed at supporting graduates in immunology or pharmacology to find employment, graduates of all disciplines have access to careers support from a variety of sources.

Although the exact provision will depend on the institution, graduates from university will normally have access to the university careers service for a period of time after they graduate. This typically includes digital resources; appointments with careers advisers; assistance finding and applying for jobs; attendance at employer events; and access to webinars and workshops. Graduates are encouraged to make use of their university’s resources to help find employment in their chosen field.

In addition, careers advice and support is available to all individuals, including graduates, from Skills Development Scotland. Careers advisers are based in locations throughout Scotland and can be contacted by phone, digitally or in person at a local careers centre.

Question reference: S6W-40583

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on allowing pharmacists to review patient records to increase their prescribing capacity.

The Scottish Government is working with key partners across Scotland to ensure that relevant information, with the appropriate safeguards in place, from patient health records is available to all healthcare staff when and where they need it.

Community pharmacists have access to the Emergency Care Summary (ECS). Community Pharmacy gained access to the Emergency Care Summary (ECS) for all community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians during COVID-19. Directions formalising access to the ECS system came into force on 2 October 2023.

In addition, many health boards are providing access to the Clinical Portal which provides additional patient information. Clinical Portals support Health Boards to allow clinicians to access different pieces of information about an individual patient including patients from other Health Boards when required. Some Health Boards have opened access to their clinical portals to community pharmacy. We are encouraging all health boards to extend role-based access to Clinical Portals.

The Digital Health & Care Strategy, published 2021, sets out ambitions for greater access to medical information both for staff and the public. In the medium to longer term, as part of the Digital Health & Care strategy, a National Digital Platform is being developed and has started to bring together service data that is appropriately accessible to the workforce regardless of where they are based.

Question reference: S6O-05003

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recourse is open to patients who have experienced complications following an NHS operation.

Question reference: S6W-40647

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Ivan McKee on 19 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Programme for Government commitment to consult on modernising Scotland’s compulsory purchase system.

I am pleased to announce that we have today published a consultation on a comprehensive package of proposals to modernise compulsory purchase in Scotland, to make it simpler, more streamlined and fairer for all parties. The publication of this consultation, which was a Programme for Government commitment, marks an important step towards the wholesale reform that many stakeholders have been calling for.

Compulsory purchase orders are a powerful tool which can help to deliver a wide range of projects, from major infrastructure developments to bringing empty homes and vacant land back into use. However, the legislation is complex and out of date, which can discourage public bodies from using it. The reform programme aims to overhaul the system so that it can fulfil its potential to drive change, as well as being fairer and more transparent for those whose property is affected. Following commitments given to parliament earlier this year, the consultation also includes some questions on compulsory sale orders and compulsory lease orders.

The consultation is available on the Scottish Government website and is open until 19 December.

Question reference: S6W-40378

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to support NHS (a) boards and (b) Lanarkshire to improve performance against the 18-week referral-to-treatment standard.

We know many people are still waiting too long and this is not good enough. We are determined to do more and our Budget will provide a record £21.7 billion for health and social care, with more than £110 million allocated to health boards, including over £6.6 million for NHS Lanarkshire, to help tackle the longest waits for appointments and procedures.

The funding has been assigned to specialty areas for the year ahead where it can have the greatest impact against the longest waits – this includes £25 million for trauma and orthopaedics, £21 million for imaging, £14 million for cancer treatment and more than £12 million for ophthalmology.

It will also support delivery of planned care for patients across Scotland, to increase capacity and address backlogs of treatment as we work towards achieving the 18 weeks Referral to Treatment (RTT) standard.