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-04376

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support school pupils with dyslexia.

Question reference: S6W-35012

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 February 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angela Constance on 17 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how support for the social work profession will progress, following the decision not to proceed with part 1 of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill.

We have agreed to establish a National Social Work Agency to support the social work profession. This will be an executive agency of the Scottish Government, and will be established by spring 2026.

The Feeley Review recommended a specific agency, and the social work sector and the workforce have told us change is urgently needed.

The National Social Work Agency will work in partnership with COSLA and Social Work Scotland, and wider sector partners. This is our opportunity to make a difference in our health and care system, to advance the social work profession and enhance support for people across our communities. We are committed to a skilled, supported and sustainable social work workforce in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-34353

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to reduce the speed limit on most urban roads to 20mph.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that 20 mph speed limits are implemented on all appropriate roads by the end of 2025.

All local authorities are committed to meeting the 2025 deadline and have developed their own plans designating their own streets and £4m has been provided to 21 local authorities this financial year to aid implementation. Transport Scotland has issued national guidance to support local authorities with the roll-out of 20mph speed limits on appropriate roads.

Early feedback from Borders and Highland Councils, as early adopters, has been positive with a recognition by local communities that this initiative can significantly reduce road casualties, encourage sustainable travel, and foster safer, more vibrant communities.

Question reference: S6O-04329

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action that it is taking to support people with long COVID.

Question reference: S6O-04290

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding infrastructure investment plans for the building of new schools, in light of the recent Audit Scotland report, which noted that further borrowing will be needed to invest in these.

Question reference: S6W-33972

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the review of the home education guidance.

Scottish Government committed to reviewing the home education guidance in December 2019. This has now been updated following thorough consultation with stakeholders and the general public.

The updated guidance will be published on 23 January 2025 on the Government website here https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836911357

The updated home education guidance reflects the changing context in which home education takes place in Scotland and sets out a child’s rights-based approach to home education.

Scottish Ministers want all those involved in a child’s education to be informed and equipped regarding home education, to better understand the circumstances and choices made by parents, and the responsibilities that parents take on when choosing to home educate.

With this updated guidance, Scottish Ministers continue to encourage local authorities and parents to work together to develop trust, mutual respect and a positive relationship that functions in the best educational interests of the child.

Question reference: S6O-04271

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Transport Scotland regarding safety measures at the Shawhead flyover on the A725 in Coatbridge.

Question reference: S6W-33198

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that In Practice Systems Ltd, which is reported to be the main software supplier for GP practices in Scotland, has voluntarily entered administration, and what action is being taken to mitigate any impact to GP service delivery.

The Scottish Government are liaising with NHS National Services Scotland, as the contract holder, and are a member of their GPIT Incident Management Team which has specifically been established to lead on this matter. Through this, NSS are in regular contact with the Administrator. Assurances are continually sought from the Administrators on their plans to ensure continued performance and delivery of the Managed Services to NHS Scotland for the foreseeable whilst the administrators actively seek a buyer for In Practice Systems Ltd.

In the meantime, there remains no impact on GP service delivery and existing operational governance around Service levels is very much still in place. GP practices are advised to utilise the service and raise any queries through their usual health board escalation routes.

Question reference: S6W-33209

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage more (a) prospective and (b) current medical students to specialise in psychiatry.

Students receive taught modules on mental health and psychiatry in years three and four of their medical degrees with the opportunity for specialist mental health units or clinical placements from year four onwards. There are significant core learning requirements in relation to mental health set out by the GMC and each University ensures these are fulfilled.

The GMC also require all medical schools to provide support for the consideration of postgraduate careers and each school has their own way of doing this. Each of the medical schools have a ‘PsychSoc’ attached to them. These societies are funded by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and work with the medical schools to encourage and support medical students into a career within psychiatric fields.

Question reference: S6W-32765

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 15 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what protections it will provide to non-medical aesthetic practitioners, in light of its proposed regulations for the sector.

The Scottish Government launched a consultation on 20th December 2024, to seek views on how best to further regulate non-surgical cosmetics procedures.

The consultation has been informed by extensive work with a range of stakeholders, including beauty industry representatives, among others, but it is important we receive further feedback before the Scottish Government commits to any proposals.

In taking forward work on any potential new regulations, we will continue to seek views from, and consider the impact on, existing businesses.

Our proposals aim to be both robust and proportionate, protecting the public and supporting reputable business to operate safely.