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-43748

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are in place to monitor, escalate and publicly report on the ongoing delivery of the 55 recommendations of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland report, and how it ensures that workforce shortages, variability between NHS boards and incomplete quality assurance systems do not prevent the implementation of all 55 recommendations.

Question reference: S6W-43747

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what measurable improvements in patient outcomes and service delivery have been observed since the recommendations of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland report were accepted, particularly in areas flagged as urgent, including paediatric diagnostic safety, waiting times and equitable access to audiology services across all NHS boards.

Question reference: S6W-43749

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the 55 recommendations in the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland that it accepted, whether it will confirm if the draft Budget 2026-27 will dedicate funding to ensure full delivery of these audiology services reforms across all NHS boards.

Question reference: S6W-43746

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland report making 55 recommendations to improve services, whether it will provide (a) a breakdown of the number of recommendations that (i) have been fully implemented to date, (ii) are in operational work plans and (iii) remain dependent on linked actions and (b) the timescale for completion of each outstanding recommendation.

Question reference: S6O-05530

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 18 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since 2007 to address prostitution, including legislative measures aimed at tackling demand for paid sex as a means of preventing harm to vulnerable women and girls, and the provision of exit support services for recovery from any complex trauma resulting from prostitution.

Question reference: S6W-43396

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of testimony from survivors of grooming gangs, frontline service organisations and justice agencies that child sexual exploitation (CSE) and grooming are core pathways through which vulnerable children are drawn into the commercial sexual exploitation of prostitution, both in childhood and later in adulthood, whether it consulted Professor Alexis Jay, its expert adviser on CSE, including grooming, in relation to the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill, ahead of the stage 1 vote on 3 February 2026.

It would be a matter for the sponsoring MSP to determine who she would wish to consult with on her Bill.

Professor Alexis Jay has been appointed independent Chair of the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) Strategic Group and will provide expert advice to Scottish Ministers on CSAE, and on the findings of the National Review of local responses to group-based CSAE announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills in December 2025. Professor Jay chaired her first meeting of the Group on 28 January 2026.

A key focus of the Group’s current activity is to recommend improvements to workforce education and training to ensure professionals are better equipped to identify and respond when children are at risk of experiencing abuse.

This includes consideration and collaboration with other key workstreams and initiatives, including our Strategic Approach to challenge demand for prostitution.

Question reference: S6W-42997

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that university funding is meaningfully linked to best practice in healthy workplaces, specifically in relation to workload management and other drivers of work-related stress.

Whilst universities are autonomous institutions with responsibility for their own decisions regarding pay and working conditions, the Scottish Government expects staff and trade unions to be consulted meaningfully and constructively to seek resolution to any disputes – in line with Fair Work principles. Implementation of Fair Work First must be the guiding criteria to promote fairer work practices for staff within the university sector.

Universities in receipt of government funding through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) are currently expected to meet two mandatory Fair Work First criteria (payment of at least the real Living Wage; and provision of appropriate channels for effective workers’ voice, such as trade union recognition), while being encouraged to meet all other non-mandatory Fair Work First criteria. From April 2027, colleges and universities will be expected to adopt all Fair Work First criteria and the SFC will look to include these as a condition of grant. Further details are set out in my answer to S6W-42976 on 13 January 2026: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers/question?ref=S6W-42976.

I also expect universities to take appropriate steps to support and promote staff wellbeing, and comply with relevant legal requirements, including the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974. The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing health and safety requirements at UK workplaces, including universities.

Question reference: S6W-42996

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of the review into a sustainable future funding model for universities, what support or assurances it will provide to any university staff who have lost their jobs or are currently at risk of redundancy.

The university sector continues to face financial challenges due to a number of factors, including the impact of migration policies introduced by the UK Government, and an increase to employer national insurance contributions.

While universities are autonomous institutions, the Scottish Government expects staff and trade unions to be consulted meaningfully and constructively on the potential impact of any cost-saving measures – in line with Fair Work principles.

Ministers cannot compel universities to commit to no compulsory redundancies, however my clear expectation is that they are only considered as a last resort, after all other cost-saving measures have been fully explored.

In the unfortunate event that redundancies occur, PACE is the Scottish Government’s response and can provide free and impartial advice, and is available to all individuals affected by redundancy, no matter the size of the business nor how many employees are involved.

Question reference: S6W-42998

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that higher education better meets the needs of Scotland and of future generations.

The recent budget invests over £2.4 billion in post-school education and skills and includes a significant real terms increase in our investment in Scotland’s college and university sectors, which both deliver Higher Education. This provides opportunity to people of all ages to fulfil their potential, while also ensuring that priority workforce needs are met.

The Framework for Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities will explore options for securing a successful and sustainable future for Scotland’s world-leading university sector.

This collaborative project between Scottish Government and Universities Scotland will build upon the strength of the sector and ensure our universities are well positioned to respond to current and future challenges, including demographic shifts, international competition, technological advancements, and the changing needs of students and the economy.

Question reference: S6W-42995

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the timelines and delivery of the university sustainability review.