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: S6F-04405

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 27 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2025

To ask the First Minister for what reason the Scottish Government has reportedly abandoned key provisions of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022, including the proposed licensing system, as communities prepare for potential disorder during Bonfire Night.

Question reference: S6W-41161

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 27 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a presumption against new oil and gas licences, and, if so, whether it will end this presumption, in light of the UK Government reportedly considering a policy change on its opposition to granting licences for new oil and gas fields adjacent to existing ones.

Offshore oil and gas licensing, as well as consenting and the associated fiscal regime, are all matters that are currently reserved to the UK Government.

The Scottish Government continues to call on the UK Government to approach decisions for North Sea oil and gas projects on a rigorously evidence-led, case by case, basis – with robust climate compatibility and energy security being key considerations.

Question reference: S6W-41162

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have exercised their powers to designate firework control zones, and which area each zone covers.

The City of Edinburgh Council will be implementing 9 Firework Control Zones in Edinburgh at Balerno, Calton Hill, Corstorphine, Gracemount, Longstone, Moredun, Niddrie, Seafield, and Sighthill between 31st October to 9th November 2025.

Glasgow City Council will have 3 Firework Control Zones in Govanhill, Pollokshields and Broomhouse from 1st to 10th November 2025.

There are maps of the Firework Control Zones within each council’s website. These are available at Firework control zones – The City of Edinburgh Council and Fireworks Control Zones (FCZ) - Glasgow City Council.

Question reference: S6W-41168

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 21 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for the Scottish economy, whether it remains its policy position to seek the devolution of immigration powers to the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government’s position remains that the current UK immigration system is not working for Scotland.

We continue to call on the UK Government for urgent changes to ensure that the immigration system reflects Scotland’s distinct demographic and economic needs. Our tailored migration proposals including a Scottish Visa, a Rural Visa Pilot and a Scottish Graduate Visa are designed to operate within the existing UK immigration framework. They have, however unfortunately been repeatedly dismissed by the UK Government.

Labour's immigration policies are damaging to our National Health Service, public services and our economy. They have refused to work with us on our proposals. It is clear that Scotland requires a tailored approach to migration which can only be delivered through a fresh start with independence.

Question reference: S6W-40499

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) governance meetings its officials have attended in each of the last five years.

Scottish Government officials have attended four governance meetings between Scottish Ministers and senior NDA officials in the last five years. Scottish Ministers also have a role in approving governance documents such as the NDA Business Plan and NDA Strategy documents. This requirement is enshrined in the 2004 Energy Act.

The Scottish Government’s formal role in NDA governance is underpinned by a strong partnership approach to ensure NDA are implementing devolved policies and contributing their expertise to our future policy development. For example, Scottish Government Officials are also members of a number of UK wide networks that oversee key themes related to the NDA’s work.

Question reference: S6O-05001

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what benefits it anticipates the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will deliver for rural and island communities, including in relation to breaking up concentrated land ownership and ensuring that land is used in the public interest and communities are not locked out of decision-making.

Question reference: S6W-40545

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to prevent the closure of Marionville Fire Station in Edinburgh, and to ensure the continued provision of fire and rescue services in the area served by the station.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has commissioned independent analysis of its public consultation concerning its Service Delivery Review (SDR) which closed on 17th September 2025. This analysis will inform considerations by the SFRS Board when it takes decisions on which of the 23 options for change to pursue at the December meeting of the Board.

The SFRS proposal impacting on Marionville fire station could see the appliance based there moving to the newly refurbished Newcraighall fire station. The level of resources to provide fire and rescue services in the east area of Edinburgh would therefore remain unchanged if SFRS take the decision to close Marionville fire station.

Question reference: S6W-40500

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the reasons for the removal of commitments to openness and transparency, including the sharing of Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) risk registers with the Scottish Government, from the NDA’s 2024 Framework Document, compared with the 2021 version.

The NDA Framework document underwent routine three yearly revision in 2024 and text was updated throughout the document. On pages 36-38 of the updated 2024 Framework Document there is a commitment that the NDA will comply with a range of government guidance, documents and instructions. These set out a number of requirements for openness and transparency to ensure that NDA continues to embody these principles in its operation and engagement with Scottish Government. Information on key risks is included in the NDA Annual Report and Accounts which is provided to Scottish Government as well as being published and laid at the Scottish Parliament every year.

In addition, specific requirements relating to accountability of the NDA to Scottish Ministers for its operations in Scotland as well as provision of relevant information and other specific requirements pertinent to Scottish Government remain in the updated 2024 Framework document.

Question reference: S6W-39897

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 3 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its public appointments guide, which states that “terms of appointment vary from role to role and are usually between one and five years” and that “the total period of appointment in one role on one board may not exceed eight years”, for what reason a member of the Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) Board, appointed on 1 July 2017, has reportedly had their term extended until 30 September 2025, in apparent breach of this guidance; what action is being taken in response to any such non-compliance by CHS with this appointments policy, and on what grounds the decision was made to exceed the maximum term permitted.

Under the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011, board members of Children’s Hearings Scotland are appointed through a public appointments process regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner (ESC). Appointments are typically made for a standard term of up to four years, with the possibility of reappointment for up to four more years. Where the legislation governing the body allows, and the ESC and the appointing minister are content, short-term extensions beyond the 8 years, such as the one specified here, can also be granted in exceptional circumstances. This is highlighted in The Code of Practice, under Section H.2:

In exceptional circumstances, the Scottish Ministers may make appropriate appointments (including reappointments or extensions), with the agreement of the Commissioner, to ensure the effective continuing governance of boards.

Due to a delay in the appointment process for new board members, an existing member of the Board had their appointment extended. This process was managed by the Scottish Government, with the agreement of CHS.

The news release announcing this extension states that it was regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner, and can be accessed publicly here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/public-appointment-member-appointment-extended-on-the-childrens-hearings-scotland-board/

Question reference: S6W-39560

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 29 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, what its policy is on whether an independent Scotland would seek to join the New Agenda Coalition.