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-43824

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding applications for energy consents, what criteria reporters will use to determine whether a Public Local Inquiry should take place under the new reporter-led examination process.

Reporters appointed from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) will be able to select from a range of procedures, from consideration of written submissions through to a full Public Local Inquiry. In line with other casework where similar procedural choices are available, reporters will apply the approach that is most proportionate, effective and efficient in gathering the information required to reach a decision or to make a recommendation to Scottish Ministers.

DPEA is currently updating its Code of Practice for the examination of applications made under the Electricity Act. This will provide guidance for both reporters and participants on the new processes. Stakeholders will be consulted on the draft Code of Practice prior to its adoption.

Question reference: S6O-05557

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its draft Budget 2026-27 to support women in enterprise, including in the Scottish Borders.

Question reference: S6W-43583

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities there are for communities affected by a proposed development, such as the Center Parcs proposal in the Scottish Borders, to have representations considered by ministers once a byelaw application has been submitted for determination.

Section 202(7) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 makes provisions for any aggrieved party to object to Scottish Ministers, as confirming authority, within 12 weeks of the notice of intention to apply for confirmation of the byelaws having been made by the Local Authority. The period for representations to be made to Scottish Ministers regarding the proposed byelaws related to the Center Parcs development opened on 19 September 2025 and closed on 5th December 2025.

Question reference: S6W-43584

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how ministers ensure transparency in decision-making when determining byelaws under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 that relate to land subject to ongoing development proposals.

Question reference: S6W-43581

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what process ministers follow when considering byelaws submitted under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, in cases linked to proposed large-scale tourism or leisure developments.

Question reference: S6W-43585

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) guidance and (b) criteria ministers apply when considering whether proposed boundaries in byelaws submitted under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 are proportionate and applied consistently, including how any concerns regarding inequitable or inconsistent boundary definitions are assessed as part of the determination process.

The criteria for the making of byelaws which Scottish Ministers must consider when determining whether they should be confirmed are set out in section 12(1) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (2003 Act). This specifies that byelaws can be made to provide for:

1.The preservation of public order and safety

2.The prevention of damage

3.The prevention of nuisance or danger

4.The conservation or enhancement of natural or cultural heritage

There is no specific guidance which Ministers follow in determining whether to confirm proposed byelaws. However, as part of the evaluation, consideration will be given to the guidance contained in Part 1 Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 Guidance for Local Authorities and National Park Authorities as it relates to making byelaws under section 12 of the 2003 Act.

Question reference: S6W-43586

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) submissions made to it from Scottish Borders Council and (b) ministers' response in relation to the application made under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 for the Center Parcs proposal in the Scottish Borders will be published and made publicly available.

There is no statutory requirement for either Scottish Borders Council to publish the request for confirmation of byelaws or for Scottish Ministers to publish the decision made.

However, section 202(11) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 requires the local authority to, as soon as practicable after receiving intimation of the confirmation of the byelaws by the confirming authority, publish a notice in a newspaper circulating in the area to which the byelaws are to apply or in such other manner as the confirming authority on the application of the local authority may determine to be sufficient in the circumstances. This notice will confirm the date on which the byelaws are to come into operation and provide details of where a copy of the byelaws as confirmed may be inspected.

Question reference: S6W-43582

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what timescales typically apply for the ministerial determination of byelaws submitted under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, where the byelaw relates to land affected by a proposed development.

Question reference: S6F-04675

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 February 2026

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on the Service Delivery Review of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Question reference: S6W-43264

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the impact on mothers, expectant mothers and partners in the Scottish Borders of the potential loss of long-established specialist perinatal mental health services that currently provide an alternative referral pathway alongside NHS provision.

The third sector continues to play a key role for families in providing access to perinatal mental health support across Scotland. In 2019, the Scottish Government established the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) Fund, administered by Inspiring Scotland.

Between October 2024 and March 2026, we are investing £1.5 million through this fund to support third-sector organisations delivering vital (non-clinical) mental health support during pregnancy and the early years.

Following a robust assessment of applications, Inspiring Scotland distributed this funding to 16 organisations, geographically spread across Scotland, including the Scottish Borders.

Inspiring Scotland’s most recent reporting shows that the Fund continues to have a resoundingly positive impact. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with Inspiring Scotland to monitor the impact of the Fund, and to ensure that service design and future funding decisions are informed by local need.

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the 2026-27 Scottish budget, we have committed to continue to fund these vital supports in the coming financial year.