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: S7O-00101

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with stakeholders to support the maintenance of banking services in rural areas.

Question reference: S7W-00834

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 12 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential for geothermal energy in Scotland.

In 2014, a Scottish Government commissioned study identified significant potential for deep geothermal in Scotland’s abandoned mine workings, hot sedimentary aquifers and hot dry rocks.

Our 2021 Heat in Buildings Strategy recognises that this resource, although less well developed in Scotland than other technologies, could have a role to play, for some communities, in the decarbonisation of heat. The Strategy includes a commitment to continue to explore that potential. We continue to work with partners to better understand this resource and to share what we have learned.

The Scotland Heat Map is a GIS tool that can be used to identify opportunities to reduce carbon emissions from heat in buildings. The map enables users to visualise and assess who needs heat and where sources of heat might come from, including the sub-surface.

Question reference: S7W-00841

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 12 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential of geothermal energy to heat homes in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-00835

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 12 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage private investment in geothermal energy.

Question reference: S7W-00842

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 12 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the potential of geothermal energy for job creation in Scotland.

Question reference: S7O-00078

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards delivering a fully operational 24/7 thrombectomy service with national coverage, including how the service will reach rural Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-05636

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect and strengthen schools in rural areas.

Question reference: S6W-43812

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has had with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology regarding the potential for a respiratory Modern Service Framework to strengthen the UK's life sciences ecosystem by scaling up the adoption of new medicines and innovations for lung conditions.

Scottish Government Officials within our Directorates for Health and Social Care are engaged with the UK Office for Life Sciences and NHS England in line with the agreement made between Ministers at the Interministerial Group for Health and Social Care to seek where practical common solutions to common challenges and explore - as a priority - the potential for closer collaboration on innovation adoption initiatives to maximise impact and support our life science sector across all 4 nations.

Scottish Government Officials, alongside those from 4 nations have agreed, in principle, to engage collaboratively to maximise the scope and impact of the respiratory modern service framework preliminary market engagement and scope opportunities for Scotland within the future delivery of this framework. This will include ensuring that any opportunities represent the Scottish Health and Care system effectively, aligned to our principles for openness and transparency in working with parties across the independent sector, third sector and academia, and strategic objectives under our Service Renewal Framework, Population Health Framework and Public Sector Reform.

Question reference: S6W-43815

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care’s timeframe is for deciding on the second wave of the Modern Service Frameworks, and whether respiratory conditions will be considered.

Question reference: S6W-43814

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has given to the role of a respiratory Modern Service Framework in reducing winter pressures on the NHS by simultaneously improving outcomes for long-term respiratory conditions and short-term respiratory illness such as flu.

I refer the member to answer to questions S6W-43695 and S6W-43745 on 24 February 2026. The Scottish Government is aware of calls from respiratory stakeholders in England for a Modern Service Framework focused on respiratory care. To clarify, the UK Government has not introduced such a framework. Modern Service Frameworks are being developed for major conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia, but respiratory conditions are not currently included.

The Scottish Government will continue to monitor emerging approaches from across the UK while taking forward our own long term, evidence informed approach.

The Scottish Government’s strategic direction for respiratory care is currently set through the Respiratory care - action plan: 2021 to 2026 - gov.scot. This work supports resilience across the health system throughout the year, including during periods of increased pressure. Prioritising prevention, early detection and effective long term management helps reduce avoidable exacerbations which often drive urgent and unscheduled demand during winter.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.