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-44151

Asked by: Jamie Hepburn, MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on the recommendation of the Criminal Justice Committee that an independent commission should be established to consider legislation around prostitution and the support required for those seeking to exit prostitution.

The Minister for Victims and Community Safety said during Stage 1 of the Prostitution (Offences and Support) Scotland Bill on 3 February, that work to establish an independent Commission would commence immediately. I am pleased to announce that Fiona Taylor QPM has today been appointed to Chair the Independent Commission on the Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex in Scotland and will begin work straight away.

Fiona Taylor brings significant experience to the issues and challenges engaged in this important area of work, having had a distinguished career including serving as Deputy Chief Constable and Interim Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

The Commission will provide recommendations to Ministers on how to safely and effectively criminalise the purchase of sex in Scotland with particular focus on ensuing any new offence is operationally effective and enforceable and identifying the requirements of a deliverable and sustainable support package for those who wish to exit prostitution. The Commission will report to Ministers within 12 months of commencing.

Recognising the value and importance of lived experience will be at the heart of the Commission. The Chair will be supported by expert members who will be appointed in due course.

Question reference: S6W-44159

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it works with Scottish universities to review the courses that they offer to students, including new courses that can help address skill shortages.

Question reference: S6W-44164

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to support Scottish-domiciled students who study undergraduate courses (a) in other UK nations and (b) overseas.

Question reference: S6W-44179

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the equality strategy for women and girls, which it committed to in its Programme for Government 2025-26 and is developing in partnership with the National Advisory Council for Women and Girls, will be published.

Question reference: S6W-44132

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and Raith Rovers FC making it to the KDM Evolution Trophy final, and confirmation that this will be played at the Wyre Stadium in Firhill, what its position is on the responsibility of national sporting bodies to ensure that such games are accessible to fans across the country.

Question reference: S6W-44149

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the adequacy of grid inertia in light of the planned closure of Torness Nuclear Power Station.

Question reference: S6W-44160

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any analysis of the number of undergraduate courses that are not available at Scottish universities but are available at universities in other UK nations.

Question reference: S6W-44137

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting bus operators to transition to zero emission fleets.

Question reference: S6W-44091

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding innovation funding and policy development for wave and wider marine energy, what engagement it has had with the UK Government and Great British Energy within the last 12 months; on what date and through which channels any such engagement took place, and what responses or commitments were received.

Question reference: S6W-44154

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm that the next quarterly all-tenure housing statistics will be published before the next parliamentary elections.