- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish an analysis of its public consultation on the future of council tax in Scotland.
Answer
As part of this work, the Scottish Government undertook a public consultation alongside a wider programme of engagement, including in-person events with members of the public and tax professionals. The consultation closed on 30 January 2026 and the analytical report of the consultation responses and engagement activity is currently being finalised.
This report will be published in the coming weeks. It will help inform further work to build cross-party agreement on reforms that can make the Council Tax system fairer.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many sailings on CalMac's Gourock to Dunoon ferry service carried (a) zero passengers, (b) fewer than 12 passengers, (c) between 13 and 24 passengers, (d) between 25 and 36 passengers, (e) between 37 and 48 passengers, and (f) 49 or more passengers, between March 2025 and March 2026.
Answer
The number of passengers carried by CalMac on the Gourock-Dunoon between March 2025 and March 2026, inclusive, according to the number of passengers per sailing is detailed in the following table.
Grouping of Passengers Carried | Sailings |
Zero passengers | 492 |
Fewer than 12 passengers | 4,680 |
Between 13 and 24 passengers | 3,513 |
Between 25 and 36 passengers | 1,666 |
Between 37 and 48 passengers | 599 |
49 or more passengers | 354 |
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what is the annual subsidy requirement associated with providing CalMac’s Gourock to Dunoon ferry service in each year since 2024.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Funding is allocated to CalMac on an annual basis in connection with the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract, however this is not broken down by route. Funding provided by the Scottish Government for CHFS services is included in the relevant Section 70 report, which are available online: Section 70 Grant Payments In accordance with: Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 Section 70(4) Financial Year 2024-25; Transport Scotland Section 70 Return - 2025-26 | Transport Scotland.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will engage with the Glasgow Science Centre, which is owned by the GSC Charitable Trust, a wholly owned subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise, regarding the repair or replacement of the titanium roof covering at the IMAX Theatre, which has remained damaged since the roof's waterproof membrane burnt in high temperatures in 2018, leaving black residue across the surface.
Answer
Decisions regarding future repair works are operational matters for the Glasgow Science Centre. As identified in the question, the Science Centre is a subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government receives updates on its operations, as appropriate, from Scottish Enterprise.
The Scottish Government provides funding direct to the Science Centre to support science engagement activity and the transport costs of school pupils.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to a dedicated cancer strategy for children and young people, to follow the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care strategy and how it will ensure the continued delivery of the strategy's aims, once it reaches the end of its lifecycle in 2026.
Answer
The Scottish Government understands the importance of age-specific cancer care for children and young people, and our ambitions are clearly laid out in the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care: cancer strategy for children and young people 2021–2026.
The Scottish Government is actively considering how we best continue to deliver on our ambitions to improve care for children and young people with cancer. This includes engaging with those involved in delivering on the current strategy to understand the opportunities to do so when considering any future strategy approach.
- Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to credit unions to modernise their digital infrastructure and increase access to ethical community finance.
Answer
The Scottish Government remains committed to working closely with the credit union sector to understand its evolving needs and identify opportunities and challenges, including those associated with digital transformation. This will help ensure that support is targeted effectively to promote long term, sustainable growth across the sector.
In September 2025, the Scottish Government awarded grant funding of £98,000 to Social Investment Scotland for a project to embed benefit checkers into the loan management systems used by credit unions in Scotland. 11 projects were successful in securing funding. This project has now concluded and identified over £7.3 million in annualised potential unclaimed benefits.
- Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to involve credit unions and financial co-operatives in the delivery of community wealth building.
Answer
Credit unions and financial cooperatives are important financial organisations across Scotland’s communities, offering accessible financial services and products, including to those who may otherwise be financially excluded. The activities of these organisations already support community wealth building ambitions.
Through the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026, Scottish Ministers are required to set out measures to promote or support the development of co-operatives, including co-operative financial institutions. In addition, Scottish Ministers are obliged to publish guidance for local authority led Community Wealth Building Partnerships and other public sector bodies in the same vein. Representatives of credit unions and financial cooperatives will be consulted as part of this work.
- Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage payroll deduction partnerships between employers, public bodies and credit unions, particularly across the public sector.
Answer
The regulation of financial services, including the credit union sector, is wholly reserved to the UK Government.
Many credit unions already work in partnership with employers to provide payroll deduction schemes. Workplace payroll savings schemes can provide a valuable way for employees to improve their financial resilience, with evidence suggesting they are both popular in workplaces and are helping some workers build savings pots. These kinds of savings schemes are prominently featured in the UK Government's Financial Inclusion Strategy, aiming to build a National Coalition of Employers to promote these schemes and with plans to clarify the regulatory landscape to encourage their uptake.
The Scottish Government will engage with the UK Government as their planned reforms for payroll savings schemes emerge to represent Scotland's interests.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards the establishment of the Gaza Student Scholarship.
Answer
The Scottish Government is deeply concerned about the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the impact it is having on civilians.
We recognise the appalling circumstances many Gazan students are experiencing, including those who have secured university places in the UK but face significant barriers in taking them up.
In academic year 2025-26, the Gaza Student Support Scheme enabled 27 students on fully funded scholarships to access their studies at Scottish universities. Keeping this vital route open gives students from Gaza a path to safety, stability and the chance to fulfil their potential. The Scottish Government has consistently pushed the UK Government to continue this scheme and we welcome the recent announcement that the scheme will continue into 2026-27.
Building on this support, the Scottish Government has pledged to work with Universities of Sanctuary to explore how we can further support students from Gaza, including through the development of a postgraduate Scottish Gaza Scholarship Programme. Further detail will be set out to Parliament as this work progresses.
- Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what role it anticipates credit unions will play in supporting financial education, tackling illegal money lending and contributing to child poverty prevention.
Answer
All financial services providers, including credit unions, have an important role in supporting the financial resilience and wellbeing of their customers. This includes helping individuals to better understand financial products and services and empowering them to make informed financial decisions. Many credit unions already deliver tailored financial education, support and engagement activities that reflect the needs of their members and local communities.
Credit unions are often a vital source of support for some of the most vulnerable people in society. Through the provision of affordable credit, savings products and initiatives such as junior saver schemes, they help individuals and families build financial resilience and can play a significant role in tackling the causes and impacts of child poverty.
The Scottish credit union sector also works closely with the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit (SIMLU) to raise awareness of the dangers associated with illegal money lending, including loan sharks. Through these partnerships, credit unions help educate consumers, provide safe and affordable alternatives to high-risk borrowing, and support those who have been affected by illegal lenders.
