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: S7W-02696

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether Historic Environment Scotland has conducted any research into the repurposing of vacant listed buildings for housing, in light of reports that similar research has been conducted by Historic England.

Question reference: S7W-02712

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) on investment in the private rented sector in Edinburgh, and whether it has considered a temporary suspension of ADS to encourage the supply of rental homes.

Question reference: S7W-02702

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to develop clear and supported pathways to enable disabled children and young people to progress from school physical education and Active Schools programmes into community and competitive sport.

Question reference: S7W-02711

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the extent to which current Land and Buildings Transaction Tax rates and thresholds may discourage homeowners in Edinburgh from moving home, including downsizing, and what measures it is considering to improve housing mobility.

Question reference: S7W-02713

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered introducing a two-year suspension of the Additional Dwelling Supplement for purchases of residential properties intended for long-term private rental, particularly in areas experiencing housing shortages, such as Edinburgh.

Question reference: S7W-02717

Asked by: Zen Ghani, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow City Region Bus Partnership regarding the delivery of bus priority measures on Pollokshaws Road, and what assessment it has made of the potential economic benefits of such measures for communities and businesses in the southside of Glasgow.

Question reference: S7W-02691

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reports that the University of Dundee is using compulsory redundancy processes, prior to a decision by the University Court, and whether such action is consistent with (a) the Scottish Government's Fair Work principles and (b) the conditions attached to any grant funding provided by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S7W-02694

Asked by: Amanda Lindsay, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government regarding its new school bags for primary pupils initiative, (a) how much is expected to cost, (b) whether a detailed cost assessment was undertaken prior to the rollout of the initiative, (c) what colour options will be available for the school bags and (d) in light of reports that each bag will contain “a pencil case, stationery including pens, pencils, coloured crayons and a notebook plus a water bottle”, in addition to “resources to encourage reading, writing and maths practice at home”, what branding, logos, slogans or other printed material, if any, will appear on the bags and their contents, and what literature or other accompanying materials, if any, will be included in each bag.

Question reference: S7W-02295

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 26 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its latest estimate is of the total number of jobs that have been created in Scotland's supply chain as a direct result of the ScotWind programme, and how this compares with the estimates made when the programme was launched in 2022.

There has been clear growth in the offshore wind sector over the past decade, with increasing employment opportunities across a broad range of roles driven by continued investment in infrastructure, manufacturing, and skills development.

The latest edition of Scotland’s Marine Economy Statistics (published December 2025) provides an estimate of 4,400 people directly employed by the Scottish offshore wind sector in 2023, in comparison to 3,900 people in 2022 (published November 2024).

These figures do not include the jobs created in the supply chain as a direct result of ScotWind, however the Draft Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy Social and Economic Impact Assessment (2025) estimated cumulative potential employment impacts for ScotWind, INTOG and Test & Demonstration sites. It reported an estimated maximum number of FTEs generated or supported nationally as 18,000 (direct employment only in a low installed capacity scenario) up to 41,000 (direct and upstream supply chain employment impacts in a high installed capacity scenario).

These estimates are further supported by the Offshore Wind Industry Council Skills Intelligence Model, which reports that at its peak, the offshore sector in Scotland could support up to 49,000 jobs in 2031.

Question reference: S7W-02235

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 26 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what involvement Transport Scotland has had to date in the decision-making process regarding the termination of the proposed Neilston to Uplawmoor link.