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-02511

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the National Lottery Community Fund, credit unions and other community finance providers regarding the delivery of the financial inclusion priority within the revised Dormant Assets Policy Direction Framework.

The Scottish Government has held regular discussions with the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) regarding delivery of the revised Dormant Assets Policy Direction Framework. Consultation, scoping and analysis are continuing by NLCF, with funding programmes expected to be developed by March 2027. The outcomes of the consultation, including with credit unions and community finance providers, will help shape future engagement with financial inclusion stakeholders and inform the delivery of funding programmes.

Question reference: S7W-02354

Asked by: Jamie Langan, MSP for South Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Friday, 07 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of recent YouGov polling conducted on behalf of the Nuclear Industry Association which reportedly found that a higher percentage of people in Scotland identify nuclear power generation as the most important energy source for maintaining a reliable electricity supply than offshore wind or solar.

The Scottish Government does not support the building of new nuclear power stations under current technologies. New nuclear is expensive, slow to deliver and generates radioactive waste which can remain dangerous for thousands of years.

We are working to deliver a resilient, affordable and clean energy system for the people of Scotland. Scotland’s renewable resource, supported by storage, flexibility and grid investment, offers the quickest route to achieving this.

Question reference: S7W-02236

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 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the £200,000 provided by Sustrans for the proposed Neilston to Uplawmoor link, whether it will provide a breakdown of how those funds were spent and whether any consideration has been given to recovering or repurposing them following the project's termination.

The total claimed from Sustrans through the Transport Scotland funded Places for Everyone Fund for the Neilston to Uplawmoor link was £199,274, of which £28,932 was claimed for Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work stages 0-2 and £170,342 for stages 3-4.

No consideration has been given to recovering or repurposing the funding, as the £199,274 provided was expended for the purposes for which it was awarded, namely development and design work associated with the proposed Neilston to Uplawmoor link.

Question reference: S7W-02262

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements it plans to put in place to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of More Homes Scotland, including any plans for independent scrutiny of its impact on housing supply, affordability and homelessness.

As More Homes Scotland is currently being established, arrangements for monitoring and evaluating its performance remain under development. Appropriate governance, accountability and scrutiny arrangements will assess the agency’s effectiveness and impact, including its contribution to increasing housing supply, delivering affordable homes and addressing homelessness.

The agency will be delivered in phases over this Parliamentary Session, beginning with organisational set-up, governance and operational capability in 2027-28. As delivery expands, robust performance and reporting measures will support ongoing assessment of outcomes.

Question reference: S7W-02314

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement to the Parliament on its response to Environmental Standards Scotland's finding that Scottish Ministers have not effectively discharged their duties under Regulations 4 and 14 and have failed to comply with Regulation 13 of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the findings and recommendations of Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) contained in its report Protecting Scotland’s Seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers’ implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report.

The Scottish Government will set out its position on the report's findings and recommendations through that engagement and in its formal response, updating the Scottish Parliament as appropriate in this respect.

Question reference: S7W-02148

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to extend free bus travel or any other free travel schemes to military veterans, and whether it will provide an update on any consideration it has given to this issue since it was discussed during the previous parliamentary session.

The Scottish Government greatly values the contribution made by military veterans and recognises the importance of supporting the Armed Forces community.

Veterans resident in Scotland are eligible to access the existing National Concessionary Travel Schemes where they meet the existing age or disability-related eligibility criteria, including those relating to mobility, injury, or receipt of specific benefits.

Veterans can also access discounted rail travel through the Veterans Railcard, which is available across Great Britain and provides one-third off most rail fares.

Question reference: S7W-02196

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the current review of Section 2 (Fire) of the Technical Handbooks does not result in any weakening of current fire safety standards.

As part of the Scottish Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, a full review of Section 2 (Fire) of the building standards will strengthen, and not weaken, fire safety standards in Scotland. This review is being informed by a Call for Evidence, undertaken between 16 January and 10 April 2026, which will identify fire safety priorities for review. The review will be advised by an independent expert panel, and supported by targeted research and stakeholder engagement. These measures will ensure that future changes are evidence-based, technically robust and improve fire safety outcomes.

Question reference: S7W-02197

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, for what reason BS 8414 continues to form part of both domestic and non-domestic technical handbooks in Scotland, and whether it considers that removing this from the handbooks would provide greater clarity and certainty for those involved in the design, construction and control of buildings.

BS 8414 testing and BR 135 assessments were removed as an alternative compliance route for buildings covered by the combustible cladding ban in 2022. BS 8414 remains available for buildings outside the ban’s scope.

In response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, a wider review of fire safety standards is underway, informed by recent evidence, UK Government research on BS 8414 and developments in fire performance testing.

Question reference: S7W-02412

Asked by: Duncan Dunlop, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the current concessionary travel reimbursement rate model adequately reflects the higher average fare, and therefore higher revenue-forgone cost, of rural bus journeys compared with urban journeys.

National Concessionary Travel Schemes reimbursement rates are negotiated annually between Transport Scotland and the Confederation of Passenger Transport on behalf of bus operators, using an agreed economic model. The model is updated annually to take into account the latest developments in fares, operating costs, passenger behaviours and travel demand, to ensure that the rates are set to leave operators financially no better and no worse off for their participation in the schemes. The model uses a weighted average fare, which reflects the fares and relative volume of concessionary journeys made on all services under the scheme.

Question reference: S7W-02397

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government in light of the UK Government’s response to Wendy Chamberlain UIN 469 tabled on 13 May 2026, whether (a) it intends to bring forward amendments to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, and (b), if so, what amendments it is considering

Transport Scotland officials are engaging with UK Department for Transport regarding its proposed amendments to the UK Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, including side road zebra crossings as noted in the UK Government’s response to Wendy Chamberlain MP, UIN 469.

Should it be established that side road zebra crossings are appropriate for use in Scotland, their incorporation in Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 as it applies in Scotland is intended. Scottish Ministers are yet to determine what other amendments will be progressed. Any amendments would be subject to consultation.