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-41504

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-33126 by Neil Gray on 17 January 2025, whether it will meet its target to achieve population-based coverage of access to rapid cancer diagnostic services by 2026.

Our sixth Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service for people with non-specific symptoms of cancer open in NHS Forth Valley in May.

The Centre for Sustainable Delivery is now working with Boards across Scotland to embed learning and work on non-specific symptoms pathways across Scotland.

In line with the publication of the recently revised Scottish Referral Guidelines for Urgent Suspicion of Cancer in July this year, the Centre for Sustainable Delivery have confirmed that all NHS territorial Health Boards now have pathways in place for those presenting with non-specific symptoms of cancer.

Question reference: S6W-41472

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 27 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made to introduce a statutory cap on incineration capacity.

The Scottish Government recognises the value of a long term, evidenced-based indicative residual waste treatment cap to help inform planning and investment decisions as Scotland transitions towards a circular economy, as part of an overall strategic approach (Recommendation 5 of the Independent Review on the Role of Incineration in Scotland’s Waste Hierarchy (the Review) published May 2022).

That is why, as set out in Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030, we have committed to develop an indicative cap through Scotland’s Residual Waste Plan (RWP), due for publication in 2027.

In line with the Review’s recommendation, any cap will be indicative and consider all residual waste capacity, including landfill and other treatment options. It should account for waste streams that must be incinerated by law, such as those containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and allow for sufficient contingency to account for uncertainties in the data, the trajectory of residual waste arisings, and policy development and delivery.

Question reference: S6W-41512

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government who will provide any services that will no longer be provided by community safety advocates as a result of any reduction to their numbers, including preventative work in schools and home fire safety visits for vulnerable people.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) continues to employ permanent Community Safety Advocates across Scotland, who work alongside colleagues in local areas to undertake important community safety and prevention work.

SFRS continues to invest significantly in their prevention work, which is reflected in both the current Service Delivery Review and the recent publication of the SFRS Strategy 2025-2028 | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Question reference: S6W-41535

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the total financial cost has been of staff absences related to stress, anxiety and depression in NHS Scotland since 1 January 2020.

Question reference: S6W-41331

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications in each local authority area are currently under review by the Energy Consents Unit.

Details of applications in each local authority area currently under review for consideration by the Energy Consents Unit are as follows:

Local Planning Authority	Section 36 applications (electricity generating station)
Aberdeenshire	3
Dumfries and Galloway	6
East Ayrshire	1
East Lothian	1
Highland	5
Midlothian	1
Moray	4
Scottish Borders	1
South Ayrshire	3
South Lanarkshire	3
Stirling	1

Local Planning Authority	Section 37 applications (overhead lines)
Angus	1
East Renfrewshire	1
Fife	1
Perth and Kinross	2

Question reference: S6W-41335

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will produce an island communities impact assessment to evaluate any impact of its proposed Air Departure Tax on island communities.

Question reference: S6W-41541

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is provided to local authorities on parental eligibility for Neonatal Care Pay and Leave.

Neonatal Care pay and leave is currently a matter that is reserved to the UK Parliament and statutory guidance, including that on parental eligibility, is provided by the relevant UK department.

Local authorities are entirely separate entities from the Scottish Government. Their powers are set out in statute and, it is up to each local authority to manage its own day to day business. As such, the Scottish Government does not hold information on the provision of guidance on parental eligibility for Neonatal pay and leave.

The member may wish to contact local authorities directly for further information.

Question reference: S6W-41419

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to publish the specifications in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service 3 contract.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40730 on 1 October 2025 and confirm the specification is not a stand-alone document, it is embedded within the grant agreement which was published on 1st October 2025 on the Transport Scotland website, alongside other relevant governance documentation.

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.

Question reference: S6W-41422

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to conclude the purchase of Ardrossan harbour from Peel Ports, and whether it will take steps to ensure that the planned upgrade of Ardrossan harbour includes repair of the Irish Berth.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05083 on 30 October 2025 regarding the conclusion of the purchase.

The redevelopment of Ardrossan and the current focus on potential purchase remains a priority for this Government. I will of course update members of the Ardrossan Taskforce and the relevant Parliamentary Committee and other interested parties and MSPs on an outcome as soon as I am able to.

It is acknowledged that the upgrade of the Irish Berth was not included within the original project scope and commercial proposal from Peel Ports and North Ayrshire Council. If the change in ownership proceeds, Transport Scotland and CMAL will consider the future of the Irish Berth and other areas/facilities included in the harbour area.

All answers to 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.

Question reference: S6W-41420

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the expected cost is of CalMac Ferries time charter of MV Arrow for additional freight capacity on the Ullapool-Stornoway route between October and November 2025.