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-01850

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the incident of subsidence in Coalsnaughton Road, Tillicoultry, how much public money has been spent and paid out to various authorities and organisations throughout the construction period and the subsequent recovery period.

Question reference: S7W-01674

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the development of a funding model that recognises the heritage and community value of listed places of worship in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-01852

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 7 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Minister for Parliamentary Business's letter to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee on 30 January 2026, when it plans to consult on electoral reform, particularly on deposits and supporter signature requirements.

Question reference: S7W-01668

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what criminal offences are available to address the dissemination of disinformation by individuals or communication platforms where there is intent to stir up conflict, hostility or disorder within communities, or where a person is reckless as to the likelihood of doing so, and whether it is considering the introduction of any new legislation to address such conduct.

There are a range of criminal offences that may be used to prosecute someone who disseminates false information either intending to stir up conflict, hostility or disorder or reckless as to whether their behaviour is likely to have that effect. Depending on the facts and circumstances of the particular case, these may include the common law offence of breach of the peace, the offence of threatening or abusive behaviour at section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 and, where the information is disseminated using the internet or a mobile phone, communications offences at section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

Where a person communicates a message which is threatening, abusive or insulting and either intends or is likely to stir up hatred against a group defined by reference to their race, or communicates a message that is threatening or abusive and intends to stir up hatred against a group defined by reference to their religion, sexual orientation, age, transgender identity, variations in sex characteristics or disability, the offences of stirring up hatred at section 4 of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 may be relevant.

Decisions about whether a person's behaviour would amount to any of these laws is a matter for Police Scotland, COPFS and, ultimately, the court, to determine in any given case.

The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to reform the law in this area but we keep the law under continual review to ensure it is effective.

Question reference: S7W-01638

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 10 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 7 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has made available or plans to make available for key enabling infrastructure to support heat network delivery, and how it is working with industry to develop a strategic approach to the rollout of heat networks.

The Scottish Government is providing long term funding to support local authorities to develop and deliver their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) with funding committed for each local authority of £75,000 per year until 2027-28.

The Heat Network Support Unit (HNSU) provides funding and advisory support to help heat network projects progress through early development and unlock new investment. This includes strategic support, to build on the LHEES and develop a strategic approach to large-scale deployment. The HNSU offers up to 90% of eligible costs, capped at £150,000, with local authorities contributing the remaining 10%.

Scotland’s Heat Network Fund(SHNF) makes capital funding available for up to 50% of the costs of construction of new, low carbon heat networks. This includes the establishment of energy centres and key pipework, which may have additional capacity for further phases of expansion and new building connections.

For more details on the HNSU and SHNF and wider policies, including non-domestic rates relief for district heating and funding for individual buildings (including enabling works) to connect to a district heat network, please see the Heat Networks Delivery Plan Review Report 2026.

Question reference: S7W-01639

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 10 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 7 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the extent to which local authorities are effectively incorporating heat network zones into their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies, and what action it is taking where progress is insufficient.

Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies(LHEES) support local authorities to take a strategic approach to the delivery of heat networks. The Scottish Government has reviewed all 32 LHEES and found that all local authorities have assessed the potential for heat networks and identified any potential heat network zones in their LHEES. Where appropriate, local authorities have also identified actions to support heat network delivery in their LHEES delivery plans.

The 32 LHEES set out the significant opportunities for the development of heat networks across Scotland. They identified large-scale opportunities for heat networks in many towns and cities – with Glasgow and Edinburgh highlighting potential for heat networks to serve up to 4.4 and 3.7 TWh of heat demand per year. Opportunities for shared ground loops in less heat dense areas were also identified, for example in Highland Council’s LHEES.

We have created a clear pathway from LHEES to delivery with respect to heat networks: LHEES identify potential heat network zones, and our HNSU is working with local authorities to help commercialise them, in preparation for any capital funding bid to SHNF.

Question reference: S7W-01634

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 10 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 7 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated to Scotland's Heat Network Fund for the current financial year, and whether it will commit to maintaining this fund across the full current parliamentary session, with flexible timelines to account for rising delivery costs.

Heat in Buildings is allocated £302.5m capital in the 2026-27 Scottish Budget, which includes funding for Scotland’s Heat Network Fund. This budget provides flexibility across schemes, and spending via Scotland’s Heat Network Fund is dependent on there being demand from projects that meet essential criteria and represent good value for money.

Scotland’s Heat Network Fund is currently open until March 2030 as announced by the previous administration. It operates flexible timelines to accommodate the complex development cycle of a heat network.

Question reference: S7W-02324

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help rectify recent pressures at University Hospital Crosshouse as a result of reported unsustainable demand on the hospital’s A&E department.

Question reference: S7W-01660

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 6 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is regarding whether revenues raised by municipal harbour authorities must be ring-fenced for local harbour maintenance and development, in light of reported stakeholder concerns regarding the draft Oban Harbour Revision Order.

Question reference: S7W-01664

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 6 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate Transport Scotland has made of the potential financial costs and duration of a public local inquiry or hearing, should one be triggered by any unresolved objections to the proposed Oban Harbour Revision Order.