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-01416

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 27 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commission a modern traffic circulation plan for Greater Glasgow that focuses on reducing traffic, particularly in residential neighbourhoods, and maximising access to jobs and key services, while prioritising sustainable modes of transport, and whether such a plan will inform decisions on the permanent repair, removal or replacement of the M8 Woodside Viaducts.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring that Glasgow’s transport network supports sustainable economic growth, improves access to employment and essential services, and reduces the impacts of traffic on local communities.

Decisions on transport planning in Glasgow are taken forward through a range of national, regional and local strategies, including the National Transport Strategy, the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2, the Regional Transport Strategy developed by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, and Glasgow City Council’s own – Glasgow Transport Strategy. These collectively support a shift towards more sustainable travel choices, including walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to commission a separate traffic circulation plan specifically for Greater Glasgow. However, Transport Scotland will continue to work with regional partners and local authorities to ensure that transport investment decisions, including the development of Clyde Metro, support our objectives of reducing congestion, improving connectivity and promoting sustainable travel.

With regard to the M8 Woodside Viaducts, Transport Scotland is progressing the appraisal and development of a preferred long-term intervention in consultation with key stakeholders. Through this process, consideration is given to the role of the viaducts within the wider transport network, alongside engineering, operational, environmental, social and economic factors.

Question reference: S7W-02045

Asked by: Heather Anderson, MSP for Dundee City West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Alison Thewliss on 27 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made in the development of its Infection Prevention and Control Strategy for Scotland.

I am pleased to announce the publication of An Infection Prevention and Control Strategy for Scotland: Vision and Priority Statements, developed in partnership with the Infection Prevention and Control Strategic Development and Oversight Group.

This is the first national integrated strategy of its kind across the UK and Ireland. Its publication underlines our commitment to safe, high-quality health and social care services for the people of Scotland. It will be underpinned by a series of three-year action plans that will be co-produced with wider partners and agreed by summer 2027.

This strategy was developed using a human rights based approach and sets a clear direction for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) policy over the next decade. It has been shaped directly by the insight and expertise of key stakeholders across the health and social care landscape. At its core is a single, unifying vision: a Scotland where preventable infection is minimised for all people accessing, using or providing health and social care.

To deliver on this ambition, the strategy outlines eight priority statements essential for sustainable progress in Scotland that will guide our focus in strengthening patient and staff safety and improving system-wide preparedness. It complements our broader reform agenda and supports national ambitions to reduce health inequalities, improve population health and ensure the long-term resilience and sustainability of services.

I am clear that publication marks the beginning of this journey. Meaningful change can only be achieved through the development, implementation and evaluation of action plans and informed by an extensive engagement programme with individuals, communities and organisations across Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02034

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S7W-01580

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how considerations of the Woodland Carbon Code, green finance initiatives and biodiversity net gain will influence the scope and delivery of the National Register for Ancient Woodland.

Question reference: S7W-01387

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding any impact of the Vision 3 system rollout in GP practices in the region.

Public Services Delivery Scotland has maintained regular engagement and planning discussions with representatives from NHS Dumfries and Galloway throughout the implementation programme. Communication and coordination have been undertaken through established governance and project management arrangements to support rollout planning and delivery.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway has agreed and signed off implementation plans up to and including Quarter 4 2026.

Question reference: S7W-01673

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to fulfil its duties under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.

The Scottish Ministers made commencement regulations that brought section 12 into force on 16 March 2026.

The effect of section 12 coming into force is to place a duty on Scottish Ministers to publish a model lease for hutting within three years from the date of Royal Assent, that is by 16 December 2028.

Work is underway to ensure that the model will be published in good time, including through engagement with organisations who have developed model lease clauses for hutting in their region.

Question reference: S7W-01871

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risk that post-2027 drone class-marking requirements could lead to otherwise safe and operational drones being prematurely replaced, resulting in increased electronic waste.

Product standards are a reserved matter, with drone class-marking requirements for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) set by the Civil Aviation Authority. The Scottish Government has not assessed any impacts associated with the introduction of these requirements. Drones reaching end of life can be managed through existing Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) arrangements that support collection, treatment and recycling at the end of life.

Question reference: S7W-01398

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the option of issuing retail bonds available to individuals and public institutions, and for what reason this option was not pursued in favour of wholesale bond issuance available to institutional investors.

The Scottish Government bond programme is designed to maximise value for the Scottish taxpayer by diversifying our sources of borrowing and provide more opportunities to promote Scotland as a place to invest and do business.

Therefore, in line with the Investment Panel recommendation, the Government is pursuing a conventional issuance model aimed at institutional investors. However, this does not preclude retail participation in future, and the programme is being structured to retain flexibility for a range of issuance options in subsequent years.

Question reference: S7W-01581

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to compile the proposed ancient woodland condition reports for the National Register of Ancient Woodland, including the frequency of updates and arrangements for publication.

The project team has not yet determined the methodology, format or update frequency for ancient woodland condition reporting. Developing these elements will form a substantial part of the project's work. The Register will provide outputs, including the spatial data layer, in an open, accessible, updatable and machine-readable format to maximise their usefulness. The team will follow the FAIR principles—Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable—and use recognised UK geospatial standards when developing the specification.

Question reference: S7W-01319

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 24 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S7O-00110, S7O-00114 and S7O-00115 by Gillian Martin on 24 June 2026 and S7F-00023 by John Swinney on 25 June 2026, what action it is taking to assess the cumulative electricity demand and energy-security impact of all the proposed hyperscale AI data centres.

Regulation and management of the electricity market is a reserved matter, however through our existing work with NESO (National Energy Systems Operator), DESNZ and stakeholders, we are assessing future energy demand and energy security considerations in the production of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) and the Regional Energy Strategic Plan. This includes data centres, and will enable us to plan for generation and demand scenarios from 2030-2050.