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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S7W-01462

Asked by: Helen McDade, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether any NHS board has paused, frozen, capped or otherwise restricted the recruitment of newly qualified nurses and, if so, (a) which NHS board, (b) for what reason and (c) following what guidance or instruction from the Scottish Government or health bodies, in each of the last three years.

Question reference: S7W-01196

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) arrangements are being made and (b) timetable is in place to relocate transgender women out of the women’s prison estate, in light of the conclusion of the case, For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers regarding the accommodation of transgender prisoners.

Question reference: S7W-01184

Asked by: Amanda Lindsay, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Supreme Court’s clarification on biological sex and the Court of Session’s ruling on prison policy, by what date any changes will be implemented regarding the accommodation of biological males identifying as transgender in the female prison estate to ensure single-sex provision.

Question reference: S7W-01459

Asked by: Helen McDade, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many candidates were assessed as suitable for appointment through NHS boards' newly qualified nurse recruitment programmes but were not offered a post, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) field of practice, in each of the last three years, and whether NHS boards operate reserve or waiting lists for such candidates.

Question reference: S7W-01314

Asked by: Jamie Langan, MSP for South Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on (a) security of supply and (b) electricity price volatility of Torness Nuclear Power Station’s generating capacity being unavailable during periods of high demand and low renewable generation.

Question reference: S7W-01197

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of any current cases where it is defending its policies and actions in the courts.

Question reference: S7W-01193

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on defending its position in court in each of the last five years, broken down by total costs incurred in each individual case, including any compensation paid.

Question reference: S7W-01514

Asked by: Jamie Langan, MSP for South Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the potential development of new nuclear projects in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-01358

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the current median and maximum waiting times are for (a) diagnosis following urgent suspicion referral and (b) treatment following diagnosis for aggressive cancers.

Question reference: S7W-01496

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many anaesthetist training positions there are currently across Scotland.