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-04357

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the report, NHS Scotland Service Evaluation of Long COVID Services, for 2025-26.

Question reference: S7W-04370

Asked by: Yi-pei Chou Turvey, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the finding in the Care Inspectorate's report, Serious Incident Reviews - Justice Social Work 2024-2026, that almost a quarter of serious incident reviews found that required justice social work progress reviews had not been completed within the required timescales or had not taken place at all.

Question reference: S7W-04373

Asked by: Alan Brown, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answer expected on 17 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what changes are being proposed to the National Records of Scotland statistical publications.

Question reference: S7W-03707

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered providing funding for pre-qualification placements for trainee counsellors to help meet the increasing demand for mental health services.

Placements form an important element of many qualifications, including counselling qualifications. In most cases, the responsibility for arranging placements generally rests with the individual, education providers and placement organisations. These placements can take place across a range of settings, including health, third and voluntary sector, and private organisations.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a national funding scheme for counselling placements. The Scottish Government will continue to work collaboratively with partners across health and social care to ensure workforce planning is evidence-based, sustainable and supports the ambitions set out in the refreshed Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan, Service Renewal Framework and Population Health Framework.

Question reference: S7W-03708

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered introducing bursaries for trainee counsellors to help meet the increasing demand for mental health services.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a national bursary scheme for trainee counsellors. However, individuals undertaking counselling qualifications may be eligible for financial support through Scotland’s higher and further education funding arrangements, subject to eligibility.

The refreshed Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan, published on 29 September 2026, sets out our ambition for system reform and sustainable improvements across mental health and wellbeing services.

Question reference: S7W-03705

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered introducing probationary pay for trainee counsellors to help meet the increasing demand for mental health services.

The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that counsellors make in supporting mental health and wellbeing. All NHS terms and conditions are negotiated and agreed nationally in partnership between Staff Side organisations, NHS Employers and the Scottish Government. The Agenda for Change Handbook sets out the agreed terms and conditions for nearly all non-medical staff in the NHS and Annex 21 of the Handbook provides a mechanism to pay a set percentage of the top of the fully qualified pay band each year that a staff member is in training for a particular role.

We recognise the challenges in meeting demand for mental health services and continue to work with partners across health and care to ensure we have the right workforce, with the right skill mix, to meet the needs of the people of Scotland. This includes considering workforce requirements across the mental health system, recognising the important contribution of a range of professions, which includes counsellors, in delivering high-quality, sustainable improvements in mental health and wellbeing services in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-03795

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will assess whether the operation of the muirburn licensing scheme enables timely wildfire fuel management, including monitoring of application processing times, the number of applications refused or withdrawn and instances of planned fuel management work not proceeding.

Our Strategic Action Plan on Wildfire, which was published in March 2026, supports proportionate land-management practices, including firebreaks, regulated muirburn and other methods of vegetation management that help mitigate against the risk and spread of wildfire.

Following the Dava fire last year, the Scottish Government took the decision to delay the implementation of the new licence scheme at that time to allow for further and thorough scientific research. The evidence based conclusion was that a licence scheme was still a proportionate and balanced approach, helping to ensure muirburn is carried out safely and responsibly while continuing to support wildfire prevention.

The muirburn licensing scheme came into effect on 15 September, following the launch of the online licensing scheme in July 2026. Licences can be issued for a range of purposes, including preventing, or reducing the risk of, wildfires causing damage to habitats. As of 8 October, no licences applied for this year had been refused.

As the threat from wildfires increases, the Scottish Government will continue to work with land managers, rural communities, NatureScot and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to support practical, proportionate approaches that improve wildfire resilience while protecting Scotland’s natural environment.

In addition to this, NatureScot will monitor the operation of the licensing system, including any issues arising from licence applications, licence conditions, compliance activity and stakeholder feedback.

Question reference: S7W-03789

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide for the community wildfire volunteer pilot, which is reportedly being discussed by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Cairngorms National Park Authority, including funding for training, protective equipment and insurance, and when it expects the pilot to become operational.

Action 18 within our Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires, which was published in March 2026, set out that:

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and partners within the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF) will give further consideration to proposals for a mountain rescue-style multi-stakeholder response model, with trained wildfire volunteers, to support local efforts when called upon. There is potential to trial this approach within the Cairngorms National Park.

Discussions had begun between Cairngorms National Park Authority and SFRS around the possibility of trialling a multi-stakeholder response model to tackling wildfires prior to this year’s wildfire in Glenmore. This approach and these discussions will continue.

SFRS continues to strengthen its own wildfire capability. Through its Wildfire Strategy and the wider Service Delivery Review, they continue to develop the skills, equipment, specialist advice and operational arrangements required to respond safely and effectively. This includes strategically located wildfire resources, specialist equipment, tactical advisers and enhanced support for crews operating in rural and remote environments. The SFRS debrief process will consider a wide range of possible improvements. This could include the introduction of multi-disciplinary teams.

We are also reviewing the Action Plan following this year’s wildfire in Glenmore, and will consider what further steps may be required as part of that review.

Question reference: S7W-03788

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to cover any injury, public liability and loss of, or damage to, equipment when land managers, contractors and volunteers assist with wildfire response on land beyond their own holdings, and whether it will work with responding organisations and insurers to address any gaps in that protection.

We recognised in our Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires which was published in March 2026, that clarity was needed over insurance cover for land owners, land-based staff and their equipment when responding to wildfires – including when they ignite and spread on nearby land-holdings rather than their own land-holding or place of work.

In relation to action 14 within the Plan, relating to insurance, the Scottish Government has facilitated discussions between the Association of British Insurers, insurance companies, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, public sector partners and Scottish Land and Estates. The purpose of these discussions was to ensure that the insurance industry has a full understanding of wildfire insurance issues and requirements and that these can be taken into consideration when insurers are developing and updating their policies.

We are also aware of the information gathering process which is being carried out by the Cairngorms National Park Authority with regard to compensation for volunteers and responders.

We are reviewing the Action Plan following this year’s wildfire in Glenmore, and will consider what further steps are required as part of that review.

Question reference: S7W-03792

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government in what circumstances recipients of woodland creation or management grants may be required to repay funding where woodland is damaged or destroyed by wildfire, and what discretion, appeal arrangements and restoration support are available.

Where wildfire affects grant-funded woodland, Scottish Forestry will assess the impact on the contractual obligations and determine what action is appropriate. In doing so, account may be taken of the circumstances of the wildfire, the extent of the damage, the steps taken by the beneficiary to meet their obligations and the options available for restoration of the woodland.

Recovery of grant would not be automatic and would be considered alongside any remedial or restoration measures.

The grant contract requires the recipients to keep the property and assets relating to the approved activities insured for their full reinstatement value against fire and other specified risks. Insurance cover would be a relevant consideration in determining how a wildfire loss is addressed and whether further public support is appropriate.

Grant recipients who disagree with a decision relating to compliance, penalties or recovery of grant may make use of the Forestry Grant Scheme review and appeal processes set out within the scheme guidance.