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: S6O-05624

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent reports that police officers are attending up to 700 mental health-related calls per day.

Question reference: S6O-05639

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet with stakeholders to discuss school provision and safe travel routes in Robroyston.

Question reference: S6O-05614

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local authorities to promote culture and the arts.

Question reference: S6O-05622

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the CashBack for Communities programme as it enters Phase 7.

Question reference: S6W-43890

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 4 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Royal Mail regarding the reported operational pressures it faces and the possibility of late or non-delivery of election material, including postal ballots, which could compromise the democratic process ahead of the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election period.

While Royal Mail and postal delivery services are reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government is committed to the safe delivery of the parliamentary election on 7 May.

I have been concerned to see recent reports from the BBC and other media outlets stating that Royal Mail are pursuing a policy of prioritising the delivery of parcels while letters remain undelivered for a much longer period of time than should be the case. This is why I have already written to Mr Alistair Cochrane, Interim CEO of the Royal Mail Group, requesting a meeting to discuss with him how Royal Mail intend to ensure all election materials are delivered within the required timescales.

In addition, representatives of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland will be meeting with Royal Mail representatives on a weekly basis from mid-March to the election on 7 May. This was normal practice in the run up to previous elections and provides an opportunity to discuss any emerging issues.

Question reference: S6W-43798

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 4 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to implement the recommendations from the Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape by James Withers, particularly around engagement with business.

The Scottish Government remains committed to driving change through our Post-School Education and Skills Reform Programme. Recent progress includes the passing of The Tertiary Education and Training (TET) Bill on 20 January, which will simplify the system by giving responsibility for funding national training programmes and all apprenticeships to a redesigned Scottish Funding Council. We have also reached agreement on a new model for skills planning with the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland. In the period ahead, this work involves identifying a manageable number of sectors for national Skills Needs Assessments (SNAs). This will focus assessment capacity where national level insight can add the greatest value, rather than attempting to assess the whole economy in depth at once.

Once we have enhanced understanding of the skills needs in these sectors, the Scottish Government will identify priority skills and set expectations for the system in addressing these, whereas SFC will ensure planning and reporting is in place for delivery of post-school provision for the priority skills. This is being tested with partners across industry, regions and providers before any decisions are finalised. In all of this we continue to engage closely with businesses and employers. The Scottish Government hosts an employer roundtable which provides an opportunity for strategic engagement with employers. In addition, officials have set up a national reform employer network to engage employers at project level. I have also led extensive engagement with employers, businesses and business representative organisations on specific proposals including the TET Bill and the new model for Skills Planning. We will continue to engage closely with them as we progress this work.

Question reference: S6W-43934

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 4 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has spent almost £1 million on suspending staff with pay since 2022, and what action it is taking to lower these costs.

The Scottish Government expects all Health Boards to follow national guidance and employment law when considering the suspension of employees. The NHS Scotland Guide to Suspension advocates a risk-based approach to assess whether the employee poses a clinical or financial risk, or is a risk to themselves or others. It also encourages the use of early-resolution approaches prior to suspension, where safe and appropriate, as a means of minimising both disruption and associated costs.

Question reference: S6W-43930

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 4 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the 12-week target for outpatient cardiology appointments is met.

As part of this year’s additional investment in Planned Care, we have allocated over £500,000 to Health Boards to reduce long waits for cardiology. Between 31 July 2025 and 31 January 2026, new outpatient waits over 52 weeks for cardiology reduced by 70%, while waits of over 12 weeks have reduced by 17%.

We want to maintain that momentum which is why our budget for next year includes a record figure of almost £22.5 billion for health and social care. We will scale up productivity and efficiency programmes to create additional capacity, as we work towards achieving the 12 week new outpatient standard. Health boards will also take forward a new collaborative subnational planning approach - working together to optimise capacity for all specialities, including cardiology, so that patients receive the care that they need as soon as possible.

Question reference: S6W-43931

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 4 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the six-week target for patients to receive an echocardiogram is met.

Our budget for next year includes a record figure of almost £22.5 billion for health and social care. We will scale up productivity and efficiency programmes to create additional capacity and health boards will take forward a new collaborative subnational planning approach - working together to optimise capacity for all specialities and diagnostic tests, including echocardiogram, so that patients receive the care that they need as soon as possible.

Last year our Scottish Cardiac Audit Programme (SCAP) published cardiology diagnostic data, including waiting times statistics, for the first time. This is an important step forward to support monitoring and improvement of echocardiograph services in Scotland.

Data on echocardiography will be incorporated into future SCAP reports. Monitoring of performance through SCAP allows us to identify where challenges are being faced in the delivery of high quality cardiac care and work closely with clinical and operational teams to address issues. Health Boards are also expected to identify issues and work to improve performance locally.

Question reference: S6W-43921

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 4 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Act 2020 will come into force, and what its position is on whether there would be less instances of female genital mutilation if it had been brought into force in 2020.

The Scottish Government’s intention is that the Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Act 2020 will be commenced by December 2026. Work is progressing with necessary partners towards this deadline.

FGM has been illegal in Scotland since 1985 and there is no evidence to indicate that it is taking place in Scotland. The Act will strengthen the existing legislative framework offering extra protection to women and girls through statutory guidance and protective orders, which allow the courts to impose conditions which will prevent someone from taking a girl abroad for FGM.

While the Act is not yet in force, existing legislation and measures and child protection orders, remain available to protect any child who may be at risk.