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-02543

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address any gaps in data in order to improve reporting against the National Indicators.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving data availability and quality to support reporting against the National Indicators. The National Indicators bring together data published elsewhere and do not collect data specifically for monitoring. They provide a streamlined measure of progress across the work of the Scottish Government, the wider public sector, and Scotland more broadly. As source data improves, this will be reflected in the National Indicators.

Question reference: S7W-02906

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the total cost to taxpayers of investigating, securing and clearing illegal waste sites over the last five years, and what proportion of these costs has subsequently been recovered from those responsible.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally and does not hold estimates of the annual costs associated with waste crime which could be split across a number of public bodies and enforcement agencies. For information of this nature, you may wish to contact the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Police Scotland and local authorities, as they may be able to assist further.

Question reference: S7W-02542

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its approach and timeline for the development of the National Indicators that underpin the National Outcomes, and how it plans to consult with relevant sectors and organisations as part of this process.

The Scottish Government is in the process of finalising a streamlined set of National Indicators, drawing on international good practice such as the recent United Nations (UN) Expert Group on Beyond GDP report and which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Chief Statistician will recommend a National Indicator set to ministers. We intend to launch the reformed NPF, including the National Indicators, later this year and will continue to keep Parliament informed of progress.

Question reference: S7W-02540

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in reviewing the National Performance Framework, including when the revised framework and National Outcomes will be published.

The Scottish Government is in the process of finalising the National Performance Framework (NPF) following an extensive programme of engagement earlier this year which included organisations from a range of sectors. I have written to committees this week to inform them of the proposed new National Outcomes that form part of the NPF, and that we intend to launch the reformed NPF, including the National Indicators, later this year. I will continue to keep Parliament informed of progress. We will also publish background information on the process as part of the evidence base

Question reference: S7W-02541

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Programme for Government 2026-27 will be closely aligned or mapped to the revised National Performance Framework.

In the Programme for Government, the First Minister states that his priorities and ambitions will help build a Scotland that is fair, healthy, prosperous, secure, skilled, sustainable, and connected. The Scottish Government’s five-year (corporate) plan explains that we will continue to improve how we track progress towards the National Outcomes by establishing a new system in 2026. I have written to committees this week regarding the proposed National Outcomes. We intend to launch the reformed National Performance Framework, including the National Indicators, later this year and will keep Parliament informed of progress.

Question reference: S7W-02807

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what interim measures it is taking to support local authorities bring vacant and derelict buildings back into productive use while the statutory framework for Compulsory Sales Orders is being developed.

We have not committed to the development of a statutory framework for Compulsory Sale Orders. National Planning Framework 4 encourages, promotes and facilitates the reuse of brownfield, vacant and derelict land and empty buildings, to help reduce the need for greenfield development. Existing compulsory purchase powers can be used to help bring such land and buildings back into use. We will continue to monitor whether compulsory sale powers could provide any additional benefits beyond a reformed compulsory purchase system.

Question reference: S7W-03305

Asked by: Lloyd Melville, MSP for Angus South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Stephen Flynn on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its regulatory check of local road user charging powers under Part 3 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001.

Given the ongoing financial pressures facing households, we do not believe it is appropriate to continue work on the regulatory check of local road user charging powers at present. Accordingly, no further work is being taken forward.

The Scottish Government remains committed to meeting Scotland's carbon budget targets and achieving net zero emissions by 2045. We will continue to support sustainable travel and reduce transport emissions, contributing to delivery of the Climate Change Plan while helping to realise the economic opportunities of the transition to net zero.

Question reference: S7W-02897

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to introducing breakfast clubs across all special schools from August 2027.

The Scottish Government remains committed to the ambition set out by the First Minister which will see children in primary school and all children in special school able to benefit from our national breakfast club policy.

Breakfast club provision must be inclusive and responsive to individual needs, in line with equalities legislation, and inclusive of disabled children and children with additional support needs. Work is continuing through the Equality Impact Assessment process and wider stakeholder engagement to inform the most appropriate approaches to breakfast provision in special school settings. The national breakfast offer will focus on delivering equitable access, with provision shaped locally to meet the needs of children and their families.

Question reference: S7W-02805

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the specific impact that the introduction of Compulsory Sales Orders would have on the ability of local authorities to tackle the reported backlog of long-term empty homes and derelict commercial properties.

Last year’s consultation, Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland, also included questions on compulsory sale orders, including whether they would add any benefits beyond a reformed compulsory purchase order process, as a tool for tackling long-term vacant or derelict properties. It is unclear from the analysis of responses whether compulsory sale powers would in practice be a simpler, quicker or cheaper option than compulsory purchase powers. Not all action on empty homes requires legislative reform and in 2026-27 we are investing £2 million to support the work of the successful Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to continue to drive down the number of empty homes.

Question reference: S7W-02804

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to introduce primary legislation to establish Compulsory Sales Orders, following the publication on 26 August 2026 of the summary of responses to its consultation on compulsory purchase reform and the analysis report of its consultation on compulsory sale and lease orders.

The Scottish Government’s ‘Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland’ consultation demonstrated support for reforming and modernising Scotland's compulsory purchase system and we have committed to legislate for the proposed reforms during this Parliament, as set out in the Programme for Government.

The consultation also included questions about compulsory sale orders, and while respondents expressed support in principle, some questioned whether this could offer additional advantages beyond a reformed compulsory purchase process, with uncertainty about efficacy, justification and practical operation. As part of continuous improvement, we will continue to monitor whether compulsory sale powers could provide any additional benefits beyond a reformed compulsory purchase system.