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

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 2237 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S7W-02152

Asked by: Kristopher Leask, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that opportunities for community ownership are maximised as part of the repowering of Whitelee Windfarm.

Question reference: S7W-01798

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the criteria used in the procurement of hearing aid batteries under the current contract, and how those criteria differ from those used in previous procurement exercises.

Question reference: S7W-02153

Asked by: David Linden, MSP for Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the outcomes of Police Scotland's Operation Armour in Aberdeen, which targeted the illegal use of personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs), such as e-bikes and e-scooters, and associated antisocial behaviour and criminality, including the number of vehicles seized; what information it has regarding (a) the number and nature of charges brought and subsequent (i) prosecutions and (ii) convictions, and (b) any changes in reported antisocial behaviour attributable to the operation; what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the potential roll-out of the operation beyond Aberdeen, including through a national framework or funded programme for targeted enforcement against such behaviour, what assessment it has made of any links between the activities targeted by the operation and other criminality, including the supply of illegal drugs and breaches of bail conditions, and what plans it has to review the adequacy of the legislation covering PLEVs, in light of the experience of Operation Armour and similar operations.

Question reference: S7W-02172

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a nationally agreed definition of a rapidly progressing or aggressive cancer.

Question reference: S7W-02182

Asked by: Heather Anderson, MSP for Dundee City West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the introduction of a ban on the sale and possession of snares, in light of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission's recommendation that such a ban be introduced.

Question reference: S7W-01797

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reported concerns regarding the quality and lifespan of hearing aid batteries currently provided to NHS patients.

Question reference: S7W-02174

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether clinicians are able to escalate patients with suspected aggressive cancers outside standard referral and treatment pathways.

Question reference: S7W-01801

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact that hearing aid batteries with a shorter-than-expected operating life may have on patient care.

Question reference: S7W-01608

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 30 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its position on reported calls for the introduction of a national fund to help address the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in buildings on university campuses.

Our commitment to the university sector is clear. Our overall 2026-27 investment will exceed £1.4bn, which includes a combined increase of over £55m in resource and capital funding for universities via the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) - equivalent to a 5% uplift on last year’s budget. We also continue our collaborative project between Scottish Government and Universities Scotland on the Framework for Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities launched in December 2025. This will explore options that will ensure our universities are sustainable and well positioned to respond to current and future challenges. I am grateful to cross-party colleagues for their engagement in this work, which I hope will continue as we consider these complex long-term issues.

The Scottish Government position on the responsibility for addressing the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has not changed. RAAC is primarily a building maintenance issue and responsibility lies with the owner of the building.

The SFC continues to engage with colleges and universities on estate-related matters, including issues relating to RAAC, and keeps the Scottish Government informed of significant sector-wide developments. Institutions are expected to take a risk-based approach to identifying, managing and mitigating any risks associated with RAAC, taking account of relevant professional guidance. The Scottish Government remains in regular contact with the SFC regarding estate-related risks affecting the tertiary education sector and will continue to monitor the position.

Question reference: S7W-01596

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 30 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it first became aware that reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was present in buildings on Edinburgh Napier University’s Merchiston Campus.

On 4 September 2023, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) provided the Scottish Government with details of institutions where reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) had been identified. Edinburgh Napier University was reported as having RAAC in one building on its Merchiston Campus, with its removal planned as part of the university’s wider campus redevelopment programme.

Responsibility for the management, maintenance and safety of university buildings rests with the institution as the owner of the estate. As part of its outcomes framework and assurance model the SFC engages directly with institutions on estate matters and has maintained oversight of issues relating to RAAC across the tertiary education sector.