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: S6W-40960

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of the reported benefits of the Community Syringe Redemption Program (CSRP) pilot schemes delivered in New York City and the City of Boston in the US and, if so, whether it will consider promoting similar pilot schemes with local integration joint boards in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is aware of the Community Syringe Redemption Program pilot schemes currently delivered in New York City and the City of Boston in the United States. However, while this specific scheme has not been assessed, we will continue to monitor it, and other international developments, and are open to reviewing any robust evaluation of such initiatives.

Our priority remains to support services that reduce harm, promote recovery, and protect the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs. We will continue to work closely with partners to ensure that harm reduction interventions are evidence-based, locally responsive, and aligned with Scotland’s public health priorities.

Question reference: S6W-41018

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given in the preparation of the 2026-27 Budget to ensure adequate provision of care and support for individuals with severe and enduring mental illness.

Mental health is an absolute priority for this Government and ensuring provision of care and support for individuals with mental illness will be considered as part of the ongoing budget process. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance has confirmed that the Scottish Government will publish the 2026-27 Scottish Budget on Tuesday 13 January 2026. The UK Government’s decision to publish its Autumn Budget on 26 November has significantly compressed the Scottish Budget timetable.

Question reference: S6W-41355

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on piloting a community-only deer management leasing scheme that prioritises residents with appropriate qualifications.

Question reference: S6W-41357

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration Forestry and Land Scotland gave to alternative lease models, such as a community-only stalking lease, before introducing the policy of exclusive use of paid contractors for deer management.

Question reference: S6W-41401

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will instruct CMAL to disregard any tenders from Chinese shipbuilding firms, in light of reported concerns regarding unfair, market-distorting state support for Chinese shipbuilding firms, and the lack of a trade agreement between the UK and China as defined by section 89 of the Procurement Act 2023.

Question reference: S6W-41356

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Forestry and Land Scotland has reportedly ceased offering sporting leases to the public, and what evidence supports the reported claim that previous leaseholders failed to reduce deer numbers effectively.

Question reference: S6W-41403

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the reported purchase of Kinrara Estate near Aviemore by Oxygen Conservation is in the public interest.

Question reference: S6W-41398

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the temporary barriers will be removed from the carriageway at the railway overbridge at Whitevale Street in Dennistoun.

Question reference: S6W-41395

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40892 by Jenni Minto on 16 October 2025, whether it will clarify how the recently announced extra GP appointments to be allocated by March 2026 will support those who may be at risk of cardiovascular disease, and whether these appointments will be directly allocated to those known to be at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Question reference: S6W-41404

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government where the liability lies for any repayment of planting grants given to the Kinrara Estate, near Aviemore, following the reported sale of the estate by Brewdog to Oxygen Conservation.