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-00006

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 26 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to dualling the A96, particularly in relation to the completion of the Nairn Bypass, at the earliest practicable opportunity.

As outlined in our pledge over the first 100 Days of a new government and as set out in the Scottish Budget 2026-27, Scottish Spending Review 2026 and the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline 2026, published on 13 January, the Scottish Government is fully committed to dualling the whole A96, including a Nairn Bypass. As part of this commitment the Scottish Government is already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including Nairn Bypass.

Investment in the trunk road network over the four year Capital Spending Review period to 2029-30 will allow the Scottish Government to make further progress on dualling the A96 between Inverness and Nairn, including the Nairn Bypass. With the land acquired for the scheme in 2025, funding is included in the 2026-27 Budget to commence the delivery of advanced works. This will include vital archaeological investigation works and other key environmental and ecological measures, along with significant work to facilitate complex Public Utility diversions.

In parallel to the advanced works, investment through the Budget in 2026-27 will also allow Transport Scotland to continue to take forward the work to determine the most suitable procurement option for delivering the scheme and further develop the Business Case.

The Scottish Government’s preference would be to deliver the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) as one project. However, due to the continued fiscal challenges, it is planned that the Scottish Government will take forward a phased approach to delivery, starting with the Nairn Bypass, followed by the remaining sections of the scheme, from Seafield, east of Inverness, to Balloch and then on from Balloch to the Nairn Bypass.

Completion of the preparatory work, including approval of the Business Case, will enable a firm timetable for delivery to be set as part of the annual budget setting process, with a view to commencing procurement of the main works contract for the Nairn Bypass within this Capital Spending Review period.

The Capital Spending Review allows for the commencement of the construction of the Nairn Bypass in 2029-30, subject to business case approval and confirmation of funding beyond the spending review period. Delivery of advanced works for the Seafield to Balloch section of the scheme are also expected to commence during this capital spending review period.

Despite the current fiscal position and following the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme, the Scottish Government will continue to progress dualling of the A96 eastwards, including an Elgin Bypass.

Question reference: S7W-00149

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S6W-44327 by Jackson Carlaw on 9 April 2026, whether it will provide an update on when it will conclude its work to review the provision of paternity and partner leave for MSP staff.

Question reference: S6O-02088

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes are required to be built to meet the needs of rural communities in the Highland and Islands.

Question reference: S6W-02088

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish an update to the report, Housing statistics: Empty properties and second homes.

The current published set of annual statistics on the number of Long Term Empty Properties and Second Homes, based on Council Tax Base data as at September 2020, were published in the Housing Statistics Quarterly Update in December 2020, and are available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-scotland-quarterly-update/ , with detailed local authority level Excel tables covering the period from 1996 to 2020 available at Housing statistics: Empty properties and second homes - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The next set of annual statistics as at September 2021 are due to be published as part of the Housing Statistics Quarterly Update in December 2021. An exact publication date will be pre-announced no later than 4 weeks in advance, in line with the Statistics Code of Practice, on the Scottish Government website: Official statistics: Official statistics: forthcoming publications - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Question reference: S5O-02088

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much it is investing in delivering more affordable homes across Fife in 2018-19.

Question reference: S5W-02088

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its strategy is to recruit for any unfilled psychiatrist posts and encourage more people into the profession and what specific action it is taking to recruit for NHS (a) Grampian and (b) Tayside.

It is for health boards to plan and deliver clinical services and ensure that they have the correct staff in place to meet the needs of their services and ensure high quality patient care.

The Scottish Government works closely with all boards to support their staff recruitment efforts.

Under this Government, the number of consultants with psychiatry specialties in NHS Grampian has increased by 18 per cent. The number of consultants with psychiatry specialties in NHS Tayside has increased by 42.6 per cent.

In 2016-17, NHS Tayside’s resource budget has increased by 5.8% to £699.1 million, an above inflation increase, having previously increased by 2.5% in 2015-16. Decide if we are putting into background or answer.

In 2016-17, NHS Grampian’s resource budget has increased by 6.6% to £882.3 million, an above inflation – the highest uplift of any territorial board, having previously increased by 6.3% in 2015-16.

The Scottish Government recognise that Scotland does experience particular recruitment and retention difficulties due to the remote and rural nature of parts of the geographic landscape. To address this, boards can use either the UK or the Scotland only Shortage Occupation List (SOL) to recruit internationally to any of the medical occupations listed, including Psychiatrists where evidence of shortages exist.

Question reference: S4O-02088

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what action the NHS is taking to improve its services for users of British Sign Language.

Question reference: S4W-02088

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 05 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 August 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how funding provided for the provision, maintenance and use of hyperbaric chambers is agreed and what this covers.

National Services Division commissions the National Hyperbaric Medicine Unit in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary as a nationally designated service to provide and co-ordinate emergency treatment and advice in Scotland for diving related illness. The national service also operates the Hyperbaric National Registration Service which recognises chambers that meet specific criteria to treat patients with Diving Decompression Illness on an emergency basis. Chambers need to apply to be part of the National Registration Service. The Hyperbaric National Registration Service currently recognises three independent chambers in Scotland, based in Orkney, Oban and Millport.

The Aberdeen service receives nationally designated funding (top sliced from NHS boards based on the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) formula). The three independent chambers invoice each NHS board for treatment of divers with diving related illness on a cost per case basis but also receive funding from public organisations to support their infrastructure as set out in the answer to question S4W-02086 on 30 August 2011.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Question reference: S3W-02088

Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 July 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the National Osteoporosis Society about improving services for osteoporosis patients.

The National Osteoporosis Society is a member of the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, with which we are working in partnership on implementation of our long-term conditions strategy.

The Society was represented on the Falls Working Group which produced the framework for falls prevention incorporated in Health Department Letter (2007)13 issued on 21 February 2007.

The following is the original answer (published on 30 July 2007); see below.

The National Osteoporosis Society is a member of the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, with which we are working in partnership on implementation of our long-term conditions strategy.

The Society was represented on the Falls Working Group which produced the framework for falls prevention incorporated in Health Department Letter (2007)13 issued on 21 February 2007.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing is currently considering an invitation to attend the Society''s AGM in September.

Question reference: S2W-02088

Asked by: Colin Fox, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Socialist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 August 2003
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure safe and comfortable working conditions at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.