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-02305

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding animal use in scientific research, what assessment it has made of the alignment between its publication, Life Sciences Strategy for Scotland 2035 Vision, and the guiding 3Rs ethical framework principles of replacement, reduction and refinement.

The Life Sciences Strategy for Scotland is primarily designed to maximise growth, innovation and competitiveness across Scotland's life sciences sector. The 3Rs are fundamental ethical principles which seek to minimise the use of animals in scientific research and improve animal welfare, while enhancing scientific quality. The Life Sciences Strategy does not position 3Rs adoption as a core driver of growth, however there are opportunities for Scotland to build a competitive advantage through leadership in alternative methods, AI-enabled modelling, organoids, human-relevant research technologies and responsible innovation.

Question reference: S7W-02300

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it receives from the UK Government's Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) regarding licensed establishments carrying out procedures under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland, including whether it has received any information relating to investigations, compliance concerns or enforcement action.

The Scottish Government does not routinely receive such information. The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) publishes an annual report which includes information pertaining to investigations, compliance and enforcement action. In addition, the ASRU publishes detailed annual statistics that includes data on the number of licences granted, nature and number of procedures undertaken, species used etc. The publication of this information is a statutory requirement under the 1986 Act and all reports are available to view on the ASRU web site.

Question reference: S7W-02215

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding any impact of its recent tax changes on the cost of the Motability Scheme, and what action it is taking to protect disabled people in Scotland from any resulting increases in costs and more restrictive lease conditions under the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme.

The Scottish Government was not consulted on the UK Government’s tax changes, despite the clear and significant implications for the devolved Accessible Vehicles and Equipment (AVE) Scheme in Scotland, under which Motability is the current provider.

I wrote to the UK Government in November 2025 upon becoming aware of potential tax changes, emphasising that they would cause significant concern and uncertainty for disabled people who rely on the AVE Scheme to remain mobile. The Scottish Government will continue to strongly urge the UK Government to abandon these changes and commit to ensuring that disabled people can access the support that meets their needs through the Scheme now and in the future.

As a result of our engagement Motability has committed to providing additional mileage, on top of its reduced standard allowance, to customers living in very rural and island communities in recognition of their having to drive further to access key services.

In addition, customers in any area who drive more than 3,000 miles each year for essential services above the 10,000 standard annual inclusive mileage will also be able to apply for support with the increased excess mileage charge.

Question reference: S7W-02256

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the reduction of the reported nine-month waiting time for responses to Subject Access Requests from members of the public, including requests for access to video footage from body-worn filming devices.

The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 stipulates that the Chief Constable of Police Scotland is responsible for the policing of Scotland and is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority for this, rather than to Scottish Ministers directly. These arrangements are in place to ensure public confidence that the police act independently, free from unwarranted Ministerial interference. It would therefore be inappropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on or seek to intervene in operational matters.

While the operational delivery of SARs is a matter for Police Scotland, individuals retain statutory rights of access to their personal data under the Data Protection Act 2018. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) guidance states that law enforcement agencies should respond to SARs without undue delay and, in most cases, within one month.

Police Scotland have acknowledged on their website that, due to unprecedented demand, the current wait time can be up to nine months.

Question reference: S7W-02210

Asked by: Adam Harley, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider increasing the level of reimbursement that jurors are entitled to claim.

Jurors in Scotland may be eligible to claim compensation for a range of expenses:

Travel
Subsistence
Loss of earnings or benefits
Extra expenses of employing a childminder or a carer for a dependent adult
Other expenses approved by the court,

The maximum sums that can be claimed are set by the Scottish Ministers, and are detailed in full on the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service website. The rates of the allowances are kept under regular review, and there are no current plans to make changes to them.

It is worth noting that, for trials that last up to five days, the loss of earnings allowance that jurors can claim in Scotland is aligned with the allowance in the rest of the United Kingdom. However, in trials that last more than five days the Scottish allowance for loss of earnings is more generous than allowances elsewhere in the UK, recognising the greater financial impact that these longer trials can have on jurors.

Length of jury service	Daily loss of earnings allowance
First 5 days	£64.95
Day 6 to day 100	£129.91
After day 100	£230.00

Question reference: S7W-02214

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the recommendation by the Competition and Markets Authority to develop a heating oil price checker for Scotland, based on the model operated by the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, and whether it will commit to introducing such a service to improve price transparency for consumers.

Recent global events have highlighted the need for robust and effective consumer protections, better regulation, price transparency and targeted financial assistance for those reliant on heating oil.

Scottish Government is actively considering the recommendations made by the Competition and Markets Authority in its report on the home heating oil market. We are also working with UK and other devolved governments, along with regulators and industry stakeholders, to explore the feasibility and potential value of a Scottish heating oil price checker tool.

Working together will help avoid duplication while ensuring that any price checker tool meets the needs of consumers in all parts of the UK.

Question reference: S7W-02181

Asked by: Heather Anderson, MSP for Dundee City West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the improvement of the enforcement of cat breeding licensing, to ensure that the breeding of cats with extreme characteristics, including Scottish folds and flat-faced Persians, is addressed and in line with current recommendations by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission and UK Animal Welfare Committee.

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021, cat breeders must be licensed and comply with conditions that prohibit breeding where a cat’s genotype or conformation could have a detrimental effect on its welfare or that of its offspring.

These provisions already restrict the breeding of cats with known welfare concerns, including Scottish Folds, and can be applied to other breeds with extreme characteristics. The Scottish Government is committed to high standards of animal welfare and we will continue to keep the licensing framework under review, including consideration of recommendations from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission and the UK Animal Welfare Committee.

Question reference: S7W-02166

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 27 July 2026, Extra Funding to reduce long waits for treatment, how many additional orthopaedic (a) outpatient and (b) inpatient/day case treatments appointments will be delivered as a result of the additional £90 million announced to deal with NHS waiting times, and what the timetable is for the delivery of this.

Question reference: S7W-02165

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 27 July 2026, Extra Funding to reduce long waits for treatment, how many additional non-orthopaedic outpatient (a) appointments, (b) procedures and (c) operations will be delivered as a result of the additional £90 million announced to deal with NHS waiting times, and what the timetable is for the delivery of this.

Question reference: S7W-02170

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish a roadmap demonstrating how it will achieve its ambition of no one waiting more than 26 weeks for treatment by March 2031.