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-04159

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland has held any discussions with (a) CMAL or (b) CalMac about permanently discontinuing the Campbeltown to Ardrossan ferry route.

Question reference: S7W-04157

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place between Transport Scotland and (a) CMAL or (b) CalMac about replacing the MV Isle of Arran vessel upon its scheduled retirement.

Question reference: S7W-04131

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the support provided to young carers.

Question reference: S7W-04160

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual (a) operating and (b) maintenance costs of Campbeltown Ferry Terminal have been in each year since 2022-23.

Question reference: S7W-04108

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many special care dentists there have been in each NHS board in each year since 2021-22.

Question reference: S7W-04158

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether any consideration has been given to extending the use of the MV Isle of Arran in order to reinstate the Campbeltown to Ardrossan ferry service.

Question reference: S7W-04123

Asked by: Jenny Young, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25172 by Jenny Gilruth on 4 March 2024, whether it will provide the complete figures for each year since 2012-13.

Question reference: S7W-03803

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider investment in food production as an alternative to its proposed food price caps.

A strong domestic food production sector is essential for Scotland's food security, economic growth and life in our rural communities. That is why the 2026-27 Scottish Budget provided over £660 million in support to Scottish farmers, crofters, land managers and rural communities, including maintaining direct payments and investment in transforming farming and food production. At the same time, we are exploring whether statutory price caps on selected essential food items could help households facing cost of living pressures. Future proposals will be informed by the ongoing engagement with producers, processors, retailers and consumers, and the public consultation.

Question reference: S7W-04095

Asked by: Jack Middleton, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 October 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angela Constance on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to publish its progress report on reform in health and social care.

The Scottish Government is today publishing the Health and Social Care Reform Progress Report - Year 1 Delivery of Population Health Framework (PHF) and Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework (SRF), delivering on our commitment to transparent public reporting on progress of delivery of long-term health and social care reform.

The report has been authored jointly with COSLA reflecting the collaborative ownership of the PHF and SRF and, presents progress against the four core areas of the Health and Social Care Vision: Prevention, Access, Quality, and Personled Care.

Together, the first year of implementation provides us with strong foundations and positive progress across the range of high-level actions in the two frameworks. The next phase of work will build on the progress and partnerships established during Year 1 and will be characterised not only by the continued delivery of existing commitments.

The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining momentum towards our shared ambitions, ensuring Scotland's health, social care and wider public services are equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of the years ahead, while continuing to drive improvements in population health, tackle inequalities, and deliver high-quality, sustainable services for the people of Scotland.

The Report can be accessed here: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781807756291

Question reference: S7W-03782

Asked by: Jamie Langan, MSP for South Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of proposals in Northern Ireland, which would require sellers and suppliers of puppies, and sellers of kittens under six months of age, to register with their local council, and what consideration it has given to establishing such a requirement in Scotland.

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (the 2021 Regulations) introduced an updated, modern framework for animal-related activities, including the breeding and selling of puppies and kittens. The 2021 Regulations already require that those breeding more than 3 litters of puppies or kittens or selling animals as pets in the course of a business be licensed by the appropriate licensing authority.

The Scottish Government has not made any assessment of proposals in Northern Ireland, which would require sellers and suppliers of puppies, and sellers of kittens under six months of age, to register with their local council, nor given consideration to establishing such a requirement in Scotland. However, Scottish Government officials meet regularly with officials from the UK Government and other devolved administrations to discuss issues relating to the wider pet trade.