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-03677

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether any Scottish Ministers have participated in meetings of the working group established to manage the effects of fishing on seafloor integrity, as described in the National Marine Plan Review 2021: Three-Year Report on the Effectiveness of Scotland's National Marine Plan, and, if so, whether it will publish the minutes of those meetings.

Question reference: S7W-03662

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42237 by Mairi Gougeon on 10 December 2025, how many Remote Piloted Aerial Surveillance Systems (RPAS) are currently available to the Marine Directorate for the purpose of marine compliance aerial surveillance flights.

Question reference: S7W-03682

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what further plans it has to support programmes that can identify and treat PTSD, depression and suicidal ideation among currently serving police officers.

Question reference: S7W-02667

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 25 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its commitment to reduce child poverty, whether it will consider widening the eligibility criteria of the Young Patients Family Fund to make it more accessible to the families who are most in need of financial support by extending it to (a) outpatients attending regular appointments, and (b) day patients as appropriate.

The Young Patient Family Fund (YPFF) is designed to support the families of all babies, children and young people under age 18 who require inpatient care in Scotland. There are no plans to expand eligibility of the YPFF at this time.

In the last two years, the Scottish Government has provided over £3.1m per year in financial support to eligible families under this scheme.

In addition to support available under the YPFF, financial support for travel to hospital appointments is available through the patient travel expenses reimbursement schemes. Under these schemes, patients and authorised escorts can reclaim reasonable travel costs associated with attending a hospital appointment, in line with eligibility criteria and medical requirements.

Question reference: S7W-02668

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 25 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its commitment to reduce child poverty, whether it will consider widening the eligibility criteria of the Young Patients Family Fund to make it more accessible to the families who are most in need of financial support by taking a "cash first" approach to remove any barriers faced by those most in need of financial support.

The Young Patient Family Fund (YPFF) is designed to support the families of all babies, children and young people under the age of 18 who require inpatient care in Scotland. While there are no plans at this time to introduce a cash-first approach through the YPFF, we recognise the importance of ensuring that families can access support without undue financial hardship.

Health Boards are asked, where possible, to pre-book travel and accommodation for families. In addition, to ensure that families can access support while their child is receiving inpatient care, free meals from hospital catering services, patient meals, or meal vouchers and tokens that can be used in hospital catering facilities may also be available.

Question reference: S7W-03165

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 25 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the approval of the EndoSure and Endotest rapid diagnostic tests for use within NHS England and NHS Wales earlier in 2026, whether it supports the roll-out of these tests within NHS Scotland for the diagnosis of endometriosis.

The Scottish Government welcomes innovation that can offer women improved care and support.

We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put women at the centre of their care.

I welcome the development of this draft NICE guidance on technologies for diagnosing endometriosis in primary care. It is an important step towards health technologies which better meet the needs of women.

We will work with the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) to consider the final guidance and its implications for Scotland, including the potential role of these tests in supporting earlier diagnosis of endometriosis.

Question reference: S7W-03577

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the factors contributing to the reported decline in the number of veterans approved for support under the Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers (LIFT) scheme to one per year between 2024 and 2026, and what targeted outreach it plans to introduce to increase uptake.

Question reference: S7W-03635

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has commissioned a business case for the integration of the database systems used by the Scottish Prison Service, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Question reference: S7W-03631

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what data is currently collected on cases of asbestos-related disease and what plans it has to improve the level of data collected, including whether it will consult on any proposed changes.

Question reference: S7W-03527

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide that treatment and support services for conditions arising following mesh removal surgery are equitable across Scotland.