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-02380

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its pre-election statements and manifesto commitment to introduce anti-SLAPP legislation in Scotland, what progress has been made in preparing, and when it expects to introduce, such legislation.

In 2025, the Scottish Government consulted on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), including a draft Model Law prepared by interested stakeholders. The majority view expressed by respondents was that SLAPPs need to be tackled and that reform should resemble the Model Law consulted on. The Scottish Government agreed and further work is being carried out on aspects of the Model Law, including how it would operate in practice. The Scottish Government continues to consider how this may be taken forward. The legislative programme will be agreed by Ministers and announced to Parliament in due course in the usual way.

Question reference: S7W-02363

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to enable local authorities to improve employment opportunities and pathways for people with autism.

The Scottish Government know that neurodivergent people, including autistic people face significant structural barriers to employment. We also recognise the valuable contributions that neurodivergent people bring to the workforce and are committed to supporting those individuals to both enter and sustain fulfilling employment.

Employability support in Scotland is delivered through our No One Left Behind approach in partnership with local authorities. This allows Local Employability Partnerships (LEPs) to design and deliver services that meet the needs of their communities and local labour markets. Through this approach, tailored support is available to people of all ages, who are furthest from the labour market, helping them to gain skills and confidence, helping them prepare for employment, training, education, and/or volunteering.

In addition, Specialist Employability Support is also available in all 32 Local Authorities, targeted specifically at disabled people and people with long term health conditions, including those with autism who may benefit from longer-term support. This service also has a particular focus on significant aftercare and in-work support to help people sustain and prosper in employment.

The Scottish Government has also committed to work closely with local authorities and delivery partners to identify and share good practice, strengthen local provision and ensure that employment support is responsive to the needs of neurodivergent people and disabled people across Scotland.

This includes developing a stepped care model for neurodevelopmental services and is working with NHS Boards, clinicians, people with lived experience and third sector partners to support its implementation. The model aims to provide earlier access to advice, support and interventions, while ensuring that specialist assessment services are available for those who require them.

Through these measures, we are helping to ensure that autistic people can access timely, person-centred support and clear pathways towards fair and sustainable employment.

Question reference: S7W-02322

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided any funding to (a) NHS health boards and (b) local authorities in order to carry out remedial works on Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) found in buildings.

The Scottish Government has directly funded the remediation of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in a number of Health Boards and is expecting to directly fund several further RAAC remedial projects across the health estate in due course. However, as a matter of building maintenance, any remediation of RAAC is primarily considered the responsibility of building owners and estate managers, including public bodies such as NHS Health Boards and Local Authorities, with costs met directly from their own budgets.

Question reference: S7W-02183

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much public money is being spent on promoting so-called chestfeeding.

The Scottish Government does not provide funding to promote chestfeeding. It has provided more than £12m additional investment since 2018 to support new mothers to achieve their breastfeeding goals, with more babies in Scotland now being breastfed for longer than ever before.

We are aware of media reporting that has incorrectly characterised a voluntary-led community group, Queer Milk, as a service that trains people to breastfeed or supports medical interventions. The Scottish Government has received clear and unambiguous assurance that the group is not training men to lactate and feed infants. Any claim to the contrary is untrue.

The Scottish Government does not provide funding for Queer Milk.

Question reference: S7W-02151

Asked by: Kristopher Leask, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Holding Answer by Stephen Gethins on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what community consultation took place prior to the renewal of the lease for Whitelee Windfarm and whether any opportunities were provided for local community organisations to bid for the lease and, if so, what those opportunities were.

Question reference: S7W-02152

Asked by: Kristopher Leask, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Holding Answer by Stephen Gethins on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that opportunities for community ownership are maximised as part of the repowering of Whitelee Windfarm.

Question reference: S7W-02337

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much, by (a) percentage and (b) value, of the increase in funding allocated to the Registered Social Landlord Adaptations Programme in its Budget for 2026-27 is new investment, and how much has been provided through reductions, transfers or reprofiling of expenditure elsewhere in the Scottish Budget.

The Scottish Government has protected the Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) Adaptations Programme budget, maintaining this at £20.9 million for 2026-27. This reflects our ongoing commitment to support social landlords to deliver necessary adaptations for older tenants and disabled tenants to ensure they can live safely and independently in their own home for as long as they choose to do so.

Demand for this programme is high, due to the increased need for adaptations to support people to live safely and independently at home, maintaining the significant increase to this budget for a second year reflects this.

All funding available to the Scottish Government is allocated through the annual budget process. It is not possible to attribute a specific funding source to a particular budget line.

Question reference: S7W-02704

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will revise the statutory guidance on Self-Directed Support to make clear that individual budgets may be used to fund sport and physical activity where this contributes to an agreed personal outcome.

Question reference: S7W-02716

Asked by: Yi-pei Chou Turvey, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the future of the "Wallace letter of recommendation", which is currently on loan to the National Records of Scotland from the UK National Archive.

Question reference: S7W-02714

Asked by: Adam Harley, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its new national plan for hospital flow and whether the plan will include structural changes to the NHS and NHS boards.