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-02987

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what training and guidance is provided to NHS Scotland staff on recognising heart attacks in women, including presentations that may differ from the symptoms traditionally associated with myocardial infarction.

The Scottish Government does not mandate a single national training programme recognising heart attacks in women for NHS Scotland staff. Decisions on workforce training and professional development are primarily a matter for individual NHS Boards, informed by national clinical guidance, professional standards and evidence-based practice.

NHS Scotland staff are supported through a range of clinical guidelines, professional education and evidence-based resources relating to the recognition, diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction. For example, NHS Inform provides dedicated information on women's heart health, including information on heart attack symptoms in women and the importance of seeking urgent treatment. NHS Inform also highlights that women may experience symptoms differently and may delay seeking help, emphasising the importance of recognising symptoms and accessing emergency care promptly.

Question reference: S7W-02975

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve whole-system patient flow, including through seven-day discharge services, increased social care capacity and shared responsibility across hospital departments, in addition to measures focused on redirecting patients from Emergency Departments.

The Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026-2031 sets out a coordinated national response to reduce delayed discharge, improve urgent and unscheduled care performance, strengthen community alternatives and support faster, safer discharge from hospital. All hospital departments and the wider health and social care system have a part to play and must work collaboratively to improve patient flow through the system - thereby ensuring patients can receive the right care in the right place with no unnecessary delays to the patient journey.

The Plan includes implementing Discharge Without Delay principles across all territorial NHS Boards, with discharge planning beginning on day one of a hospital stay and setting up of Integrated Discharge Teams to support patients back home with the right support throughout the full week. The DWD Programme recognises that sustainable improvements in flow cannot be achieved through hospital-based interventions alone and require a whole-system approach involving community health services, primary care, social care, rehabilitation, reablement, Home First approaches and effective discharge planning.

Question reference: S7W-03430

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland to become an established organisation.

Question reference: S7W-03437

Asked by: David Green, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with industry about the future of the 2,125 civil nuclear jobs currently supported at Dounreay.

Question reference: S7W-03444

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much money it expects to raise from the Building Safety Levy during the 15 years for which it is in place.

Question reference: S7W-03445

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a future engagement strategy for secondary schools as part of its efforts to address skills shortages.

Question reference: S7W-03440

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a costed delivery plan and timetable for extending funded early learning and childcare (ELC) to children under three.

Question reference: S7W-03436

Asked by: David Green, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role of Scotland’s 5,583 civil nuclear workers in supporting the country’s energy transition.

Question reference: S7W-03438

Asked by: David Green, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role of the 2,125 people employed at Dounreay in maintaining and developing Scotland’s nuclear skills base.

Question reference: S7W-03434

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role that the 851 civil nuclear workers at Torness play in supporting Scotland’s energy security.