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: S6W-38946

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 11 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the UK Government regarding potentially expanding the recently announced inquiry into grooming gangs in England and Wales to include Scotland.

The UK Government has made clear that the scope of it’s inquiry into grooming gang activity is limited to England and Wales. Scottish Government officials have met with UK Government officials to discuss the UK Government’s response to Baroness Casey’s audit and underline our commitment to supporting the inquiry and engaging on any matters relevant to Scotland.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with UK Government counterparts to identify opportunities for improved collaboration to tackle harm against young people including child sexual abuse and exploitation. As part of this approach, the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise and The Minister for Community Safety and Victims will be meeting with Jess Philips MP, UK Government Minister for Safeguarding in the coming months to discuss issues related to child sexual abuse and exploitation, violence against women and girls and online safety of children and young people.

Question reference: S6W-38772

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is appropriate for the Minister for Public Finance to take a decision on the Flamingo Land Lomond Banks planning application at Balloch, in light of the views that he has expressed to the Parliament.

The Scottish Government considers that it is entirely appropriate. The Scottish Ministerial Code recognises that I am responsible for taking decisions on behalf of Scottish Ministers collectively on planning cases. In responding to questions in the Parliament on 20 May 2025, I pointed to the reporter’s earlier consideration of the appeal and explicitly noted on several occasions that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specific details of the case; and I did not do so. A decision will be made in a fair and impartial way which takes into account all relevant legal requirements and maintains the integrity of the planning process.

Question reference: S6W-38780

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W- 38271 by Alasdair Allan on 12 June 2025, and in light of the commitment in its 2025-26 Programme for Government to simplify the Home Energy Scotland application process, when it expects the detailed analysis of average application and claim processing timescales relating to the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme to be published, and whether it plans to set a target date for publication of such analysis.

Question reference: S6W-38778

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated timetable is for ministerial consideration of the Flamingo Land Lomond Banks planning application for the development at Balloch.

Question reference: S6W-38769

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions its Chief Planner has met with the Chief Reporter to discuss the Flamingo Land Lomond Banks planning application.

Question reference: S6W-38777

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which of its ministers will take the decision on the Flamingo Land Lomond Banks planning application.

Question reference: S6W-38770

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which of its ministers have had discussions with (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, (c) the Chief Planner, (d) the Chief Reporter, (e) representatives of Flamingo Land Lomond Banks and (f) consultants acting on behalf of Lomond Banks, at any stage of Flamingo Land's interest in a development at Balloch.

As Planning Minister, I have had discussions with the Chief Planner and the Chief Reporter in respect of the role of Scottish Ministers as part of the decision making process for this appeal and to explain procedures. I have had no discussions with Scottish Enterprise or with the Park Authority or with representatives or consultants of the appellant. At all times, the Scottish Government is mindful of the principles in the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Question reference: S6W-38771

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether its ministers or officials have met with any consultants operating on behalf of Flamingo Land Lomond Banks; if so, who these consultants were, and when any such discussions took place.

Question reference: S6W-39286

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish a definitive list of irreplaceable habitats in Scotland, and, if so, whether species-rich meadows will be included within that list.

Question reference: S6W-39295

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to retaining the assets of Prestwick Aviation Holdings Ltd under its ownership to ensure long-term public control over the aerospace industrial development zone.