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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-43219

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what legal advice it has received on the legal status of the sheep of St Kilda, including whether they are considered wild animals, livestock, or fall within any other legal classification, and what implications this advice has for their ownership, management and welfare.

Question reference: S6W-43208

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its draft Budget 2026-27, what any projected funding gap for commissioned social care services will be to meet the obligated uplift to at least the real Living Wage in 2026-27 if this budget is passed.

Question reference: S6W-43227

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42980 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 January 2026, whether any training is provided to (a) benefits advisors, (b) benefits assessors and (c) any other staff at Social Security Scotland on the importance of disabled people remaining physically active.

Question reference: S6W-43218

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the overall pause on new health capital projects remains in place.

Question reference: S6W-43210

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the programme to build three Fleet Solid Support (FFS) ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is facing early disruption due to a cash flow shortage at Liberty Steel Dalzell in Motherwell, which has left the company unable to purchase steel slab to start production, despite the order to supply 34,000 tonnes of rolled steel plates for the FSS programme, and whether it will engage with Sir David Murray about his reported interest in acquiring the Dalzell Plate Mill with government support.

Question reference: S6W-43238

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment it has carried out regarding the ending of the Small Business Bonus Scheme relief for sporting rights on (a) shootings and (b) deer forests.

Question reference: S6W-43229

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering a social media ban for those under the age of 16.

Question reference: S6W-43231

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider the case for providing financial support for horse-logging as a low-carbon, low-impact timber harvesting method, and what assessment it has made of any potential environmental benefits, including the protection of rivers, burns and biodiversity, arising from expanding its use on sensitive forestry sites.

Question reference: S6W-43237

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the ending of the Small Business Bonus Scheme relief for sporting rights will have on (a) Forestry Land Scotland, (b) National Trust Scotland, (c) Historic Environment Scotland, (d) NatureScot, (e) Crown Estate Scotland, (f) local authorities and (g) other public agencies that possess sporting rights.

Question reference: S6W-43224

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the support that it can provide to hairdressing businesses towards (a) training apprentices and (b) the recruitment and retention of staff, including what assistance it can offer to reduce the cost of this.