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-03223

Asked by: Adam Harley, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the three-month period of engagement on public service reform announced in the Programme for Government, what arrangements it is making to enable frontline NHS and social care staff to take part directly, in addition to any engagement with trade unions and professional bodies.

Question reference: S7W-03217

Asked by: Laura Moodie, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many retired teachers are currently awaiting pension recalculations by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency as a result of retrospective pay settlements, what the average processing time is for such cases, and whether it will set a target to reduce the reported 12-month waiting period.

Question reference: S7W-03216

Asked by: Laura Moodie, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency's 12-month processing timescale for revising pension awards following retrospective pay settlements, whether it considers this timescale to be acceptable, and what measures are being taken to ensure that retired teachers receive any pension increases and arrears due to them within a reasonable timeframe.

Question reference: S7W-03257

Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 14 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the Welsh Government.

The Scottish Government continues to engage closely with the Welsh Government on areas of shared interest and mutual benefit.

Today, I was in Cardiff to meet the First Minister of Wales for discussions on issues of common interest between our countries.

During the visit, I was pleased to sign a new bilateral framework - the Cardiff Agreement - which sets out areas of shared interest and cooperation between the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

The Agreement establishes a basis for closer collaboration on shared priorities, including tackling child poverty, addressing the cost-of-living crisis, supporting sustainable economic growth, and strengthening engagement with the European Union. It also reflects both governments’ commitment to ensuring that intergovernmental relations are founded on trust and mutual respect.

The Agreement provides a structured approach to sharing expertise and best practice, building on existing collaboration between the Scottish and Welsh Governments to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland and Wales.

The Cardiff Agreement can be found on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/cardiff-agreement-cytundeb-caerdydd-agreement-between-welsh-and-scottish-government/.

Question reference: S7W-03189

Asked by: Laura Mitchell, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jim Fairlie on 14 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action being taken to further increase protection for Marine Protected Areas and Priority Marine Features.

The Scottish Government is pleased to announce that the consultation on proposed fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas in Scottish waters has today been launched: https://consult.gov.scot/marine-scotland/fisheries-management-measures-for-inshore-mpas/.

Scotland’s seas are a shared resource and protecting them means safeguarding marine habitats and species while supporting long-term sustainability of the industries and communities that depend upon them. This consultation seeks views on proposed fisheries management measures that will further protect the inshore MPA network and the 11 PMFs most sensitive to bottom-contacting mobile fishing gears, which are habitats and species of national conservation importance.

The development of these proposals has been informed by years of stakeholder engagement, scientific evidence gathering and discussion with representatives from the fishing industry, environmental organisations, coastal communities, local authorities, and other interested parties.

Given the scale and complexity of the proposals, covering more than 160 sites and areas across Scotland’s inshore waters, the consultation has been extended beyond the standard 12-week duration and will run until 18 January 2027, going beyond the intended sixteen week period due to the festive period. This extended consultation will provide stakeholders and members of the public additional time to consider the evidence, reflect on the proposals, and provide informed views to help shape the future management of Scotland's seas.

I recognise that these proposals are of significant interest to those who use and depend on Scotland’s seas. The Scottish Government remains committed to working closely with fishing communities, conservation organisations and local leaders throughout the consultation process to ensure that we achieve an appropriate balance between environmental protection and the social and economic wellbeing of our coastal and island communities.

Question reference: S7W-02611

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what economic and social factors ScotRail is required to consider before reducing services in rural areas and what evidence is required to support such decisions, given the smaller populations and lower expected passenger numbers on those routes.

Question reference: S7W-02874

Asked by: David Barratt, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the preferred funding approach for the Lochgelly Medical Centre.

There is no further update at this time as work continues to a standardised approach to delivery across the programme. As set out in the answer to S7W-00342 on 5 June 2026, a further announcement on programme priorities and funding approach will be provided once available to follow. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers..

Question reference: S7W-02724

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what testing was carried out on the new ScotRail app prior to its launch on 30 July 2026.

Question reference: S7W-02593

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) requested and (b) received any legal advice before announcing its direct award of four ferry contracts to Ferguson Marine on 3 March 2026, and whether it has done so since then.

Question reference: S7W-02909

Asked by: Yi-pei Chou Turvey, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many rape and serious sexual offence cases are currently awaiting trial while the accused is on bail.