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-02810

Asked by: Malcolm Offord, MSP for West Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is reported comments by CBI Scotland that such a price cap risks distorting competition and adding complexity without addressing underlying cost pressures.

While we recognise that some will have concerns about these proposals the Scottish Government cannot stand by when households are struggling to afford essential goods. Our objective is not to penalise retailers, but to strike a fair balance that addresses the needs of those that are struggling with the cost of their weekly shop. We are consulting on draft proposals before any decisions are taken. The consultation seeks views and evidence from consumers, retailers, producers and other stakeholders on the potential benefits, risks and issues around any food price cap scheme.

Question reference: S7W-02742

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to assist community-led flood protection activities.

Since 2016, the Scottish Government has provided £612 million to local authorities to support flood resilience. This includes flood protection schemes and wider flood resilience activity. Local authorities are responsible for managing flood risk and delivering flood protection schemes in their areas.

In August, we announced £15 million of new funding to improve the resilience of communities across Scotland most at risk from flooding. This funding will support measures including community-led projects, nature-based solutions, improved flood data, and targeted local interventions .Following preparatory work this year, funding for local projects will be available from 2027-28.

Question reference: S7W-02508

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether its Chief Scientific Adviser for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture has provided advice on the use of LiDAR technology to assess wildfire risk and, if so, whether it will publish any such advice.

The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (CSA ENRA) has not provided any specific advice on the use of LiDAR technology to assess wildfire risk. CSA ENRA led the development and implementation of the Scottish national land LiDAR programme and extensively engages with ministers on the development and use of LiDAR technology in Scotland more broadly.

In addition, science advisers working on behalf of CSA ENRA have engaged extensively with partners on the science of wildfire risk, including the early development work that has been done on LiDAR and Wildfire.

Question reference: S7W-02911

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 what assessment it has made of whether accused individuals on bail in rape and attempted rape cases wait longer for trial than those remanded in custody, and, if so, by how many days on average.

Statistics on justice journey times are published in the Journey Times in the Scottish Criminal Justice System bulletin and accompanying dashboard:

Criminal justice: journey time statistics.

The publication includes information on the time taken for accused individuals to progress through different stages of the criminal justice system, including cases involving rape and attempted rape.

However, we do not hold data on whether an accused person was on bail or remanded in custody, nor do we hold the information required to identify which cases proceeded to an evidence-led trial. Consequently, we are unable to provide times to trial for accused individuals by bail status or assess whether waiting times differ between those on bail and those remanded in custody.

Question reference: S7W-02809

Asked by: Malcolm Offord, MSP for West Scotland, Reform UK
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to the reported comments by 23 industry trade associations, including the Scottish Retail Consortium, Food and Drink Federation, and Scottish Bakers, that a price cap would be unnecessary, ineffective and likely to deliver significant adverse consequences for retailers, shopworkers and producers, and could increase the cost of other goods.

The Scottish Government is aware of concerns raised by some stakeholders regarding unintended consequences of the proposed price cap on essential food items.

That is why we are engaging constructively with all relevant stakeholders to support considered and informed discussion on this. We are consulting on draft proposals before any decisions are taken. The consultation seeks views and evidence from consumers, retailers, producers and other stakeholders on the potential benefits, risks and issues of any food price cap scheme.

Question reference: S7W-02818

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, when a digital health and care record will be developed.

I am pleased to report that as of September 2026, Public Service Delivery Scotland and Local Government Digital Office have accepted a formal commissioned to develop a programme around the Digital Health and Care Record. £3.6m will be invested this year to begin the necessary initial technology testing and business case work needed to set out the path to delivery and estimated delivery cost.

Given the scale and complexity of the health and social care landscape, it is expected that full delivery of a future record will be major multi-year programme that will be delivered in phases.

While the Digital Health and Care Record is being developed, individuals in Scotland can already access elements of their personal medical information, taken from their existing Emergency Care Summary, through MyCare.scot.

Question reference: S7W-02684

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support on-call firefighters and their employers in rural and remote communities, in light of their role in responding to large-scale rural and wildfire incidents.

The Scottish Government recognises and greatly values the commitment of on-call firefighters and the flexibility of their primary employers in allowing them time off to provide the essential fire and rescue cover across Scotland.

On-call firefighters have contracts of employment with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and receive an annual retainer fee together with additional payments for incident attendance, training and other approved activities. These payments are made directly to the firefighter rather than to their primary employer.

The Scottish Government is providing Highland Council with £3m to provide support to business affected by the fire and this funding will support their immediate recovery while also contributing to the longer-term economic recovery and resilience of the area.

Question reference: S7W-02530

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any implications of approving pumped storage hydro developments within or affecting designated sites for the delivery of its 30 by 30 commitment to protect at least 30% of Scotland’s land and seas for nature by 2030, including any potential implications for future development proposals.

Where proposed development, whether pumped storage hydro or otherwise, is likely to affect a protected area, NatureScot will be a statutory consultee within the approvals process. When considering its response to such consultations, NatureScot will consider both direct and indirect impacts on the protected area of the development in itself and any potential cumulative effects. Amongst a range of considerations, NatureScot will evaluate the extent to which the proposed development could negatively affect the effective management for biodiversity on the site and therefore the ability of the protected area to contribute to achieving the 30 by 30 commitment.

Question reference: S7W-02532

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has taken to improve the resilience of its Polaris All Terrain Vehicles, in light of reports in 2024 that the vehicles only had a maximum safe operating angle of 15 degrees.

The resilience of the Polaris All-Terrain Vehicles as well as the resilience of all vehicles within its fleet is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service(SFRS).

SFRS have confirmed testing has been carried out in line with BS EN 1846-2 standards (the common safety and minimum performance requirements for firefighting and rescue service vehicles set by the British Standards Institution) to ensure that these vehicles are fit for purpose. This testing demonstrated the stability of the ATV exceeded a 32 degree threshhold.

SFRS operational guidance adopts a managed safety approach, which means that crews operate within appropriate parameters to minimise risk.

Question reference: S7W-02823

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the establishment of Integrated Navigation Centres and Co-ordination Hubs, as outlined in its Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026 – 2031, (a) how many will be opened over the next year, (b) how many new staff will be recruited, broken down by role and (c) whether it will provide a breakdown of the set-up and operation costs.

The establishment of Integrated Navigation Centres and Co-ordination Hubs forms part of our wider programme of reform, as set out in our Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026-2031, to improve patient flow and access to care across the health and social care system.

Detailed planning is underway with system partners. Decisions on the number of centres and hubs, workforce requirements and associated costs will be considered within that planning. As this work progresses, we will continue to assess local and national needs to ensure these arrangements deliver the greatest benefit for patients and services.