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-02207

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Community Radio Scotland regarding the use of community broadcasters in national public information campaigns.

The Scottish Government has not held discussions with Community Radio Scotland regarding the use of community broadcasters in national public information campaigns.

Media selection for Scottish Government campaigns is carried out by framework media agencies, who assess the full range of available channels, including community radio, against each campaign's target audience, budget and objectives. This process does not require direct engagement between the Scottish Government and individual broadcasters or broadcaster representative bodies, as decisions on specific stations are made by agencies based on audience reach and value for money.

Question reference: S7W-02239

Asked by: Adam Harley, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it last engaged with NHS boards regarding how they will use the £4.5 million funding provided in its Budget 2025-26 for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and long COVID services.

The Scottish Government has been engaging with NHS boards regarding their use of the £4.5 million funding for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and long COVID services since April 2026 and continues to do so.

The funding is being allocated to NHS boards on a recurring basis to support the delivery of specialist support across Scotland for people with long COVID, ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and similar conditions.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with NHS boards to monitor progress and identify any further support that may be required.

Question reference: S7W-02202

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of its advertising expenditure has been allocated to community radio stations in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S7W-02205

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether social value considerations form part of the criteria applied in its media buying framework agreements for the placement of public information advertising.

Question reference: S7W-02222

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the finalisation of regulations on the display of vaping and nicotine products, how it will assess the potential impact of any proposed restrictions on (a) the appeal and accessibility of such products to children and young people, (b) adults using regulated vaping products as a means to move away from smoking and (c) compliant businesses, including specialist vape retailers, and whether it will publish the results of any such assessment as part of the final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment.

As part of the development of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 (2026 Act), a UK wide impact assessment was published by UK Government. Scottish Government contributed to the development of this impact assessment.

Scottish Statutory Instruments resulting from the 2026 Act will be supported by relevant impact assessments as part of our usual policy development process. This includes the Children’s Rights and Wellbeing impact assessment, which would cover the appeal and accessibility of these products to children.

The Scottish Government published a partial Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) on Display, alongside the "Tobacco and Vapes - Packaging, Appearance and Display consultation", for Scotland. This considers the impacts of proposed restrictions on adults using vaping products as a smoking cessation aid and impacts on businesses, including those which predominantly sell vapes.

Responses to the consultation and the partial BRIA will be used to support the development of any potential regulations on the display of relevant products. Any subsequent regulations in Scotland will be informed by a final BRIA.

The partial BRIA can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/display-restrictions-products-prices-herbal-smoking-products-heated-tobacco-devices-vaping-nicotine-products-scotland-partial-business-regulatory-impact-assessment/

The UK-wide consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/tobacco-and-vapes-packaging-appearance-and-display/tobacco-and-vapes-packaging-appearance-and-display#how-to-respond

Question reference: S7W-02244

Asked by: Amanda Lindsay, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, whether it will reconsider its proposal to centralise Level 3 neonatal intensive care services, in light of the impact such a proposal could have on families living across West Lothian who currently rely on these services.

For families in NHS Lothian, neonatal service delivery will remain unchanged with neonatal intensive care remaining at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Special Care remaining at St John’s Hospital.

I must be absolutely clear that this change is about saving babies lives. The evidence is clear, that outcomes for the smallest and sickest babies are improved when they are born and cared for in a unit with a high throughput of cases, and where support services are co-located and aligns with existing neonatal intensive care service models across the UK.

These changes will benefit a very small number of babies – those born at less than 27 weeks gestation and those very sickest babies who need multiple complex life support, or surgery.

Question reference: S7W-02200

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether its future advertising contracts will include specific provisions encouraging media buying agencies to consider community radio stations where they are assessed as offering effective access to target audiences.

The Scottish Government's approach to media buying is to ensure that channel selection is driven by evidence of what most effectively reaches and engages target audiences, rather than by specifying particular media channels within contracts.

The Media Planning and Buying Framework is designed to give media planning specialists the flexibility to select the most appropriate mix of channels for each individual campaign, based on audience insight, reach data and value for money. This approach allows for community radio along with other channels, to be selected where the evidence shows it offers effective access to a particular target audience.

Question reference: S7W-02204

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role of community radio stations in communicating public information to rural and island communities.

Broadcasting is reserved and we believe it should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government recognises the valuable role of community radio in delivering local news and important information to our communities right across Scotland. We believe that it is vital that there is a network of radio operations to expand and enhance the service provision for Scottish listeners and we will continue to champion a stronger broadcasting sector in Scotland to ensure a diversity of voices in communities across Scotland.

Through our engagement with Ofcom and the UK Government, we continue to highlight the importance of community radio and its contribution to Scotland's cultural and civic life, and the role it plays in ensuring a diversity of voices, perspectives and locally relevant content is available to audiences across Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02722

Asked by: Yi-pei Chou Turvey, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done on progressing the second recommendation in the Misogyny – A Human Rights Issue report published by the Working Group on Misogyny and Criminal Justice led by Baroness Helena Kennedy KC.

Question reference: S7W-02740

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has held with stakeholders, industry representatives and teaching unions regarding the practical implementation of the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Act 2026, and what its expected timetable is for delivering the requirements of the Act.