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-38672

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a timeline for completing all necessary remedial works on buildings deemed to be at risk of fire.

The Scottish Government is committed to the safe assessment of and remediation of buildings identified as at risk through the cladding remediation programme. However, it is important to clarify that fire safety remains the legal responsibility of the owner.

The Cladding Remediation Programme is being delivered through a distributed model, supporting owners to arrange Single Building Assessments (SBAs) to determine the scope and nature of risk for individual buildings.

Where remediation is required following an SBA, building owners are supported to develop appropriate design and remediation plans. However, the pace of delivery is influenced by a range of factors, including the specific outcome of each SBA, the complexity of the remediation that may be required, ownership and tenure arrangements, the involvement of original developers, and the need to obtain statutory consents such as planning permission and building warrants.

In the meantime, all buildings should have fire safety measures in place, such as up-to-date fire risk assessments and interim mitigation measures where needed. Building owners and managers are expected to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of residents in accordance with their legal duties.

For these reasons, it is not currently possible to publish a national timeline for the completion of all necessary remedial works. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with delivery partners to progress buildings through each stage of the programme, and we publish regular updates on our website. Homeowners and residents are kept informed throughout this process, and every effort is being made to expedite the safe remediation of affected properties.

Question reference: S6W-38656

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action a landowner can take in the event that the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill is passed and they are placed in breach of contract with a lender as a result.

As outlined in the Policy Memorandum accessible for the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, landowners will be entitled to apply to the Scottish Ministers for compensation for any loss or expense that is incurred in complying with procedural requirements, attributable to a potential transfer being prevented, or attributable to a lotting decision (including the requirement that lots be transferred to different purchasers). The amount of compensation will be determined by Scottish Ministers, or by the Lands Tribunal on an appeal against the Ministerial determination.

Question reference: S6W-38592

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment has been made of the impact of the email quarantine system on the efficiency of staff management of MSP inboxes.

The Parliament email system receives approximately 700,000 email messages sent to Members every month, and like every modern organisation, the Parliament utilises automated tools to identify and manage unsolicited email messages including ransomware, phishing and spam emails.

With the automated tools we use we have a high degree of confidence that the email messages identified are spam emails or contain harmful content such as viruses or ransomware. These messages will then be blocked automatically and not delivered to Members mailboxes. Messages automatically identified as spam email, but with a lower level of confidence are delivered to the quarantine area where they can be viewed and released if appropriate.

The SPCB recognises that releasing quarantined email is challenging for their staff who have delegate access to a Members mailbox due to the way our email system works. We have raised our concerns with the supplier and our officials are investigating ways of best managing the issue.

Question reference: S6O-04859

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the new guidance on behaviour in schools addresses pupil-on-staff violence.

Violence towards pupils or staff is unacceptable.

The new consequences guidance, which has been co-created with headteachers and educational experts, is clear that the safety of pupils and staff must always be a priority for attention.

The guidance provides illustrative, non-prescriptive examples to support de-escalation, risk assessment and safety planning. It sets out processes for reporting, monitoring and escalation in situations of violence.

We have also published more detailed guidance on risk-assessments to support school staff responding to violent, aggressive and dangerous behaviour.

Question reference: S6W-38980

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the expert and independent analysis that it announced it would commission as part of its announcement in February 2025 on building consensus on council tax reform, when this analysis was commissioned; what the timeline is; who is conducting it; when it will be published, and what the budget is for it.

Question reference: S6W-38994

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many new build homes have been (a) started and (b) completed in the Scottish Borders in each year since 2003.

Question reference: S6W-38979

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, following its announcement in February 2025 on building consensus on council tax reform, what its position is on a proportional property tax.

Question reference: S6W-38976

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Historic Environment Scotland regarding the future of the South Sleat Estate, in light of reports that it has been placed on the market for sale.

Question reference: S6W-38996

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government have many private sector-led houses have been (a) started and (b) completed in the Scottish Borders in each year since 2003.

Question reference: S6W-38969

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of £40 million to support the University of Dundee, from which part of the Scottish Budget this will be allocated.