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: S6F-04480

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government plans to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.

Question reference: S6F-04479

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

To ask the First Minister what impact the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement will have on Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-04477

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04476

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04483

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

To ask the First Minister, in light of ExxonMobil's announcement of the closure of the Mossmorran ethylene plant, what action the Scottish Government is taking to mitigate any damage this will cause to the Cowdenbeath area and the wider Scottish economy.

Question reference: S6W-41750

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many school additional support needs professionals there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

All teachers are responsible for supporting pupils with additional support needs, not just those teachers whose role is specifically related to additional support for learning.

Statistics on teachers with a main subject relating to additional support needs are published in the teacher census supplementary statistics, available on the Scottish Government website at https://www.gov.scot/publications/teacher-census-supplementary-statistics/

Statistics on school support staff in publicly funded schools in Scotland are published on the Scottish Government website at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/school-support-staff-statistics/

Question reference: S6W-41832

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason individuals who were aged 68, 69 or 70 on 1 September 2025 are not currently eligible for the shingles vaccine.

Decision-making on Scotland’s vaccination programme is guided by the independent, expert advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The shingles vaccination programme was introduced in Scotland in 2013 for those aged 70 years old. Individuals aged 71 to 79 years of age have also been offered the vaccine in a phased roll out of the programme since 2013.

The JCVI recently recommended expanding the age cohorts for the shingles vaccination programme to offer protection earlier. These changes took effect on 1 September 2023 in a phased implementation over a 10-year period starting with those turning 65 and 70 years of age. Individuals aged 68 and 69 in the third year of the expanded roll-out will be invited for vaccination after turning 70, as per the previous schedule.

Question reference: S6W-41831

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the consistency with which eligibility criteria for the shingles vaccine are applied across NHS boards.

The Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP) is a partnership between Public Health Scotland (PHS), Health Boards, and the Scottish Government. Its aim is to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of vaccination and immunisation services across Scotland.

Overall responsibility for SVIP is held by PHS who are responsible for operational oversight and programme support, including governance, service improvement, and communications for all vaccination programmes. The requested information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government and falls within the remit of PHS to provide a response.

Question reference: S6W-41830

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the shingles vaccine in reducing the risk of dementia.

The Scottish Government is guided by the expert clinical advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who base its recommendations on rigorous appraisal of the best available scientific evidence and continually monitor vaccination programmes to ensure they remain clinically effective and cost-efficient.

In June 2025, the JCVI considered emerging evidence on whether shingles vaccination may reduce dementia risk and if this should influence JCVI advice for vaccinating individuals over 80.

Members agreed that this potential benefit was not currently quantifiable. The ongoing rollout of Shingrix vaccination in the UK could provide an opportunity to collect additional data and improve understanding of the potential link, and the UK Health Security Agency is actively exploring this.

Question reference: S6W-41781

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 24 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it measures value for money and accountability of existing City Region and Growth Deal investments.

The Scottish Government assesses value for money and accountability on all City Region and Growth Deal projects. Each project must develop a robust business case, aligned with HM Treasury’s Green Book which is reviewed by Government officials to ensure it delivers social and economic benefits, is deliverable and sustainable. The economic case of each project business case in particular must demonstrate associated cost-benefit and value for money assessments.

Accountability rests primarily with regional partners, who are empowered to identify, manage and deliver projects which deliver economic growth opportunities within their geographical areas. A strong governance framework underpins each Deal which includes locally elected member oversight and regular performance reporting at quarterly and annual junctures with Government officials where progress is rigorously reviewed.

The Scottish Government also provides oversight via co-chairing the Scottish City Region and Growth Deals Delivery Board, ensuring appropriate scrutiny and oversight of this £3.4 billion programme of investment.