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-00054

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 27 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support and promote Gaelic, and whether this will include protecting staffing and resources across its departments and designating a minister responsible for the language.

In this session, I am delighted to maintain Cabinet level leadership for Gaelic, building on the substantial legacy of the previous DFM. My focus will be on implementing the Scottish Languages Act 2025, passed unanimously by this Parliament. I will continue to be supported in this by officials in the Gaelic and Scots division working to strengthen the statutory support and development of Gaelic across Scotland. This legislation is supported by an increase in funding secured through the 2026-2027 Budget, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to creating a secure future for Gaelic in Scotland. A range of projects and initiatives, operating in different sectors, are in place to support and promote the Gaelic language. Along with significant funding there is also welcome support and co-operation in place from local authorities and public bodies.

Question reference: S7W-00046

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will (a) make and (b) announce its decision regarding the proposed (i) Kintore to Tealing and (i) Beauly to Peterhead electricity transmission infrastructure projects.

Question reference: S7W-00053

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the impact of the Energy Consents Unit's consultation process on public confidence in decision making relating to major electricity transmission infrastructure projects and, if so, what the findings of that assessment were.

The Scottish Government is committed to reforming energy consenting, including improving the consultation process for communities affected by proposed electricity transmission infrastructure projects. To this end, a comprehensive review of Scottish electricity infrastructure consenting was undertaken in 2024 through a joint UK and Scottish Government initiative, leading to reforms included within the UK Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.

The Act granted new regulation-making powers to the Scottish Ministers, such as mandating pre-application engagement, introducing an acceptance stage and establishing new time limits. Later this year, Ministers will consult on the use of these powers to improve the consenting process for all stakeholders, the results of which would inform associated secondary legislation.

Question reference: S7W-00050

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding consultations on major electricity transmission infrastructure projects, (a) what assessment it has made of the accessibility of the Energy Consents Unit's consultation process for (i) people in rural communities, (ii) older people and (iii) people with limited digital connectivity, (b) what consideration it has given to permitting representations to be submitted by email, (c) for what reason the Energy Consents Unit no longer accepts representations by email, and (d) whether it plans to review the current consultation arrangements.

Question reference: S7W-00023

Asked by: David Linden, MSP for Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 27 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much Pupil Equity Funding has been allocated to schools in Glasgow in each of the last five years.

The full PEF allocations for Glasgow schools in the last five years are set out in the following table. 2026-27 PEF allocations will be published in due course.

Year	Allocation
2021-22	£26,626,9041
2022-23	£23,208,495
2023-24	£23,208,495
2024-25	£23,224,420
2025-26	£23,295,470
Total 2021-22 to 2025-26	£119,563,784

1.To note. In 2021-22 a £20 million Pupil Equity Fund premium was introduced to support schools’ education recovery efforts in light of the pandemic, it was issued as a 15% uplift to the previously published 2021-22 PEF allocations for schools in that year only.

Question reference: S7W-00039

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the First Minister last met the co-leaders of Aberdeen City Council.

Details of all external engagements undertaken by Scottish Ministers, including the First Minister, are published on the Scottish Government website and can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/.

These records currently cover engagements up to February of this year, with further information to be published in due course in line with the Scottish Government’s commitment set out in the Scottish Ministerial Code. Scottish Ministers regularly engage with local authority leaders, including the co-leaders of Aberdeen City Council, to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.

It is also worth noting that although the names of specific councils or council leaders may not appear in records of certain engagements, the First Minister and other Ministers have engaged with various council leaders at COSLA Annual Conferences and other conferences and events that involve council leaders.

Question reference: S7W-00020

Asked by: David Linden, MSP for Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many social homes have been built in Glasgow in each year since 2007.

From April 2007 to December 2025, the Affordable Housing Supply Programme has supported the delivery of 23,634 homes in Glasgow City Council area with 16,237 being for social rent.

A table showing the number of social and affordable approvals, starts and completions by local authority area can be accessed using the following link (note: this will be updated shortly with latest housing statistics up to 31 December 2025):

Affordable Housing Supply Programme: quarterly updates on approvals, site starts and completions by local authority

Homes delivered through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme comprise homes for social rent, for mid-market rent and for low cost home ownership. These homes take various forms including; new build homes, rehabilitation projects, conversions and off-the-shelf purchases of both new and second hand homes.

Question reference: S7W-00038

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of World Migratory Bird Day on 9 May 2026 and the reported decline in the number of swifts in recent years, when it plans to consult on the changes to building regulations required to bring into force the requirement for swift bricks included in the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of supporting biodiversity, including addressing the decline in species such as swifts, and acknowledges the significance of initiatives such as World Migratory Bird Day.

The Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 includes provision to introduce regulations requiring the installation of swift nest boxes in specified new buildings where reasonably practicable and appropriate. We anticipate that these provisions will be brought forward as part of a phased implementation programme. We will set out further details about the timetable for commencing and implementing the individual provisions in the Act, in due course. We will continue to fully engage with stakeholders throughout the commencement and implementation phases. This will include engagement in relation to changes to building regulations and consultation arrangements. We will ensure stakeholders and members of the public have sufficient time to prepare before we commence any provisions that would directly impact on them.

Question reference: S7W-00007

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reopen the Local Bridge Maintenance Fund.

Question reference: S7F-00004

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 May 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.