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-42247

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will bring the MSP staff cost provision into parity with that of staff costs for Scotland's MPs.

Question reference: S6W-42265

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to amend the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 to provide additional flexibilities for local authorities during the remainder of the current parliamentary session.

The Scottish Government plans to introduce an amending bill to Parliament early in the new year. If passed, the Bill will still allow local authorities to charge a percentage based visitor levy, but for those that require a different model the Bill will introducing additional flexibility to set either a single fixed amount or a range of fixed amounts for different purposes or areas. It will also include provisions to support the implementation of local schemes, including clarifying how the levy is to be charged in third party sales.

Question reference: S6W-42264

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 2 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the Early Years Speech, Language and Communication Action Plan.

The Scottish Government will today publish the Early Years Speech, Language and Communication Action Plan.

This sets out a bold national vision to ensure every child in Scotland has the strongest possible foundation in speech, language and communication from the earliest stages of life. The Plan reflects our commitment to prevention, equity and partnership, recognising that early support is crucial to improving outcomes for children and reducing inequalities.

Supporting our Programme for Government commitment to reduce developmental concerns at the 27–30 month review by a quarter by 2030, the Action Plan outlines how we will embed speech, language and communication as a national priority, strengthen support for families and communities, and build a skilled and confident workforce across health, education and social care. Together, these actions will help ensure that all children, particularly those in our most disadvantaged communities, benefit from high-quality support for their early development.

The Early Years Speech, Language and Communication Action Plan will be available shortly at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806430925.

Question reference: S6W-42239

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 in relation to the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), and what its position is on whether applications called in for consideration by the Energy Consents Unit that meet the threshold for a “national development” require a Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA).

Question reference: S6W-42259

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with DSM-Firmenich regarding progress at its Bovaer production facility in Dalry, and whether it has sought assurances about the future of the project and the protection of jobs linked to its development.

Question reference: S6W-42266

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41921 by Jim Fairlie on 1 December 2025, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding whether the pilot gull management for the city of Inverness has now been finalised, including whether it will be in place and ready to be implemented prior to the commencement of seagull breeding season in 2026, and for what reason it did not provide this detail in its response.

Question reference: S6W-42234

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42127 by Angus Robertson on 25 November 2025, whether it will provide a breakdown of the (a) total number of civil servants assigned to producing the publication, (b) number of hours spent by civil servants on producing the publication, (c) dates on which civil servants were working on the publication and (d) total staff costs incurred.

Question reference: S6W-42236

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the conclusion of the Marine Directorate’s contract with Airtask Group for marine compliance aerial surveillance flights, what has happened to the two marine surveillance aircraft that are owned by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-42013

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many bed days have been lost in each year since 2020 due to patients being unable to be discharged while waiting for a new care package after their existing package was cancelled.

Question reference: S6W-42235

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the conclusion of the Marine Directorate’s contract with Airtask Group for marine compliance aerial surveillance flights, what funding it is allocating to any new arrangements for monitoring Scotland’s waters.