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-41641

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the recently launched Scottish National Building Standards Hub is equipped to provide the expertise of conservation accredited structural engineers, who are on the Conservation Accreditation Register of Engineers (CARE), to local authorities that may require such specialised advice but may not have access to it in-house, including when decisions are being made around dangerous historic buildings and the potential need for demolition works.

Question reference: S6W-41412

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the apparent reduction in the Mental Health Services budget line to £133.9 million in the 2025 26 Autumn Budget Revision, given that this figure includes a £120 million internal transfer to local government for the Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan, and whether it will confirm (a) whether the remaining £16 million shortfall from the original £270 million allocation constitutes a reduction to the mental health budget, (b) the rationale for any such reduction and (c) which programmes, services or projects will be affected, and how this aligns with the ambitions of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The 2025-26 direct mental health programme budget remains as originally published at £270.5 million. There is no reduction to that budget. In keeping with normal practice, some of this budget is transferred to other portfolios for mental health projects and, for example, to NHS Boards to support improvement activity and local mental health provision. However, the reference to a £120 million internal transfer to Local Government is a transfer from another budget which supports a wide range of social care activity and bears no relation to the mental health services direct programme budget.

Question reference: S6W-41508

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the permitted development rights are of (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords in relation to social house-building, and what its position is on the greater use of these powers.

Under Class 33 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, local authorities have permitted development rights (PDR) to carry out works for the erection of dwellings, provided that such works conform with the adopted local development plan. Use of the PDR is a matter for individual local authorities. There are no PDR specifically for registered social landlords.

The Scottish Government is exploring whether PDR can play a greater role in helping to address the housing emergency. The recent public consultation on Permitted development rights to support provision of new homes sought views on simplifying planning processes to encourage the provision of new homes in rural areas and town and city centres. The consultation closed on 27 October and feedback from respondents will help inform the formation and refinement of any proposals for new or amended PDR.

Question reference: S6W-41437

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will engage with Glasgow City Council to support any extra resource that might be necessary to expedite the contract for the refurbishment of George Square, which is due for completion at the end of August 2026, by approximately four weeks so that the location can be made available for the duration of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Question reference: S6W-41284

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to ensure that Scotland's pathway networks are accessible and safe.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring Scotland’s pathway networks are accessible and safe by investing in high-quality active travel infrastructure and supporting behaviour change programmes. We are investing £188.7 million in 2025–26 to support high-quality active travel and bus infrastructure, sustainable travel integration, and behaviour change programmes.

This year over £11 million is being provided to maintain and improve the National Cycle Network, alongside support for the Places for Everyone programme and the Iain Findlay Path Fund. In addition to these programmes, the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund and our tiered funding model, enable local authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships and National Park Authority’s to deliver safe, inclusive walking, wheeling and cycling routes.

Question reference: S6W-41289

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken any research into the commercial potential of community gardening, in light of the findings of the James Hutton Institute in its 2024 report, Rapid Evidence Review: Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Scotland.

The Scottish Government commissioned the James Hutton Institute 2024 report, Rapid Evidence Review: Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Scotland. The report notes that evidence of urban and peri-urban agriculture in Scotland is more focused on the social, community and environmental benefits of community growing (eg. allotments and community gardens) and that most community gardening in Scotland is currently not commercially viable.

The Scottish Government continue to fund on-going research as part of the 2022-27 ENRA Strategic Research Programme which explores the means, barriers and drivers for increasing the production and use of Scotland’s fruit and vegetables (Incentivising resilient and innovative food supply chains and sustainable consumer choices | SEFARI). Part of the focus of this research is to identify interventions for supporting the sustainable expansion of small-scale, agro-ecological producers as a contributor to Scotland’s food system’s resilience. Final research outputs are not yet available. Priorities for future research in the ENRA portfolio were consulted upon earlier this year in the research strategy (Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) research strategy 2027-2032: consultation - gov.scot)

Research outputs from the rapid evidence review and future outputs of research in this area provide a valuable resource in contributing to on-going policy making.

Question reference: S6W-41285

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities for them to encourage walking and wheeling as safe and healthy alternatives to driving.

The Scottish Government’s long-term vision, as set out in the Active Travel Framework, is that by 2030 Scotland’s communities will be shaped around people and place, enabling walking, wheeling, and cycling to be the most popular modes of travel for short, everyday journeys.

The Scottish Government is investing £188.7 million in 2025–26 to support high-quality active travel and bus infrastructure, sustainable travel integration, and behaviour change programmes. This funding enables local authorities to increase the uptake of people travelling actively through the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund, the People and Place programme and the Local Authority Direct Award. By prioritising local community needs and place-based solutions, we are helping communities shape their environments around people, making everyday journeys safer and healthier.

Question reference: S6W-41286

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to local authorities and businesses to make their facilities more accessible for those who walk or wheel to access them.

For 2025-26 the Scottish Government is investing £188.7 million in high-quality active travel and bus infrastructure, with associated behaviour change programmes, supported sustainable travel integration. This funding enables local authorities to improve access to facilities for people walking and wheeling through the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund and the People and Place programme. Businesses also benefit from these investments through increased footfall and accessibility. By prioritising inclusive design and place-based solutions, we are helping communities shape their environments around people, making everyday journeys safer and more accessible.

Question reference: S6O-05116

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that housing supply in Glasgow will keep up with the predicted 10% rise in population by 2032.

Question reference: S6W-41395

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40892 by Jenni Minto on 16 October 2025, whether it will clarify how the recently announced extra GP appointments to be allocated by March 2026 will support those who may be at risk of cardiovascular disease, and whether these appointments will be directly allocated to those known to be at risk of cardiovascular disease.

As part of the Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) enhanced service, GP practices are required to identify people on their practice lists at risk of developing CVD, and carry out appropriate checks with those people, with a particular focus on people who live in areas of deprivation, and who have not received the checks in the last three years. The checks include: blood pressure, lipid profile, type two diabetes risk assessment, waist circumference, Body Mass Index and smoking status.

Each person accessing the service is then given the results of their checks and offered a follow up appointment. If their test results are within the normal range, they are offered lifestyle advice to support onward health. If their test results are out with the normal range, they are offered treatment as appropriate, and a follow up appointment in 6 months, where the checks are repeated.