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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 1244 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-43260

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will explore the potential to stock Scottish wines in the Parliament for use in hospitality and retail.

The Scottish Parliament’s catering service partner has recently reviewed its beverage range and is expanding its Scottish offering. This includes introducing Scottish wines alongside a wider selection of Scottish-produced alcoholic and alcohol-free beverages.

With regard to retail, the Scottish Parliament Shop product range is currently under review, and the suggestion to consider Scottish wines will be taken under consideration.

Question reference: S6W-43083

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help local authorities develop best practice for the conservation of badgers.

NatureScot provides comprehensive standing advice on badgers in relation to development and planning, which is directly relevant to the responsibilities of local authorities. This guidance is publicly available at: https://www.nature.scot/doc/standing-advice-planning-consultations-badgers. It brings together a range of referenced sources and includes links to more detailed best-practice material, such as collaborative work undertaken around 20 years ago between Scottish Natural Heritage, the Highland Council, and several local developers in the Inverness area. Although produced some time ago, the information and core principles, particularly the importance of a holistic approach to balancing development and badger conservation, remain highly relevant today.

While there is no statutory requirement for developers to protect wider badger habitat, the law does provide strict protection for badgers and their setts. NatureScot’s advice therefore emphasises that planning authorities should also consider associated feeding areas and foraging grounds when assessing proposals. Incorporating these key habitats into development plans helps to avoid situations where legally protected setts become isolated and disconnected from essential food resources. Although such outcomes may technically comply with the law, they are ecologically undesirable, and the guidance encourages local authorities to work proactively to prevent them.

Question reference: S6W-43007

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership on the extension of the operating hours of The Thistle safe drug consumption facility pilot in Glasgow, in light of a reported shift in drug use from heroin to cocaine at the facility.

Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has confirmed there is currently no proposal to extend the operating hours of The Thistle service. Any extension would require approval from the Glasgow Integration Joint Board, as it would involve additional budgetary provision ,clear evidence of demand, and detailed planning for staffing and service delivery.

The HSCP’s immediate priority is the development of a business case for an inhalation space, in response to evolving drug-use patterns. This work does not include consideration of extended operating hours. No further service changes are proposed at this stage, and the independent evaluation will identify any future service gaps.

Question reference: S6W-43006

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the amendment of legislation to enable a smoking and inhalation space at The Thistle drug consumption facility pilot in Glasgow.

In November 2025 Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership approved the development of a business case for an inhalation/smoking space within The Thistle. Glasgow HSCP are now developing that business case, and have been engaging with the Scottish Government, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Police Scotland.

The Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 and associated Regulations restrict the smoking of any substance in no smoking premises(including health care premises such as the Thistle).The Scottish Ministers will continue engaging with partners and, once a business case is developed, will consider any proposals and whether any amendments should be made to legislation.

Question reference: S6W-42924

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to those whose mental health is affected by climate anxiety due to the reported ongoing climate crisis.

We recognise that concern about climate change can affect mental wellbeing.

Mental health support is available to anyone experiencing anxiety about any issue, by phone, online and in-person. Talking to others can help and in addition to support available through GPs, the Mental Health Hub via 111 and Breathing Space via 0800 83 85 87 also provide free mental health support.

Resources to support anxiety are also provided on our mental wellbeing websites - Mind to Mind for adults, Parent Club for parents and Aye Feel for children and young people, which includes steps that can be taken by anyone experiencing climate anxiety.

We are continuing to develop our understanding of the link and emerging evidence between climate change and mental health and what this means for the people of Scotland.

Practical advice on how people can protect themselves, their community or business from the impacts of climate change as well as action they can take in their home and local communities is available on Home - Adaptation Scotland..

Question reference: S6W-43316

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask Historic Environment Scotland to engage with the interim liquidator of Ballantine Castings Ltd, Johnston Carmichael LLP, to ensure that the foundry's proprietary pattern archive of around 250,000 designs, ranging from manhole covers and bollards to ornate railings and lampposts, is safeguarded for the nation.

Question reference: S6W-43153

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding phase three of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB3), whether it has instructed Transport Scotland to disregard any tenders from any specific non-treaty state suppliers, as defined by s19(3)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023.

ScotZEB3 operates as a capital grant subsidy scheme and, as such, the Procurement Act 2023 does not apply.

Awards under ScotZEB3 must comply with the UK subsidy control regime, including the Subsidy Control Act 2022. The scheme is required to operate in a manner that is non-discriminatory and consistent with the subsidy control principles

Applications are assessed solely against the published eligibility and scoring criteria set out in the scheme guidance: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ScotZEB3-Guidance-document-1.pdf.

Successful applicants are responsible for running their own competitive processes with suppliers.

Question reference: S6W-43154

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the ongoing investigation by the UK's National Cyber Security Centre in relation to “kill switches” in Chinese-manufactured buses, and how this has informed the design of the procurement regime of phase three of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB3).

Vehicle safety and standards are reserved matters and fall under the responsibility of the UK Government and the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA). The Scottish Government is not responsible for, nor directly involved in, the investigation or regulation of such matters.

The Scottish Government has not received any formal notification from the UK Government or the National Cyber Security Centre regarding an investigation into these issues. Should relevant information or findings be made available by the UK authorities, the Scottish Government would consider these as appropriate.

Phase three of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB3) is delivered as a grant award in accordance with public sector grant-making rules and does not constitute a procurement exercise under Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations. Successful applicants are responsible for undertaking their own competitive processes with suppliers in line with applicable legislation. As a result, the design of the ScotZEB3 scheme has not been informed by any assessment into these matters.

Question reference: S6W-43152

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what social value percentage weighting will be applied to bids for phase three of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB3).

Phase 3 of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB3) is delivered as a capital grant scheme and does not apply a single standalone social value percentage weighting.

Applications are assessed against four published criteria:

Financial
Deliverability
Market Development - Business and Economy
Wider Community and Decarbonisation Benefit

Social value considerations are embedded within the assessment framework across these criteria.

Full details of the assessment criteria and weighting are set out in the scheme guidance available at: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/grants-and-loans/scottish-zero-emission-bus-challenge-fund/.

Question reference: S6W-43301

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 23 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the Cessnock and Kinning Park bridges over the M8, which were partially dismantled in July 2024 and scheduled to reopen in December 2024, will now reopen.