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-41423

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Gillian Martin on 21 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its draft Circular Economy Strategy.

I am pleased to confirm that the draft Circular Economy Strategy has been published today. Link: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806432141.

This draft strategy sets out our vision and approach to creating a more circular economy that drives sustainable growth, competitiveness, innovation and jobs, and is vital to achieving our climate and environmental goals.

A more circular economy also brings benefits to households and communities by lowering the costs of items, creating new jobs and cutting the amount of litter on our streets, helping to improve our local environment and protect wildlife. I encourage everyone to take part in this consultation.

The draft Circular Economy Strategy has been prepared under the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024.

Question reference: S6W-40907

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mairi McAllan on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress against its Heat in Buildings Strategy.

Question reference: S6O-05037

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to address the misuse of e-bikes and off-road vehicles, in light of reported concerns that it is a growing community safety issue.

Question reference: S6O-05015

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the climate action secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how to encourage homeowners to decarbonise their properties as part of Scotland’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2045.

Question reference: S6O-04940

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to women preparing for release from prison.

Question reference: S6W-40452

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 September 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenni Minto on 10 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of its new Palliative Care Strategy.

I am pleased to confirm that today the Scottish Government will publish its new palliative care strategy 2025-30, Palliative Care Matters for All: Palliative Care Matters for All Palliative care strategy (2025–30) - gov.scot. This strategy highlights the changes needed to improve the experiences of people of all ages who are living with life shortening conditions or dying in Scotland, and their families and carers.

We have worked closely with a Strategy Steering group, comprising of third sector organisations, NHS bodies and those with lived experience, to develop this strategy. It will be supported by an initial three year delivery plan (2025-28): Palliative Care Matters for All Palliative care strategy initial delivery plan (2025-28) - gov.scot, which sets out how the Scottish Government will work with those who plan and deliver palliative care in Scotland. This will be delivered in partnership with people of all ages who have life shortening conditions, their families, carers and communities, to deliver the changes outlined in our palliative care strategy.

Question reference: S6W-40341

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 September 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 5 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to pilot spinal muscular atrophy screening in Scotland.

Based on current planning, in early 2026, Scotland will become the first country in the UK to begin an in service evaluation (ISE) of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) screening. Under the plans, all babies in Scotland will be offered screening for the condition for at least the next two years.

The Scottish Government recognises that SMA can be devastating for babies and families, and supports any intervention that can be shown to improve the quality of life for those affected.

While there is evidence around the benefits of SMA screening, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) requires further supporting evidence before it can recommend it as a long term part of the newborn screening programme.

This ISE will allow the NHS to potentially find and treat babies with SMA earlier than they otherwise might have, and will generate valuable data to inform the UK NSC’s final recommendation on SMA screening.

The evidence generated by the Scottish ISE will be submitted to the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which will analyse it alongside data from the planned SMA ISE in England.

Question reference: S6O-04922

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the steps set out in its Housing Emergency Action Plan will support its work to tackle the housing emergency, particularly for young people and first-time buyers.

Question reference: S6O-04896

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the abolition of peak rail fares is likely to have on people living in, working in or visiting the Maryhill and Springburn constituency.

Question reference: S6W-38856

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to lay regulations setting carbon budgets in order to set an emissions trajectory to 2045.

I am pleased to confirm that we have now laid the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (Scottish Carbon Budgets) Amendment Regulations 2025 in Parliament.

The proposed regulations, if approved by the Scottish Parliament, will amend the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to set an emissions reduction trajectory through a carbon budget framework for the five year periods between 2026 and 2045.

The levels of proposed carbon budgets mirror the advice on targets from the independent Climate Change Committee, and will provide a pathway for Scotland to achieve net zero by 2045.