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-41690

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many inspections at farms have been carried out by its Agriculture Wages Inspection Team since 1 January 2025, broken down by (a) how many were as a result of a complaint received by a third party and (b) what proportion related to people holding a Seasonal Worker Visa, and what information it has regarding what the subsequent (i) outcomes and (ii) actions taken by the Inspection Team have been.

(A) Since 1 January 2025, Agricultural Wages Inspectors (AWIs), acting on behalf of the Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team (AWET), have conducted a total of 70 on-farm inspections. Of these, 64 were Control Test Inspections (CTIs)—routine spot checks—and 6 were complaint-based inspections initiated by workers submitting formal complaints regarding pay and working conditions under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order (“The Order”). Further inspections in 2025 are scheduled to take place.

The inspection year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

(B) AWIs carry out inspections at employers’ premises throughout the year. Complaint inspections are prompted by individual workers completing and submitting complaint forms to the AWET, detailing concerns about wages or working conditions. Workers who believe their employment terms do not comply with The Order are encouraged to contact AWET and complete a complaint form to enable investigation. We cannot undertake a compliant inspection based on assumptions from a third party as we need access to the worker’s payslips and time records, however, where we are notified of a suspected concern by a third party, we will endeavour to schedule a future CTI, and three such inspections are in train for 2025.

Since January 2025, AWIs have interviewed 206 workers during inspections. This total includes:

3 workers on the Seasonal Worker Visa scheme

4 workers on three-year Skilled Worker visas

1 seasonally contracted worker with EU Settled Status

Regarding (i) & (ii) inspections outcomes involving seasonal workers are ongoing. Where issues of non-compliance are identified, these will be raised with the employers for rectification. Should employers fail to address the concerns, enforcement notices will be issued in accordance with the provisions of The Order.

Question reference: S6W-41417

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 17 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the release of reserve funds to pension scheme members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

Question reference: S6O-05158

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the Financial Conduct Authority and other organisations regarding the impact on policyholders of the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings.

Question reference: S6W-41566

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with credit unions regarding the termination of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings from 30 November 2025.

The Scottish Government is aware of the decision by Maiden Life, to withdraw the Family Protection Plan, which is a commercial matter for the insurer and its broker, CMutual. We have engaged with the Financial Conduct Authority and the Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) to understand the implications of the withdrawal and the support being provided to current policyholders. We will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that those affected receive clear information about their options.

Question reference: S6W-41567

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Holding Answer by Richard Lochhead on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the number of older and vulnerable people who will have their insurance policies for funeral costs withdrawn as a result of the termination of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings from 30 November 2025.

Question reference: S6O-05074

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the modernisation of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Question reference: S6O-05051

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported jobs and cuts crisis in further and higher education.

Question reference: S6W-40729

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the partners that Transport Scotland shared the initial specification with of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services 3 (CHFS3) contract, as recorded in the 7 March 2025 minutes of the Ferries Community Board.

Transport Scotland engaged with a number of partners on the development of the specification. This included sharing the draft specification with CalMac Ferries Ltd, in addition to discussing specific elements with CMAL, to ensure that operational and technical issues were appropriately addressed to reflect current practice.

Some elements of the specification were also shared and discussed with the Ferries Community Board, specifically regarding key performance indicators and the embedding of the Ferries Community Board in the specification. This input was invaluable to inform the suite of performance indicators, and the Ferries Community Board will continue to be engaged on strategic matters throughout the life of the contract to provide us with an independent community voice.

Question reference: S6W-40731

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39984 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2025, in relation to the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services 3 (CHFS3) contract, what discussions of the detailed specifications of the contract Transport Scotland officials have had with the (a) the Chair of the Ferries Community Board, (b) local authorities and (c) CMAL since 8 March 2025, and what the outcome was.

Since 8 March 2025, Transport Scotland have continued to engage with the Ferries Community Board, both in relation to performance management of the new contract, and also the nature of their ongoing role post-award. This was invaluable to inform the suite of performance indicators, and the role of the Ferries Community Board has been formally embedded within the new arrangements, ensuring that the Ferries Community Board will continue to be engaged on strategic matters throughout the life of the contract.

Since 8 March 2025 officials have engaged with local authorities, including at the Roundtable event on 19 March 2025, and through the Islands Transport Forum, local area ferry groups such as the Argyll Ferry Infrastructure Group and Western Isles Ferry Group, and vessel and infrastructure project working groups, but have not discussed the detailed specification with them; whilst CMAL, as owners of the fleet, have been engaged on a number of technical matters relating to the specification.

Question reference: S6W-40730

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39984 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2023, in relation to the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services 3 (CHFS3) contract, whether (a) detailed specification of the contract will be published on the Transport Scotland website before 1 October 2025, and (b) it will instruct CalMac to share a copy of the contract with the recognised trades unions as soon as possible.