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-40522

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the Scottish Funding Council and (b) Forth Valley College regarding a bailout to save its Alloa campus.

Question reference: S6W-40524

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an outline of the discussions it has had with the Scottish Funding Council to ensure that Forth Valley College is funded sufficiently to keep the Alloa campus open and operational.

Question reference: S6W-40523

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking in light of the reported threatened closure of Forth Valley College’s Alloa campus.

Question reference: S6W-40466

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many times, in each of the last three calendar years, its Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team has reported concerns to local authorities regarding the standards of accommodation provided in their areas to migrant workers, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) what the outcome was.

Question reference: S6W-40467

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that three of the biggest six local authority areas that use the Seasonal Worker Visa scheme are located in Scotland, what representation it has made to the UK Government regarding the review of the scheme by the Migration Advisory Committee, and what the outcome was.

Question reference: S6O-04956

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what interventions it has made to end the current dispute over jobs and cuts in the higher education sector.

Question reference: S6W-39985

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects discussions to begin between CalMac Ferries Ltd and the recognised trade unions regarding (a) commercial crewing levels and (b) route-specific sea trials for the MV (i) Isle of Islay, (ii) Glen Rosa, (iii) Loch Indaal, (iv) Lochmor and (v) Claymore.

Discussions have already taken place for the MV Isle of Islay in relation to commercial crewing levels in which trade unions, with the exception of RMT, have agreed the crew numbers.

A meeting will be scheduled by CalMac Ferries Ltd within the coming weeks with the RMT to continue discussions. This same approach will be taking forward for all new vessels entering service.

In regards to the route specific sea trials mentioned, CalMac have confirmed that once that vessel is under their operation, the vessel personnel will operate under the terms of their individual Seafarer Employment Agreements and Collective Agreements, which they do not envisage as needing to be re-negotiated.

Question reference: S6W-39980

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects the MV Caledonian Isles to return to service on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, and whether it will provide an update on the progress of the dry dock repair of the vessel.

Question reference: S6W-39979

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to review the charter agreement with Pentland Ferries for the MV Alfred to provide contracted Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services from Troon to Brodick, before the current agreement expires.

Question reference: S6W-39982

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the current full-time equivalent staffing commitment is at (a) Transport Scotland and (b) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd for the Ardrossan Harbour Redevelopment Project.