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-41980

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many payments were made by Social Security Scotland to people not normally resident in Scotland in 2024-25, broken down by the total amount paid for each benefit.

Social Security Scotland does not publish information on payments made to people not normally resident in Scotland. The total amount paid by benefit is published in Official Statistics publications and is available on our website About statistics - Social Security Scotland.

Individuals must generally be ordinarily resident in Scotland to be eligible for Scottish benefits. Individuals of any nationality can be eligible if they meet the residency criteria, including holding a valid immigration status if required.

In certain circumstances, some benefits can be claimed from abroad or can continue to be paid if a person moves abroad:

Young Carer Grant
Child Winter Heating Payment
Carer’s Allowance Supplement
Carer Support Payment
Child Disability Payment
Adult Disability Payment
Pension Age Disability Payment
Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA)

Eligibility will depend on where the individual lives or is moving to and whether they are in scope of a relevant international agreement, such as the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.

The UK Government is party to a number of international agreements relating to social security. The devolved social security system is equally covered by these agreements, and Scottish Ministers are under the same duties as those in the rest of the UK to adhere to the terms of those agreements.

Question reference: S6W-41728

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 20 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of a potential £3.5 million budget shortfall at Forth Valley College, concerns regarding the loss of the Alloa Campus, and college budgets reducing by 20% in real terms over the last five years, whether it will provide further details of what it is doing to (a) retain students at the college and (b) maintain skills and secure college facilities across the region.

The Cabinet Secretary and I met the Principal of Forth Valley College and the Scottish Funding Council on 29 October to discuss progress, next steps and how the Scottish Government can help. I have subsequently visited Alloa Campus on 18th November.

The SFC continues to support the College and has provided additional funding to support an urgent feasibility study to identify all possible options for the campus in Alloa.

Operational decisions on matters such as course provision and campus footprint are the responsibility of individual colleges, and I remain assured that the Principal is committed to finding a solution, taking into account the needs of the community, local employers and wider region.

As decisions around the Scottish Government’s Budget are being considered in the months ahead, I will continue to work closely and collaboratively with Colleges Scotland, leaners, and the wider sector, to support skills development and ensure a successful and sustainable future for our colleges.

Question reference: S6O-05209

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its just transition plan for the Mossmorran petrochemical site.

Question reference: S6W-41605

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 17 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the recent £176,000 fine issued to ExxonMobil following its flaring emission breach guilty plea, and in light of reports that the many years of flaring have had a devastating impact on the physical and mental health of local residents, what assurances it can give that the funds from this fine will be directed to support residents rather than being absorbed into the Scottish Government’s budget.

In common with the general approach to the collection of financial penalties imposed by the Scottish Courts, the funds from this fine will go into the Scottish Consolidated Fund for use within the overall Scottish administration.

It should be noted that, under the terms of the Scotland Act 2016 and associated legislation, the amount of the fine income retained by the Scottish administration is offset through the operation of UK Government funding for the Scottish Government. Retention of fine income operates on a cost neutral basis through the relevant arrangements, and this does not represent additional funds for the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-41606

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the number of people waiting for a social care assessment has risen by 32% in a year, that Age UK Scotland has stated that the government is “simply ignoring the collapse of social care in Scotland”, and that the National Care Service Advisory Board has spent £16,000 on hosting three meetings, what action it will take to respond to this reported crisis.

The Scottish Government remains committed to developing a sustainable health and social care system that ensures people get the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

The 2025-26 budget includes over £15 billion for the Local Government Settlement and almost £2.2 billion for social care and integration, exceeding our commitment to increase funding by 25% by almost £350 million. At £21.7 billion, the overall financial envelope for Health and Social Care also reached record levels.

Despite these substantial funding increases, significant challenges in service provision remain, including rising demand and workforce challenges. UK Government decisions, such as increased National Insurance costs and restrictions on international recruitment, are exacerbating these issues.

We are implementing the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, that will strengthen rights for care home residents, support unpaid carers and social workers and improve experiences for the many people that access social care across Scotland.

The National Care Service Advisory Board will drive progress and scrutinise reform to ensure we can meet the care needs of those who require it. The Board is independent of Government and includes a diverse membership of people with lived experience of accessing care services, unpaid carers and those working in the sector.

The Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 and the National Care Service Advisory Board alongside other national programmes including GIRFE, Coming Home, the Self-directed Support improvement plan and Support in the Right Direction funding, are all playing a part to improve services across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-40968

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27536 by Tom Arthur on 28 May 2024, what information it has regarding how many applications have been made in each of the last five years by (a) Scottish Power Distribution Ltd and (b) other utility companies for necessary wayleaves in Scotland, and how many have been granted.

Details are as follows regarding applications from Scottish Power for necessary wayleaves in the last five years:

Year	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Necessary wayleave applications	25	4	3	4	1
Necessary wayleaves granted	9	3	1	1	0

Details are as follows regarding applications from other utility companies for necessary wayleaves, in this case Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), in the last five years:

Year	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Necessary wayleave applications	7	70	53	9	29
Necessary wayleaves granted	2	9	13	2	0

Question reference: S6W-40969

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27536 by Tom Arthur on 28 May 2024, what information it has regarding how many landowners with a voluntary wayleave in place in Scotland in each of the last five years have issued the utility company with a notice to remove, also broken down by how many notices were complied with.

Details are as follows regarding how many notices to remove have been issued by landowners with a voluntary wayleave in place in the last five years:

Year	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Notices to remove issued	7	12	13	4	9

Regarding compliance with notices to remove, it is common for landowners to withdraw their notice to remove if a voluntary agreement is made between them and the license holder. If a voluntary agreement is not possible, the Scottish Government expects license holders to follow the necessary wayleave guidance to ensure access to that land for the purposes of inspecting, maintaining, repairing, adjusting, altering, replacing or removing the electric line or equipment: Electricity - necessary wayleaves: guidance for applicants, landowners and occupiers – 2022 update - gov.scot.

Details are as follows regarding necessary wayleave applications after a notice to remove has been issued:

Year	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Necessary wayleaves granted	3	8	3	1	0

Question reference: S6W-40506

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action is planned to respond to the waiting times for neurodiversity assessments in the NHS Forth Valley area.

I recognise that the significant increase in adults seeking ADHD and autism assessments across Scotland is creating challenges for services, while also acknowledging that a diagnosis can be important to people.

The Scottish Government is aware of a range of issues affecting the availability of adult neurodevelopmental assessments in the NHS Forth Valley area and that as a result NHS Forth valley is reviewing their approach. I expect this to be resolved at the earliest opportunity.

Officials continue to work with NHS Boards, including Forth Valley, and local Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) to improve services and support for neurodivergent people.

Earlier this year, officials wrote to all health boards, including Forth Valley, to seek clarification on what neurodevelopmental assessment and support they currently have in place for adults. We are currently reviewing responses received. Understanding current provision across Scotland will provide a starting point for improvement and underpin work going forward to develop a national approach.

Question reference: S6T-02674

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that more than 1,000 Scottish charities are closing every year.

Question reference: S6O-04976

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether its current above-inflation public sector pay deals have appropriate contingencies in place, in light of the recent rise in the Consumer Price Index and reported concerns regarding inflation.