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: S7W-01416

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 27 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commission a modern traffic circulation plan for Greater Glasgow that focuses on reducing traffic, particularly in residential neighbourhoods, and maximising access to jobs and key services, while prioritising sustainable modes of transport, and whether such a plan will inform decisions on the permanent repair, removal or replacement of the M8 Woodside Viaducts.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring that Glasgow’s transport network supports sustainable economic growth, improves access to employment and essential services, and reduces the impacts of traffic on local communities.

Decisions on transport planning in Glasgow are taken forward through a range of national, regional and local strategies, including the National Transport Strategy, the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2, the Regional Transport Strategy developed by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, and Glasgow City Council’s own – Glasgow Transport Strategy. These collectively support a shift towards more sustainable travel choices, including walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to commission a separate traffic circulation plan specifically for Greater Glasgow. However, Transport Scotland will continue to work with regional partners and local authorities to ensure that transport investment decisions, including the development of Clyde Metro, support our objectives of reducing congestion, improving connectivity and promoting sustainable travel.

With regard to the M8 Woodside Viaducts, Transport Scotland is progressing the appraisal and development of a preferred long-term intervention in consultation with key stakeholders. Through this process, consideration is given to the role of the viaducts within the wider transport network, alongside engineering, operational, environmental, social and economic factors.

Question reference: S7W-01539

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to increasing investment in Scotland through Local Government Pension Scheme funds, which are reported to hold assets of around £75 billion, and savings held by individuals in Scotland, including around £30 billion in Cash ISAs and £30 billion in Stocks and Shares ISAs.

The Scottish Government is committed to increasing private capital investment to Scotland to grow the Scottish economy and support a just transition.

We are promoting Scotland as a place to invest and exploring new ways to mobilise capital from a range of sources, including working with the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme (SLGPS) to increase investment into projects and businesses in Scotland. We will continue working with the SLGPS funds and other partners to support opportunities for increased investment in Scotland within fiduciary and statutory parameters, as part of a wider programme to attract the scale of investment required to support our policy aims.

Question reference: S7W-01404

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in 2024-25 broken down by NHS board, and what percentage this represented of the (a) total budget for mental health and (b) total health budget for each of these boards.

Question reference: S7W-01403

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in 2024-25, and what percentage this represented of the total budget for (a) mental health and (b) NHS Scotland.

Data on child and adolescent mental health services expenditure is published annually in arrears by Public Health Scotland (PHS) in the Scottish Health Service Costs Book (https://publichealthscotland.scot/healthcare-system/system-monitoring-accountability-and-quality-of-care/finance-within-the-nhs/costs-book/costs-book-publication).

The latest available data is for 2023-24 and includes a breakdown by NHS Board. It shows estimated total expenditure on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) increased by £19.4 million in 2023-24 to £134.2 million, 9.03% of total mental health expenditure and 0.82% of total net expenditure in NHSScotland (an increase on 8.78% and 0.75% respectively in 2022-23).

Publication of Costs Book data for 2024-25 has been delayed due to the local NHS board implementation of a new costing system (PLICS) over the last year but PHS expects to publish available data for mental health on 11 August 2026.

Question reference: S7W-01405

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it achieved its targets over the previous parliamentary session for NHS boards to spend (a) 10% of their budget on mental health and (b) 1% of their budget on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

Data on mental health expenditure and child and adolescent mental health services expenditure is published annually in arrears by Public Health Scotland in the Scottish Health Service Costs Book (https://publichealthscotland.scot/healthcare-system/system-monitoring-accountability-and-quality-of-care/finance-within-the-nhs/costs-book/costs-book-publication).

The latest available data is for 2023-24. Data for 2025-26 which will determine whether the targets have been met is expected to be published in 2027.

Question reference: S7W-02045

Asked by: Heather Anderson, MSP for Dundee City West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Alison Thewliss on 27 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made in the development of its Infection Prevention and Control Strategy for Scotland.

I am pleased to announce the publication of An Infection Prevention and Control Strategy for Scotland: Vision and Priority Statements, developed in partnership with the Infection Prevention and Control Strategic Development and Oversight Group.

This is the first national integrated strategy of its kind across the UK and Ireland. Its publication underlines our commitment to safe, high-quality health and social care services for the people of Scotland. It will be underpinned by a series of three-year action plans that will be co-produced with wider partners and agreed by summer 2027.

This strategy was developed using a human rights based approach and sets a clear direction for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) policy over the next decade. It has been shaped directly by the insight and expertise of key stakeholders across the health and social care landscape. At its core is a single, unifying vision: a Scotland where preventable infection is minimised for all people accessing, using or providing health and social care.

To deliver on this ambition, the strategy outlines eight priority statements essential for sustainable progress in Scotland that will guide our focus in strengthening patient and staff safety and improving system-wide preparedness. It complements our broader reform agenda and supports national ambitions to reduce health inequalities, improve population health and ensure the long-term resilience and sustainability of services.

I am clear that publication marks the beginning of this journey. Meaningful change can only be achieved through the development, implementation and evaluation of action plans and informed by an extensive engagement programme with individuals, communities and organisations across Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-01589

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding each local authority in Scotland has been provided to fund their community police force.

Question reference: S7W-02029

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 21 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) assessment it has made of the state of maternity care in Scotland's rural and island communities, and (b) steps it is taking to support these services.

Question reference: S7W-02049

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 21 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that over two-thirds of applicants to its Emergency Heating Oil Scheme in the Western Isles have had their applications refused.

Question reference: S7W-02034

Current Status: Withdrawn