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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 47721 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-34773

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's proposal to transition 14% of England's agricultural land to nature recovery and net zero outcomes, what percentage of Scotland's agricultural land the Scottish Government proposes should be prioritised for (a) nature recovery and (b) net zero outcomes in the forthcoming fourth iteration of Scotland's land use framework.

Through Scotland’s Land Use Strategy, our Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement and Natural Capital Framework, we have in place an established set of principles, objectives, protocols, and guidance. This helps our farmers, crofters and other land owners and managers in their land use decision making, and provides strategic connections across multiple interests, including Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation, Environment Strategy and National Planning Framework 4.

The fourth iteration of Scotland’s Land Use Strategy is due for publication in early 2026 and as it is developed we will work closely with stakeholders to further discussion of the multiple pressures our land faces and the opportunities and challenges that an integrated approach to land use can bring.

Question reference: S6W-34635

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board has paid for taxi transport for (a) doctors and (b) nurses who are (i) on-call and (ii) asked to come into work when off duty in each of the last five years, and what (A) national and (B) specific local policies for each board there are governing this.

Question reference: S6W-34375

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the current uptake in Scotland is of the Railway Guardian app, and how it is being publicised (a) in general and (b) on the ScotRail network.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.

The British Transport Police managed the Railway Guardian app, which was closed in January 2025.

We understand that British Transport Police will now focus on its text 61016 service, which is now free on major phone networks and the easiest way to report non-urgent crime to BTP.

The British Transport Police is reserved to the UK Government.

Question reference: S6O-04336

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the impact that the UK Government’s decision to raise employer national insurance contributions will have on Scottish public services and the economy of Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-04332

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to Dundee Heritage Trust to ensure the long-term future of the organisation.

Question reference: S6O-04334

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what impact trade barriers have on the Scottish economy.

Question reference: S6O-04335

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the representations that it has made to the UK Government regarding reimbursements to the public sector in Scotland due to the increase in employer national insurance contributions.

Question reference: S6O-04330

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with SEPA regarding how it will address any environmental concerns that arise from new waste incineration sites that have already received approval.

Question reference: S6O-04331

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration is being given to increasing community resilience and supporting their ability to respond to storm-related disruption such as power outages.

Question reference: S6O-04337

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has recently completed into the efficacy and standardisation of the presumption of inclusion in mainstream education.