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: S7O-00276

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Audit Scotland’s report, Scotland’s colleges 2026.

Question reference: S7O-00264

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S7W-02541

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Programme for Government 2026-27 will be closely aligned or mapped to the revised National Performance Framework.

In the Programme for Government, the First Minister states that his priorities and ambitions will help build a Scotland that is fair, healthy, prosperous, secure, skilled, sustainable, and connected. The Scottish Government’s five-year (corporate) plan explains that we will continue to improve how we track progress towards the National Outcomes by establishing a new system in 2026. I have written to committees this week regarding the proposed National Outcomes. We intend to launch the reformed National Performance Framework, including the National Indicators, later this year and will keep Parliament informed of progress.

Question reference: S7W-02648

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, following the departure of Dr Calum MacLeod, how many Land Commissioners currently serve on the board of the Scottish Land Commission; for what reason, in the context of public service reform, it has not yet recruited a replacement for Dr MacLeod, whether it plans the board to return to its full statutory complement of five Commissioners and, if (a) so, by what date it expects to do so and (b) not, (i) on what legal authority it is operating with fewer than five Commissioners and (ii) whether it will lay regulations under section 4(5) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 to alter the number of Commissioners.

I wrote to the Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee on 3 September 2026 to notify them of my intention to bring forward a Scottish statutory instrument which, subject to Parliament’s consideration, will amend the number of Land Commissioners at the Scottish Land Commission from five to four. We expect the instrument to be laid in early October. The letter can be found on Parliament’s website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-7/rural-affairs-committee/correspondence/2026/land-reform-scotland-act-2016-of-3-september

Following Dr Calum MacLeod's resignation earlier this year, there are currently four Land Commissioners serving as members of the Scottish Land Commission. The Tenant Farming Commissioner also serves as a member of the Commission.

Question reference: S7W-02543

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address any gaps in data in order to improve reporting against the National Indicators.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving data availability and quality to support reporting against the National Indicators. The National Indicators bring together data published elsewhere and do not collect data specifically for monitoring. They provide a streamlined measure of progress across the work of the Scottish Government, the wider public sector, and Scotland more broadly. As source data improves, this will be reflected in the National Indicators.

Question reference: S7W-02542

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its approach and timeline for the development of the National Indicators that underpin the National Outcomes, and how it plans to consult with relevant sectors and organisations as part of this process.

The Scottish Government is in the process of finalising a streamlined set of National Indicators, drawing on international good practice such as the recent United Nations (UN) Expert Group on Beyond GDP report and which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Chief Statistician will recommend a National Indicator set to ministers. We intend to launch the reformed NPF, including the National Indicators, later this year and will continue to keep Parliament informed of progress.

Question reference: S7W-02540

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in reviewing the National Performance Framework, including when the revised framework and National Outcomes will be published.

The Scottish Government is in the process of finalising the National Performance Framework (NPF) following an extensive programme of engagement earlier this year which included organisations from a range of sectors. I have written to committees this week to inform them of the proposed new National Outcomes that form part of the NPF, and that we intend to launch the reformed NPF, including the National Indicators, later this year. I will continue to keep Parliament informed of progress. We will also publish background information on the process as part of the evidence base

Question reference: S7W-02962

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any cost estimates, financial modelling or resource assessments relating to the implementation of the commitments contained in Palliative Care Matters for All: palliative care strategy 2025 to 2030.

The Scottish Government’s Palliative Care Strategy 2025-2030 - Palliative Care Matters for All – was published on 10 September 2025, alongside an initial three year delivery plan containing 23 actions intended to deliver on the eight strategy outcomes.

Whilst specific cost estimates, financial modelling or resource assessments relating to the implementation of the overall strategy have not been published, we have worked closely with delivery partners to agree the work plans and project costs associated with the delivery of the actions.

We are also committed to publishing annual strategy progress reports providing updates on the delivery of the actions. The first of these will be published before the end of the year and will outline how we are seeking to ensure value for money and best use of resources throughout delivery of the strategy.

Question reference: S7W-02903

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many high-priority illegal waste sites SEPA is currently monitoring, broken down by (a) estimated tonnage of waste and (b) site location.

SEPA has advised that it uses a risk model that provides a score to allow prioritisation. At the start of 2026-27 there were 76 sites classified as high priority. Of these, 45 sites were identified as deposit of waste or disposal of waste by burial. Investigation and Enforcement action has concluded at one site with full compliance achieved and this will not be included in the data set.

Since the start of 2026-27 a further six high-priority illegal waste sites have been identified, providing a total of 50 high-priority waste sites being actively investigated. Of these 50 sites, 7 have been sufficiently disrupted to reduce the risk to the environment and communities however, investigations will continue until the identified outcome has been achieved.

High priority 1 monitored illegal waste sites.

Site Location (SEPA Geographic Locations)	Site identifier	Estimated Tonnage
Argyll, Hebrides and South Highlands	Site 1	145
Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders	Site 1	725
Site 2	725
Fife, Angus and Dundee	Site 1	725
Site 2	>725
Site 3	145
Site 4	145
Falkirk, Alloa, Stirling and Perth	Site 1	300
Grampian & Speyside	Site 1	300
Site 2	145
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Estuary	Site 1	300
Site 2	>725
Site 3	75
Site 4	300
Site 5	>725
Site 6	725
Site 7	145
Site 8	>725
Site 9	145
Site 10	145
Site 11	>725
Site 12	725
Lanarkshire	Site 1	>725
Site 2	725
Site 3	725
Site 4	>725
Site 5	300
Site 6	725
Site 7	145
Site 8	300
Site 9	>725
Site 10	725
Site 11	>725
Site 12	145
Site 13	>725
Site 14	>725
Site 15	145
Site 16	145
North Highland and Northern Isles	Site 1	145
Site 2	300
Site 3	300
Site 4	300
Site 5	145
South West Scotland	Site 1	145
Site 2	725
Site 3	145
Site 4	300
Site 5	>725
Site 6	>725

1 For prioritisation purposes SEPA do not record exact or estimated tonnages. SEPA record estimated financial benefit so a calculation using estimated financial benefit and the UK landfill tax rate of £130.75 per tonne has been used to estimate tonnage. SEPA’s Digital Transformation Project will improve the data captured as part of a centralised repository of investigations. Where SEPA investigations are still active the tonnage may not yet be fully determined or it may be part of the evidence. As such, any data released into the public domain could compromise the investigation, influence witness statements, affect future court proceedings or impact the privacy of those involved. The data provided is set out to protect detection and investigative processes.

Throughout an investigation the calculated tonnage on site may increase or decrease, e.g. it may be determined that the illegal deposit initially identified as being above ground extends below ground level upon further investigation resulting in an increase in tonnage. Definitive tonnages of waste on significant waste disposal sites will only ever be available following site removal of the waste.

The data provided is based on the investigation progress as of 7 September 2026.

Further Information is available from SEPA.

Question reference: S7W-02904

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is satisfied that the current definition and recording of waste crime adequately capture large-scale illegal waste operations, including sites where waste is deliberately stored or buried over an extended period, rather than being disposed of through fly-tipping.