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: S7F-00038

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7F-00036

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7F-00040

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7W-02657

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what constitutes "adequate marketing" under Historic Environment Scotland’s guidelines before a listed building can be demolished on the grounds that its retention is not economically viable; and whether it considers a failure to actively market a site for facade retention or alternative development models for several years as meeting this evidentiary threshold.

Interpretation and application of Historic Environment Scotland’s non-statutory guidance is a matter for Historic Environment Scotland. Decisions on whether sufficient evidence has been provided in support of an application, including evidence relating to marketing and economic viability, are considered on a case-by-case basis by the decision maker having regard to the circumstances of the application.

Question reference: S7W-02655

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities to ensure that alternative regeneration models, such as partnerships with registered social landlords or housing associations/trusts/cooperatives, are fully exhausted before granting consent for the demolition of a listed building on the grounds of private commercial unviability.

Question reference: S7W-02654

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it uses to determine when the proposed demolition of a listed building transitions from a localised planning dispute to a "significant issue for planning policy" warranting a ministerial call-in under section 46(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

Ministers consider the need for call-in on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the specific individual circumstances. They use their powers under section 46(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 sparingly, recognising the important role of local planning authorities in decision making. As set out in the Ministerial statement on call-in, Ministers will generally consider intervention only where there may be some important issue at stake which should be determined at the national level.

Question reference: S7W-02626

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 21 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its duties under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, what steps it is taking to ensure that all children whose welfare is the subject of social work involvement, and not only those who meet existing statutory gateways, have access to independent advocacy to support their right to be heard under Article 12 of the UNCRC.

The Scottish Government recognises that independent advocacy is highly valuable and may be the most appropriate form of support in some circumstances; however, it is not the only means through which children can be supported to have their views heard. Consistent with GIRFEC principles, many children may prefer, or have their needs best met through support from a parent, carer, family member or other trusted adult of their choosing. Children have different needs and preferences, and a single model of support will not be right for every child. The key consideration is that children are able to participate meaningfully and have their views given due weight in line with Article 12 of the UNCRC, rather than prescribing a single model of support for all children receiving social work services.

Question reference: S7W-02658

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the enforcement of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Policy 7 (Historic assets and places), specifically in circumstances where a developer cites private commercial targets, such as a 20% Profit on Cost (PoC) margin, as the primary justification for the demolition of a listed building rather than structural impossibility.

Question reference: S7W-02420

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government which organisations it has consulted on its plans for a High-Growth Unit and a Council for Economic Growth

The creation of a High-Growth Unit and a Council for Economic Growth are both key commitments at the heart of our ambitions for Scotland’s economy.

Within the first 100 days of this Government, we established and convened the inaugural meeting of the National Council for Economic Growth, bringing together leaders from across Scotland's economy to help shape and drive our shared economic aims. We did not consult externally on the development of the Council.

We are currently in the early stages of the design and structure of the new High Growth Unit and will work closely with a range of partners across the public and private sector on the further development and delivery of the Unit, including considerations of international best practise.

Question reference: S7W-02438

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken any assessment of the impact of the Vision 3 GP clinical system on GP appointment capacity and, if so, what the findings were.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken an assessment of the impact of the Vision 3 GP clinical system on GP appointment capacity.

Responsibility for the delivery and operation of GP IT systems, including the Vision 3 migration programme, sits with Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS), which manages the national GP IT service on behalf of NHS Scotland.

Public Services Delivery Scotland has advised that some short-term disruption to practices has been reported following migration. In response, a number of enhancements to post-migration support arrangements have been implemented in conjunction with OneAdvanced to support practices during their transition to the Vision 3 system.