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-02519

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to engage with local communities, businesses, freight operators, ferry operators, elected representatives and other stakeholders in Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire during the development of the Corridor Action Plans for the A75 and A77.

Engagement with stakeholders during development of the Corridor Action Plans will be an important part of the process. It is anticipated that a wide range of engagement techniques and formats will be used to ensure that all individuals and organisations are able to participate in the process. Further details are available at: South West Scotland Strategic Corridor Improvements | Transport Scotland

Question reference: S7W-02518

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria will be used by the consultants developing the Corridor Action Plans to assess potential upgrades to the A75 and A77, including improvements to road safety, journey reliability, resilience and economic connectivity.

The development of the Corridor Action Plans will be informed by the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG), the Design Manual for Road and Bridges (DMRB) and Transport Scotland business case guidance. Potential interventions will be assessed against a range of criteria including road safety, journey reliability, resilience and economic connectivity, alongside environmental impacts, affordability, value for money and deliverability. Further details are available at: South West Scotland Strategic Corridor Improvements | Transport Scotland

Question reference: S7W-02506

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to adopting approaches used in Wales to apply Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) mapping to wildfire prevention and planning, and whether it will consider developing a comprehensive LiDAR-based wildfire risk map for Scotland.

The Scottish Government is currently exploring the use of LiDAR for wildfire risk mapping via a fellowship with the University of Edinburgh and via research commissioned as part of the Scottish Government’s ENRA research programme. Outputs from this research will be used to inform next steps in using LiDAR data and developing LiDAR data products, including the potential for a wildfire risk map for Scotland. The next ENRA research programme is currently being commissioned which includes questions on improving understanding on the wildfire risks associated with different land uses.

The Scottish Government engages with the Welsh Government on wildfire response and policy.

Question reference: S7W-02161

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that high levels of E. coli have been found in the water around Kinghorn Harbour and, whether it considers that a previous decision by it to overturn a SEPA enforcement notice issued to Scottish Water in 2024, regarding the identification and elimination of sources of contamination in the Kinghorn area, has had any bearing on the current situation, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

We take all reports of poor water quality at bathing waters seriously. SEPA, Scottish Water and other relevant bodies continue to work together to understand the source of contamination at the bathing water at Kinghorn Harbour and identify any necessary actions to improve water quality.

Following an appeal against SEPA’s 2024 enforcement notice, the reporter determined that the notice was not valid, as it did not meet the requirements of the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. This finding was issued in February 2025.

The 2024 enforcement notice required Scottish Water to carry out investigative work. Scottish Water had already begun the scoping, resourcing and implementation of this work prior to receiving the revised enforcement notice in September 2025. In addition, SEPA continued to sample and investigate pollution sources between February 2025 and September 2025. This would suggest that the decision to overturn the enforcement notice had no material bearing on the reports of high levels of E.coli identified in the Kinghorn Harbour bathing water.

Question reference: S7W-02520

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to publishing a timetable for investment in, and delivery of, any recommended improvements identified in the A75 and A77 Corridor Action Plans, and, if so, when it anticipates publishing such a timetable.

The Corridor Action Plans will identify and prioritise potential interventions and establish a phased pipeline of short, medium and long-term measures to inform future investment decisions. Timescales for completion of the plans will be confirmed following procurement and appointment of consultants. The Scottish Government intends that any transport improvements identified through the A75 and A77 Corridor Action Plans will be reported through updates to the Scottish Government's Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline and subject to the annual budgetary processes and Capital Spending Reviews. Further details are available at: South West Scotland Strategic Corridor Improvements | Transport Scotland

Question reference: S7W-02374

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether construction contracts for new vessels for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route will be awarded directly to Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd.

Question reference: S7O-00179

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking following Environmental Standards Scotland's finding that Scottish Ministers have failed to fulfil their legal duties to protect and restore Scotland's seafloor.

Question reference: S7O-00177

Asked by: Pauline Stafford, MSP for Bathgate, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Police Scotland regarding efforts to deal with antisocial and criminal behaviour involving illegal e-bikes, e-scooters and off-road motorbikes in West Lothian and across Scotland.

Question reference: S7O-00180

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce delayed discharge at Raigmore Hospital, in light of the reported reduction in nursing home and community beds in the Highlands.

Question reference: S7O-00174

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its apology on the matter, what its position is on the recommendation of the Scottish Human Rights Commission to provide compensation to victims and families affected by forced assimilation, displacement and other historic wrongs perpetrated by the state in connection with the “Tinker experiment”, which sought to assimilate Scotland's Gypsy/Traveller communities.