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-02346

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish an analysis of its public consultation on the future of council tax in Scotland.

As part of this work, the Scottish Government undertook a public consultation alongside a wider programme of engagement, including in-person events with members of the public and tax professionals. The consultation closed on 30 January 2026 and the analytical report of the consultation responses and engagement activity is currently being finalised.

This report will be published in the coming weeks. It will help inform further work to build cross-party agreement on reforms that can make the Council Tax system fairer.

Question reference: S7W-02480

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to fisheries management measures, how it measures improvements to a) the condition of the seabed, b) biodiversity, c) fish populations and d) ecosystems.

The Scottish Government assesses the effectiveness of fisheries management measures using a range of scientific monitoring programmes, indicators and statutory assessments, drawing on evidence collected by the Marine Directorate (MD), NatureScot, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), academic institutions and other partners. Assessments are undertaken at both the site level, including within the Marine Protected Area (MPA) network, and at wider scales.

1.Seabed condition is measured through seabed habitat surveys, habitat mapping, and condition assessments, including monitoring of protected seabed features and the effects of physical disturbance.

2.Biodiversity is assessed through monitoring of marine species and habitats including, fish, seabirds, marine mammals, and benthic and pelagic habitats. Data are collated from a range of programmes including bycatch monitoring, seabird monitoring, trawl surveys, plankton monitoring, and benthic habitat monitoring.

3.The status of fish and shellfish populations is determined on a regular cycle for those commercial fish and shellfish stocks which are the subject of quantitative stock assessments, provided either from the ICES or internally from the MD. Data for these are collated from commercial fisheries, and research-vessel or other surveys.

4.Ecosystems are measured using a range of indicators that bring together evidence on habitats, fish populations, plankton, and marine food webs. These assessments draw on several scientific monitoring programmes and contribute to wider assessments of environmental status.

Question reference: S7W-02515

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what role it anticipates credit unions will play in supporting financial education, tackling illegal money lending and contributing to child poverty prevention.

All financial services providers, including credit unions, have an important role in supporting the financial resilience and wellbeing of their customers. This includes helping individuals to better understand financial products and services and empowering them to make informed financial decisions. Many credit unions already deliver tailored financial education, support and engagement activities that reflect the needs of their members and local communities.

Credit unions are often a vital source of support for some of the most vulnerable people in society. Through the provision of affordable credit, savings products and initiatives such as junior saver schemes, they help individuals and families build financial resilience and can play a significant role in tackling the causes and impacts of child poverty.

The Scottish credit union sector also works closely with the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit (SIMLU) to raise awareness of the dangers associated with illegal money lending, including loan sharks. Through these partnerships, credit unions help educate consumers, provide safe and affordable alternatives to high-risk borrowing, and support those who have been affected by illegal lenders.

Question reference: S7W-02514

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to credit unions to modernise their digital infrastructure and increase access to ethical community finance.

The Scottish Government remains committed to working closely with the credit union sector to understand its evolving needs and identify opportunities and challenges, including those associated with digital transformation. This will help ensure that support is targeted effectively to promote long term, sustainable growth across the sector.

In September 2025, the Scottish Government awarded grant funding of £98,000 to Social Investment Scotland for a project to embed benefit checkers into the loan management systems used by credit unions in Scotland. 11 projects were successful in securing funding. This project has now concluded and identified over £7.3 million in annualised potential unclaimed benefits.

Question reference: S7W-02509

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role credit unions play in supporting financial inclusion and access to affordable credit.

The Scottish Government understands the important role of the credit union sector in providing access to fair and affordable financial products and services to their members, including those who may be otherwise financially excluded.

Officials are currently engaged with representatives of the credit union sector, including trade bodies and individual credit unions, to better understand the sector’s presence in Scotland. Officials are also engaging with the UK Government and the regulators on the impact of proposed regulatory reform, interventions identified in the UK Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy and HM Treasury’s independent review of Access to Banking Services to ensure Scotland’s credit union sector and Scotland's unique and distinct structural challenges and geographic contexts are understood and represented.

In November 2025, the Scottish Government issued revised directions to the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) for Scotland’s share of dormant assets funding. The new directions now include financial inclusion and specifically increasing access to affordable credit. NLCF has consulted stakeholders on the new direction and has also awarded grant funding of £92,000 to Social Investment Scotland to help develop the affordable credit element to ensure that any future work on affordable credit is grounded in lived experience, sector expertise and delivery realities.

NLCF is currently developing a strategic plan that they will present to Government to outline how they can meet the delivery of the funds against any new directions and we will continue to engage with them as their strategy develops.

Question reference: S7W-02512

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage payroll deduction partnerships between employers, public bodies and credit unions, particularly across the public sector.

The regulation of financial services, including the credit union sector, is wholly reserved to the UK Government.

Many credit unions already work in partnership with employers to provide payroll deduction schemes. Workplace payroll savings schemes can provide a valuable way for employees to improve their financial resilience, with evidence suggesting they are both popular in workplaces and are helping some workers build savings pots. These kinds of savings schemes are prominently featured in the UK Government's Financial Inclusion Strategy, aiming to build a National Coalition of Employers to promote these schemes and with plans to clarify the regulatory landscape to encourage their uptake.

The Scottish Government will engage with the UK Government as their planned reforms for payroll savings schemes emerge to represent Scotland's interests.

Question reference: S7W-02513

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to involve credit unions and financial co-operatives in the delivery of community wealth building.

Credit unions and financial cooperatives are important financial organisations across Scotland’s communities, offering accessible financial services and products, including to those who may otherwise be financially excluded. The activities of these organisations already support community wealth building ambitions.

Through the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026, Scottish Ministers are required to set out measures to promote or support the development of co-operatives, including co-operative financial institutions. In addition, Scottish Ministers are obliged to publish guidance for local authority led Community Wealth Building Partnerships and other public sector bodies in the same vein. Representatives of credit unions and financial cooperatives will be consulted as part of this work.

Question reference: S7W-02426

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will commission a feasibility study for reopening the south suburban railway line in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S7W-02417

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin work to reduce the number of public bodies in Scotland.

The First Minister’s 100 Days Programme sets out this Government’s commitment to public service renewal. Work to reform the public service delivery landscape is already underway and will be reflected in the Programme for Government in September. We will continue to work in partnership with public bodies, trade unions and other stakeholders to develop and deliver reforms that improve outcomes, strengthen services and ensure long-term sustainability.

Question reference: S7W-02368

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 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual fuel consumption associated with providing CalMac's Gourock to Dunoon ferry service has been in each year since 2024.

Year	Litres (Marine Gas Oil)
2024	649,100
2025	520.844
2026*	350,360