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-01780

Asked by: Jenny Young, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of secondary school pupils eligible for free school meals has been recorded as being persistently absent from school in each year since 2017-18, and what analysis it has commissioned or carried out on the impact that this might have on the likelihood of them subsequently having the status of being classified as not being in employment, education or training (NEET) aged 16 to 24.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on pupil’s eligibility for free school meals (FSM). However, data on pupils eligible for, and in receipt of, free school meals are held.

The following table sets out the percentage of secondary school pupils each year where data was available who were persistently absent, by their free school meal registration status.

Table 1. Percentage of secondary school pupils persistently absent by free school meal registration, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25.

FSM Registration	2018-19	2020-21	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25
Not Registered	26.4	21.5	35.9	35.2	31.9
Registered	53.8	47.9	64	64	61.4

Prior to 2022-23, absence data was only published every 2 years.

These statistics exclude pupils whose attendance records could not be matched to a pupil census record.

Pupils who are eligible but not registered for free school meals will be included in the not registered figures.

The Scottish government is clear that attendance is linked in many ways to attainment and thus to achieving positive outcomes. We welcome recent statistics that demonstrate 95.7% of young people are in a positive destination 3 months after leaving school and that the poverty related attainment gap has narrowed by almost two thirds for initial destinations in the last 15 years.

Question reference: S7W-01884

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its proposed timeframe is for the delivery of its commitment to implement bespoke housing standards for accommodation used by seasonal agricultural workers.

Current housing standards do not cover agricultural seasonal workers’ accommodation such as mobile homes or other temporary structures, as mobile homes are not considered as houses for the purpose of legislation. This has resulted in inconsistent and unequal protection for seasonal workers and is something we want to address.

The Scottish Government expect local authorities to use the powers granted them to introduce byelaws, taking into account the specific circumstances relating to seasonal workers in their geographical area.

Local authorities will have their own individual timelines for delivery. Officials have had discussions with COSLA and are continuing to engage with them regarding local authorities’ responsibilities and to facilitate the timely implementation of byelaws that maintain standards of accommodation for seasonal workers.

Question reference: S7W-01873

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Highland Council in the last three years regarding bullying in primary schools and support for pupils with additional support needs who experience this.

Ministers and officials engage regularly with local authorities on a wide variety of issues, including pupil wellbeing and support for Additional Support Needs. However, you will be aware responsibility for the delivery of education and support for children and young people, including responding to incidents of bullying, rests with local authorities and schools.

In 2024, we updated our national anti-bullying guidance Respect for All. We expect all local authorities, schools and organisations to develop and implement anti-bullying policies in line with Respect for All.

In 2026-27, we are providing £310,480 to respectme, Scotland’s anti-bullying service to provide advice, resources, and training for schools, local authorities and parents to help prevent and address bullying.

Question reference: S7W-02485

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has considered commissioning a Scottish Parliament challenge coin for members to present to hosts during official international visits and to members of visiting delegations, in light of the increasing use of such coins by legislatures and public bodies across the Commonwealth, the United States and elsewhere.

Question reference: S7W-02106

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP walk-in clinics are currently open and where they are located.

Question reference: S7W-02102

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-00806 by Angela Constance on 16 June 2026 whether it will to set out a timetable for the national evaluation of the GP walk-in clinics programme.

Question reference: S7W-02001

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the viability of Scotland's abattoir sector, particularly in relation to small-to-medium sized sites.

Small and medium-sized abattoirs are a crucial part of Scotland’s red meat sector, including in remote rural areas and for smaller producers seeking private kill services, including rare breeds.

The Scottish Government is aware of the challenges in the sector through work with a number of national organisations and through direct contact with businesses. Issues include economies of scale, labour costs and shortages and capital investment.

The Scottish Government recognises these challenges, which is why we have supported the sector through the Small Producers Pilot Fund, to improve access to private kill, and to improve coordination of services. £1 million resource and up to £1.5 million capital is being made available through the fund this year. The Scottish Government also offers a Ministerial Discount, awarded to the Scottish meat industry for FSS Official Veterinarian charges, which very small abattoirs and game plants benefit from most, with 76.5% of the rate being discounted.

Question reference: S7W-02020

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) plans it has to review and update legislation related to farm animal welfare, and (b) steps it is taking to implement any such changes.

The Scottish Government keeps farm animal welfare legislation under review to ensure it reflects the latest evidence and maintains Scotland’s high welfare standards. We have recently updated the Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations and continue to work with stakeholders to identify and implement further improvements where appropriate. Scottish Government has committed to update the Welfare Codes of sheep and cattle in partnership with Defra and devolved administrations and we have recently published updated Codes for pig welfare. We are working with devolved administrations and Defra on improving welfare of lambs undergoing castration and tail docking by promoting suitable anaesthesia and analgesia.

Question reference: S7W-01988

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to agricultural research institutes in each of the last 10 years and whether it plans to increase this funding during the current session.

Please find the following tables setting out Environment and Forestry Directorate research funding provided by Scottish Government to our Main Research Providers, The James Hutton Institute, Moredun Research Institute, Scotland's Rural College and The Rowett Institute in each of the last 10 years. Also provided is proposed allocations for the Scottish Government’s 5 year Strategic Research Programme 2027-32. It should be noted that additional Scottish Government funding has and will be available in future to agricultural institutes through wider initiatives including, but not limited to, City Deals and the Just Transition fund.

Strategic Research Funding 2016-26 (£)

2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
45,242,688	43,830,713	45,250,050	42,304,158	42,850,078	42,771,809	41,661,408	40,665,987	39,995,948	40,372,986

The proposed allocation under the 2027-2032 Strategic Research Programme is set out in the table below.

Strategic Research Funding 2027-32 (£)

PROPOSED (subject to annual budgeting decisions)	2027-28	2028-29	2029-30	2030-31	2031-32
TOTAL	44,404,000	45,414,600	46,424,286	47,330,000	48,151,000

Question reference: S7W-01971

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote and support sustainable fishing practices in Scotland’s waters.

The Scottish Government is taking a range of actions to promote and support sustainable fishing practices in Scotland’s waters through the implementation of Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy 2020-2030 as set out in the Strategy's 2025 Delivery Plan . Scotland already has a strong fisheries management framework based on quotas, effort controls and technical regulations, and we continue to build on these foundations through measures that support sustainable fishing practices while balancing economic, environmental and social objectives.

We use quota management to encourage sustainable fishing, including dedicated allocations for the non-sector fleet such as 1,000 tonnes of North Sea mackerel for handline fishing. In 2025, we also introduced an initiative that provides access to additional west of Scotland cod quota for vessels using selective fishing gear and techniques or demonstrating a reduced environmental impact.

We are further strengthening sustainable fisheries management through the development of 21 of the UK’s 43 Fisheries Management Plans, the introduction of mandatory remote monitoring on high-risk fishing vessels, and work to improve fishing selectivity and reduce bycatch. The Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement Programme will also deliver a step-change for fisheries management — supporting a resilient, evidence-led and regionally tailored approach for the diverse and innovative inshore fisheries sector. All these measures demonstrate our commitment to ensuring Scotland’s fisheries remain productive, resilient and environmentally sustainable for future generations.