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-03466

Asked by: Martyn Day, MSP for Falkirk East and Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is monitoring the implementation of the National Headache Pathway across NHS boards, including what information it holds on variation in any aspects of the implementation between NHS boards.

Responsibility for implementing national clinical pathways, including the National Headache Pathway, rests with individual NHS boards, taking account of local service delivery arrangements and population needs. The Scottish Government does not routinely monitor implementation of the National Headache Pathway at NHS board level and does not hold information centrally on variation in implementation between NHS boards.

Question reference: S7W-03446

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alyn Smith on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a reskilling strategy to help underemployed graduates make full use of their skills and qualifications and ensure that young people receive balanced guidance on the range of education and training options available to them, including whether university study is suited to their ambitions and interests.

On 1 September, the Programme for Government 2026-31 was published, focused on eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency, delivering high quality and sustainable public services. This set out our commitment to ‘produce a single national skills plan for Scotland by Spring 2027, aligning skills investment with economic need and opportunities, supporting the green and digital transitions, boosting productivity and creating clearer pathways into well paid and sustainable jobs.’

We want to enable people at all stages of their lives to have the opportunity and means to develop the skills, knowledge and attributes to realise their potential and to make a meaningful contribution to society and the economy. The plan will provide a strategic framework to align skills provision with economic need, strengthen employer engagement, support people throughout their working lives, towards ensuring Scotland has the required skills base for our future economy.

Question reference: S7W-02079

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01538 by Stephen Gethins on 23 July 2026, which states that officials have been monitoring the scheme on an on-going basis and that consideration has been given to any adaptations that can be made since the scheme launched on 1 April 2026, what adaptations (a) have actually been made, (b) were proposed as being prudent, necessary or advisable but were not made, and who made such a decision.

The Scottish Government has recently announced that the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme is to be extended into winter, ensuring the most vulnerable households are supported throughout winter as prices remain volatile.

Alongside the extension of the scheme, I would encourage households that use heating oil or LPG to contact Home Energy Scotland for free and impartial advice on reducing energy bills, improving energy efficiency and exploring clean heating options. Advisers can help households identify the support available to them and navigate funding schemes for home energy improvements.

No other adaptations/amendments have been made to the scheme. Officials continuously monitor the scheme ensuring it is targeted at those most in need; any decisions on adaptations/amendments will be made by Scottish Ministers and communicated accordingly.

Question reference: S7W-03050

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what specific statutory powers it would rely upon to prevent the construction of a small modular reactor (SMR) or advanced modular reactor (AMR) with a generating capacity of less than 50MW, in light of such installations not requiring consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 from Scottish Ministers and being ordinarily determined by the local planning authority.

Question reference: S7W-03901

Asked by: Jenny Young, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether any pilot schemes are currently in place to provide additional childcare support for children aged between nine and 23 months, and whether it has any plans to introduce any such pilot schemes in West Lothian.

Question reference: S7W-03828

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) Thematic Inspection of Police Response to Drug Harm Reduction stating that police officers should not be filling gaps left by other agencies, what action it is taking to ensure that people experiencing mental health crises receive support from the most appropriate service.

Question reference: S7W-03876

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what training, guidance and resources are provided to (a) local authority and (b) other enforcement officers to support the effective enforcement of legislation and codes of practice relating to responsible dog ownership, and whether it has introduced any additional training since the implementation of the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2025.

Question reference: S7W-03895

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Prison Officers' Association report, Crisis Point Reached - The Pressures Facing Scotland’s Prison Officers Uncovered, published in October 2025, and which of the 41 recommendations have been implemented.

Question reference: S7W-03877

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to including stud dogs within the scope of breeding legislation, and whether it considers that this could improve animal welfare standards.

Question reference: S7W-03834

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Police Scotland’s Annual Workforce Report stating that improvements in overtime and time off in lieu balances have not been sustained, what assessment it has made of Police Scotland’s continuing reliance on overtime and time off in lieu.