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-01827

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the overall passenger satisfaction score for the Caledonian Sleeper service has been in each year since 2019-20, also including measures of (a) journey experiences, (b) cabin comfort, (c) staff helpfulness, (d) punctuality, (e) cleanliness, (f) value for money and (g) overall service quality.

Caledonian Sleeper and Transport Focus, the independent passenger watchdog, publish statistical information on passenger satisfaction. Recent survey results can be accessed here: Caledonian Sleeper_GSS_Dashboard_2027_RP03 https://www.sleeper.scot/about/our-performance/#3; and https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/publication/caledonian-sleeper-guest-satisfaction-survey-25/.

Previous results of surveys undertaken by Transport Focus can be found in the ‘Publications’ section of its website: https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/publications/?hba_otd_searchable_posts%5BrefinementList%5D%5Bpost_year%5D%5B0%5D=2022.

Question reference: S7W-01829

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost to the public purse has been of operating the Caledonian Sleeper service in each year since 2019-20, including (a) operating subsidy, (b) loans, (c) grants, (d) capital funding, (e) shareholder support, (f) management fees and (g) any other direct financial support from (A) it, (B) Transport Scotland and (C) any other related public body.

Transport Scotland offers a subsidy through Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH) to fund operational costs of the Caledonian Sleeper Limited (CSL), which are not met by other income, including passenger revenue. The information on level of that subsidy including capital funding is available publicly from various sources, including Caledonian Sleeper Ltd accounts submitted to Companies House: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC328825/filing-history. No loans are offered to CSL by the Scottish Government or Transport Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-01854

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the current school clothing grant is sufficient to cover the cost of school uniforms for primary and secondary school pupils.

The national minimum amounts for School Clothing Grant were agreed with local government. Local authorities are responsible for administering the School Clothing Grant, including setting eligibility criteria, and have the flexibility to pay families more than the national minimum. The Scottish Government is providing increased funding of £14.6m in 2026/27 financial year to support local authorities to maintain the School Clothing Grant. We have committed to uprating funding in line with inflation during this Parliament.

Our 2024 national guidance on school uniform and clothing makes clear that schools should consider their uniform policies in the context of the national minimum School Clothing Grant and design those policies on the basis that families can purchase all items needed for the school year within that budget. The guidance was developed in collaboration with key stakeholders and informed by a range of evidence and stakeholder engagement, including consultation with pupils, parents and carers.

Question reference: S7W-01853

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has, if any, to introduce guidance for schools to minimise requirements for branded items as part of school uniforms.

Responsibility for school uniform rests with individual schools and education authorities.

The Scottish Government published national guidance on school uniform and clothing in 2024. It supports headteachers, school leaders and education authorities to work collaboratively with their school communities to develop affordable and sustainable uniform and clothing policies that meet the needs, circumstances and identities of their pupils.

The guidance has a strong focus on affordability and makes clear that schools are expected to do all they can to minimise costs for families, in line with wider efforts to tackle child poverty and reduce the cost of the school day. The guidance is clear that branded items should not be compulsory and that schools should not expect families to purchase them. Schools are encouraged to adopt flexible uniform policies that promote the use of pre-loved clothing to improve affordability and reduce waste.

Question reference: S7W-01826

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) public performance measure, (b) cancellation rate and (c) right-time arrival performance for the Caledonian Sleeper service has been in each year since 2019-20.

Caledonian Sleeper Limited (CSL) performance is primarily monitored by Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH), who oversees CSL’s operations. The member may wish to contact CSL or SRH directly for the information requested.

In addition, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) publishes statistical information on performance data regularly. Information starting from 2022-23 can be accessed here: https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/performance/passenger-rail-performance/.

Statistics on performance in years prior to that, can be found in the National Archives here: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20200503203004/https:/orr.gov.uk

Question reference: S7W-01837

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Calmac regarding the re-introduction of a non-landing ticket for passengers using the Mallaig-Small Isles service, including the timescale for implementation.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with CalMac on ferry services. CalMac has advised that there are currently no plans to reintroduce non-landing tickets on the Mallaig-Small Isles service. With the initial decision having been made in response to growing concerns about the impact these sailings were having on the availability of passenger capacity for local residents and visitors travelling to and from the islands.

Question reference: S7W-02131

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it will use to determine whether market conditions are sufficiently favourable to proceed with an issuance under the Scottish Government bond programme, and under what circumstances ministers would decide not to proceed with a bond issuance where market pricing is considered unfavourable.

The Scottish Government is working closely with its appointed bookrunners to assess market conditions and achieve the most favourable terms available.

Releasing information on the criteria underpinning a potential bond issuance prior to execution could prejudice the Government's position in the market. Such disclosure may shape investor expectations, constrain pricing flexibility and adversely affect the terms on which borrowing can be secured. To do so before a transaction has taken place could therefore risk higher costs to the taxpayer and poorer value for money.

Question reference: S7W-02477

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01758 by Angela Constance on 3 August 2026, what the scope and terms of reference of the review of the Patient Travel Reimbursement Scheme guidance will be, and whether the review will consider the travel costs incurred by children and young people with cancer.

Question reference: S7W-02478

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01758 by Angela Constance on 3 August 2026, what wider reform of access to healthcare the review of the Patient Travel Reimbursement Scheme guidance will form part of, and when it expects that work to conclude.

Question reference: S7W-02462

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body when the Victims and Witnesses Commissioner for Scotland will be appointed.