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-03823

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 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Assurance review of Conduct and Discipline finding that not all allegations of potential senior officer misconduct were being referred to the Scottish Police Authority for assessment, what action it is taking to ensure that such allegations are recorded and referred appropriately.

Question reference: S7W-03827

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 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Custody inspection report - Highland and Islands finding that four children were held overnight in police cells for social work pick-up after relatively minor crimes, how many children have been held overnight in police custody in each year since 2021.

Question reference: S7W-03824

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 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Assurance review of Conduct and Discipline finding that 20% of Police Scotland officers and staff who died by suicide between 2013 and 2024 were subject to live complaints or conduct processes, what assessment it has made of the adequacy of wellbeing support available to officers and staff involved in such processes.

Question reference: S7W-03867

Asked by: Adam Harley, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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 Recommendation 11 of the Thirlwall Inquiry regarding the scrutiny of neonatal deaths, and whether it will review the equivalent arrangements in Scotland to ensure that possible harm and safeguarding concerns are explicitly considered following every neonatal death.

Question reference: S7W-03821

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 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Annual Report 2025-26 stating that there is no equivalent inspectorate providing routine independent scrutiny of Scotland’s courts and tribunals system, whether it will consider establishing such a body.

Question reference: S7W-03819

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 HMICS and HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland report, Citing witnesses in the sheriff court, which found that email citation has been a competent method of citation since 2007, what assessment it has made of barriers to its routine use for civilian witnesses.

Question reference: S7W-03880

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 proportion of landslide-related disruption on the trunk road network has been attributable to the A77 in each of the last five years, and what steps are being taken to reduce the vulnerability of this route compared with other major trunk roads.

Question reference: S7W-03891

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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 housing benefits arising from the Badenoch and Strathspey Short-Term Let Control Area, beyond changes in the total number or growth rate of registered short-term lets.

Question reference: S7W-03899

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that 35% of crisis grant applications resulted in refusals in 2025-26, what assessment it has made of whether crisis grant eligibility rules contribute to reliance on food banks.

Question reference: S7W-03853

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-02101 by Stephen Flynn on 25 August 2026, whether it will provide an update on (a) the publication date of the updated code of conduct on the treatment of passengers and staff using public transport, as outlined in the National Bus Travel Concession Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026, and (b) on what date the updated code and underpinning processes supporting the suspension of access to free travel if the code is breached will take effect.