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-02460

Asked by: Laura Moodie, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that a change from on-site retention of spoil to large-scale transportation of spoil off site constitutes a material change to a planning application, and whether such a change would require a further environmental impact assessment.

Question reference: S7W-02464

Asked by: Duncan Dunlop, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to introduce a ban on the sale of peat for use in horticulture in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02209

Asked by: Adam Harley, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 13 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the final amount spent on the proposed National Care Service is, broken down by category of expenditure.

The budgets including NCS costs covering the period 2021-2026 are available on the Scottish Government’s website.

Within the budget for year 2026-27 £50,000 is provisioned for the spend on the on-going running of the National Care Service Advisory Board. This includes the costs of supporting the Advisory Board Who continue to play an active role in shaping the Scottish Government’s delivery of the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.

Question reference: S7W-01992

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the employment rights of seasonal agricultural workers, and in particular (a) what mechanisms the UK Government uses to regulate the employment rights of seasonal agricultural workers and (b) what assessment it has made of whether these rights are being sufficiently upheld.

The immigration system, including the Seasonal Worker visa route, is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government regularly engages with DEFRA, other UK Government departments and the devolved administrations on issues affecting seasonal agricultural workers in Scotland either directly as matters arise, or through participation in working groups, such as the Seasonal Worker Interest Group and the Devolved Governments Workforce Group, where matters relating to worker welfare and employment rights are discussed.

(a) Employment law and immigration policy are reserved matters. The UK Government regulates the employment rights of seasonal agricultural workers through employment legislation, visa conditions and relevant enforcement bodies. In Scotland, seasonal agricultural workers’ pay and conditions are also covered by the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949 and annual Agricultural Wages Orders.

(b) Responsibility for enforcement of employment rights rests with the UK Government and its agencies. However, Scottish employers are increasingly dependent on migrant workers, who make a valuable contribution to Scotland's agricultural sector. The Scottish Government does not support an immigration system that increases the risk of forced labour or worker exploitation and continues to engage with stakeholders and UK Government counterparts on matters affecting the welfare and rights of seasonal agricultural workers in Scotland, including undertaking enforcement activity to ensure compliance with the terms of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Order relating to all agricultural workers in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02186

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 13 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with NHS England regarding the deployment of fractional exhaled nitric oxide testing for asthma in primary care settings, and what assessment it has made of the experience of using such tests in England to inform its approach.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a formal assessment of the deployment of FeNO testing in primary care settings in England. However, it continues to consider relevant evidence, guidance and learning from across the UK, including experience from England where appropriate, when considering the implementation of respiratory clinical guidance.

However, the Scottish Government is aware of developments in the use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) testing across the UK and notes that FeNO testing is recommended within the updated joint British Thoracic Society (BTS), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline on the diagnosis, monitoring and management of asthma. The guideline recommends the use of objective testing, including FeNO testing, to support asthma diagnosis and management.

Question reference: S7W-02099

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what consideration it has given to expanding its Scottish Welfare Fund programme rather than introducing a statutory price cap.

The Scottish Government is responding to ongoing cost of living pressures being felt by households acros , and we are working towards a consultation on the price cap on essential food items within 100 days of this Government.

We continue to invest in free income maximisation support, welfare and debt advice and have maintained investment in the Scottish Welfare Fund, at £41 million this year, alongside £25.5 million of additional investment over the previous two years, helping ensure the Fund remains a vital safety net for households.

Question reference: S7W-02053

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Highland has not confirmed whether cancer patients who are required to travel to another NHS board to receive treatment will be able to claim back the cost of (a) travel and (b) accommodation.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02052 on13 August 2026.

The Scottish Government provides the overall guidance to NHS Boards for patient travel expenses reimbursement - individual Boards are responsible for developing and applying their own policies, including reimbursement rates, ensuring patient care and safety.

The Patient Travel Expenses Scheme (PTES) is Scotland-wide and provides support to those in receipt of certain benefits. Financial support for travel is available for patients and authorised escorts, according to eligibility criteria and medical requirements.

All Boards are expected to support patients and their families in identifying and accessing available support and Board patient travel contacts can provide advice on eligibility and assistance available with bookings and advance payments, where necessary. The costs of the reimbursement schemes are met from Boards’ budgets.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S7W-02054

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the rate of adherence to the 62-day cancer treatment target in NHS Highland currently stands at 67.3%.

Cancer remains a national priority for the NHS and Scottish Government which is why we published our ten-year cancer strategy for Scotland in June 2023, focused on improving cancer survival and providing equitable access to treatment.

Continued diagnostic pressure is affecting 62-day performance. This is seen particularly in the high-volume pathways including colorectal, urological and breast cancer pathways.

We have invested £40m over five years to support cancer services and improve waiting times, with a focus on urology, colorectal and breast.

Officials and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery are engaging with boards, including NHS Highland, regularly and continue to scrutinise improvement plans and performance trajectories to ensure they are deliverable, whilst considering how available funding may support additional activity.

Question reference: S7W-02100

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what assessment it has carried out regarding the potential impact that the policy might have on retailers’ support for good causes and community groups and programmes.

Question reference: S7W-02052

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, as a result of a loss of oncology consultant capacity, cancer patients in NHS Highland’s catchment area will experience delays to treatment or be required to travel to another NHS board for treatment.