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-03495

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to comments from the Federation of Small Businesses and Scottish Grocers Federation published in The Scottish Sun on 19 September 2026 that the policy could have adverse implications for both smaller food retail stores and small food suppliers.

The cost-of-living crisis means that many families are struggling to put food on the table, and we are taking action to help households with those pressures. That is why we are consulting on a proposal which seeks to make essential food items more affordable for households struggling to pay for their weekly shop, particularly those on lower incomes. Through our consultation and ongoing engagement with stakeholders, we are carefully considering the full range of perspectives and evidence to help inform policy development. This engagement will help ensure that any future scheme is proportionate, deliverable and aligned with the policy's objectives.

Question reference: S7W-03420

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings in Beat's recent report, Not Designed for Me: Transforming Eating Disorder Support for Autistic People with Eating Disorders, what assessment it has made of the implementation of the National Specification for the Care and Treatment of Eating Disorders in relation to autistic people, including what evidence it holds regarding changes in the care and treatment experienced by autistic people as a result.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring everyone with an eating disorder, including autistic people, has equitable, consistent, and timely access to appropriate treatment and support.

We recognise that autistic people can experience particular barriers when accessing eating disorder services. We welcome Beat’s recent report published on 9 September 2026, and note that many of the recommendations are reflected in the Scottish Government’s National Specification for the Care and Treatment of Eating Disorders, published in November 2024.

The Scottish Government asked NHS Boards in May 2025 to complete a self-assessment tool, scoring their delivery and implementation of the Specification across CAMHS and adult services. Officials are working with boards to understand how best to support them in this area of work.

This includes support provided through our National Eating Disorders Network, and we are continuing to work with stakeholders, including Beat, to develop training resources, webinars, and online information to support autistic people with eating disorders.

Question reference: S7W-03394

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Scotland regarding the safe use of weight loss drugs in industries where workers are subject to a maximum weight limit.

Obesity medicines offer a highly effective treatment for obesity, as part of a range of weight management interventions for eligible patients, used alongside a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Individual Health Boards are responsible for decisions on the implementation and availability of medicines, including obesity medicines. These decisions are supported by guidance set out in the national consensus statement published in September 2024.

NHS Lothian is partnering with Ministry of Defence (Defence Medical Command) to develop obesity medicines pathways for military personnel, including policy that may have application across all safety critical industries. Learning from this national innovation programme will be shared widely and used to inform future treatment pathways across the NHS in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-03390

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 1 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with prospective investors regarding the creation of a DronePort at Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Question reference: S7W-03790

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports calls to establish a register of wildfire-capable equipment and specialist contractors that organisations responding to wildfires can access and, if so, what arrangements it would propose for checking competence, agreeing deployment and payment terms, and ensuring that information remains current.

Question reference: S7W-03849

Asked by: Lloyd Melville, MSP for Angus South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions on rural and agricultural businesses.

Question reference: S7W-03786

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments reportedly made by the Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands at a public meeting in Aviemore on 18 September 2026 regarding the Cairngorms wildfire, whether the central budget and contractual arrangements for aerial wildfire support enable its deployment to be authorised before agreement has been reached on which responding organisation will bear the cost.

Question reference: S7W-03810

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure consistent access to NHS prescribing and shared care for people with an appropriate private ADHD diagnosis, regardless of where they live in Scotland, while maintaining the necessary clinical safeguards.

Question reference: S7W-03792

Asked by: Andrew Baxter, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government in what circumstances recipients of woodland creation or management grants may be required to repay funding where woodland is damaged or destroyed by wildfire, and what discretion, appeal arrangements and restoration support are available.

Question reference: S7W-03845

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to women’s poverty as part of its public service reform agenda, and what engagement it is undertaking with stakeholders to ensure that women’s poverty and child poverty are at the forefront of this reform.