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: S6W-40094

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available to allow people in the Highlands and Islands region who reside outside Inverness to utilise the Nevis House rehabilitation service.

The Scottish Government provided £2.4m to support the development of Nevis House, as part of our aim to increase residential rehab capacity – particularly for areas outside the Central Belt.

Nevis House will provide six beds, equating to up to 22 placements a year. It aims to support referrals from more remote parts of the Highlands alongside the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland.

Nevis House expands on existing work carried out at Beechwood House, offering residential rehabilitation, community outreach and social care to people affected by substance use in rural areas.

Question reference: S6W-40044

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on virtual private network (VPN) services in each year since 2021.

In keeping with our network security policy, we can neither confirm nor deny the use of VPNs by revealing any cost or lack thereof. This is consistent with our response to a recent FOI (202500480214) asking a similar question and aligns to the approach taken by government bodies across the UK. Providing details on the type of networking tools used could provide hostile actors with information on the setup, and potential weak points, of sensitive government systems.

Question reference: S6W-39840

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there are any constraints against the establishment of new data centres in Scotland; if there are, what it considers that those constraints are, and what action it is taking to mitigate any such constraints.

“Data centres, and the associated digital infrastructure required to service them, are the backbone of a vibrant digital economy. Increased data centre presence in Scotland will help the country to fully embrace new and emerging technologies and opportunities in the future and support the Scottish Government's policy ambitions.

There are a number of different considerations that can impact the establishment of new data centres including electricity network, planning and technical considerations and each site has its own challenges and opportunities. Working across Scottish Government and its agencies, in conjunction with the UK Government where appropriate, we are seeking to address these opportunities and challenges to support the realisation of data centre investment across Scotland, whilst maximising spillover benefits such as re-use of excess heat and economic additionality.”

Question reference: S6W-39764

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 2 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what legal advice it received before its ministers publicly stated its position that Israel is committing genocide.

Question reference: S6W-39765

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 2 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed any legal and diplomatic risks of using the term "genocide" regarding Gaza, in relation to live international conflicts.

Question reference: S6T-02642

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce NHS waiting lists, in light of new analysis reportedly showing that waits of over two years are now more than 800 times higher in Scotland than in England.

Question reference: S6T-02626

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the overall increase in recorded crimes in the past year, including rape, violent crime, antisocial behaviour and shoplifting.

Question reference: S6T-02625

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Cabinet Secretary for Transport's announcement on 19 February 2025, whether it will provide an update on its discussions with Peel Ports regarding bringing Ardrossan harbour into public ownership.

Question reference: S6F-04252

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 September 2025

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the steps that the Scottish Government is taking as a result of the Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S6F-04246

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 September 2025

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce the number of road traffic incidents on the trunk road network, in light of reports of a number of serious accidents over the summer.