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-01663

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 6 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Transport Scotland is taking to mitigate any potential marine safety risks in Oban Harbour while a final decision remains pending on the establishment of a single Statutory Harbour Authority.

Question reference: S7W-01661

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 6 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what Transport Scotland’s expected timeline is for a final decision on the Argyll and Bute Council Oban Harbour Revision Order (HRO), which was submitted to Transport Scotland in November 2023.

Making a Harbour Order can be a complex and sometimes lengthy process. Following the statutory 42-day consultation period for this application, over 100 representations were received. This was followed by the Written Representations stage, which provided further opportunities for interested parties to submit their views and liaise with the applicants.

Given the volume and nature of the material submitted, it has been essential that Transport Scotland undertakes thorough scrutiny from both a policy and a legal perspective, to ensure that all relevant matters are considered appropriately and in line with the requirements set out in The Harbours Act 1964. Transport Scotland is progressing this work as a priority.

Question reference: S7W-01552

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 6 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what precautions it is taking to ensure that the development of data centres does not have a significant impact on energy and water resources

The Scottish Government is taking a whole system approach to understanding the full implications of data centre developments.

We recognise that data centres are a rapidly evolving sector. In a response to Gillian MacKay MSP on Thursday 25 June, the First Minister set out that he is giving active consideration on whether the Scottish Government should provide planning guidance to balance the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centres with national energy and climate goals which are vital to our future prosperity.

Question reference: S7W-01662

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 6 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment Transport Scotland has made of the alternative Harbour Empowerment Order (HEO) submitted by the Oban Community Harbour Development Association (OCHDA), and whether these proposals will be fully considered prior to a final decision on the future of Oban Harbour.

Question reference: S7W-01660

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 6 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is regarding whether revenues raised by municipal harbour authorities must be ring-fenced for local harbour maintenance and development, in light of reported stakeholder concerns regarding the draft Oban Harbour Revision Order.

Question reference: S7W-02288

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Clyde Cod Targeted Science Programme, for what reason a memorandum of understanding was entered into that allows one stakeholder, the Clyde Fishermen's Association, to prevent other stakeholders from attending meetings of the Working Group.

Question reference: S7W-02276

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of electricity generated by Berwick Bank offshore windfarm is expected to be (a) exported outwith Scotland and (b) purchased by data centres, such as the proposed QTS data centre at Cambois, Northumberland, where Berwick Bank offshore windfarm is planned to connect to the grid.

Question reference: S7W-02278

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01437 by Angela Constance on 20 July 2026, which potential GP walk-in centre sites are affected by staffing challenges.

Question reference: S7W-02296

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its latest estimate is of the total value of ScotWind project expenditure that will be spent in Scotland over the lifetime of the programme, and how this compares with the estimates it has previously provided.

Question reference: S7W-02290

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Clyde Cod Targeted Science Programme, when the memorandum of understanding with the Clyde Fishermen's Association was signed by Scottish Ministers, in light of the published document being dated 1 April 2026, which was during the election purdah period.