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-40658

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018, how it will ensure that there is an opportunity for the Parliament to scrutinise any proposed changes to the operation of group proceedings (class action).

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that any changes to the operation of group proceedings under the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018 are subject to appropriate scrutiny and transparency.

The development of rules for group proceedings, including any proposals to introduce opt-out procedures, is the responsibility of the Scottish Civil Justice Council (SCJC). These rules are made by the Court of Session under powers conferred by the 2018 Act.

Once approved by the Court of Session, rules of court are laid before the Scottish Parliament in accordance with the negative procedure. This means that Parliament has the opportunity to scrutinise the rules and, if it considers it appropriate, annul them within a specified period. This process ensures that the Parliament retains oversight of significant procedural changes to the civil justice system.

In addition, the Scottish Government will continue to engage with stakeholders and the Parliament throughout the development of any new procedures. Ministers are also required under the 2018 Act to report on the operation of group proceedings, which provides a further mechanism for parliamentary scrutiny and debate.

I also further refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40659 on 2 October 2025. 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: S6W-40696

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on opening an inhalation room in The Thistle safer drug consumption facility, and how much it estimates this would cost.

The position of the Scottish Government is that any intervention proven to save lives and reduce harms, such as an inhalation room, should be considered on its merits.

We would support a proposal from The Thistle facility to the Lord Advocate for the introduction of such an inhalation space. However, the ability to progress such a development remains constrained by the current legal framework under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the limits of the Lord Advocate’s prosecutorial discretion.

At this stage no cost estimate has been provided as no formal proposal for the inclusion of an inhalation room has yet been submitted by the Thistle.

Question reference: S6W-40695

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates it would cost, per vehicle, to introduce mobile safer drug consumption units in Scotland.

The only existing Statement of Prosecution Policy from the Lord Advocate in relation to a safer drug consumption facility applies only to the operation of a fixed facility, mobile units are not currently within scope.

The Scottish Government has not received any proposals for the introduction of mobile safer drug consumption units in Scotland, nor have we undertaken any work to determine the estimated cost of such units.

As a result, we do not hold any cost estimates for this model.

Question reference: S6W-40657

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of introducing opt-out group proceedings (class action) in Scotland, including the implications for (a) the competitiveness of businesses, (b) the country's attractiveness for inward investment and (c) consumer protection, and whether it will publish the findings.

Question reference: S6W-40775

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of attendees and the agenda for the Scottish Transport Summit, which was held on 17 September 2025.

Due to regulations set out in UK Data Protection legislation, we are unable to provide a list of names of those that attended the Scottish Transport Summit on 17 September. However, we can confirm that the Summit brought together senior officials from across Scotland’s transport and policy landscape, including Regional Transport Partnerships, local authorities, transport operators, and key government stakeholders to explore how transport can be better positioned as a strategic lever for economic growth.

We can provide the following list of organisations with representatives in attendance:

Airports UK

Angus Council

Association of Chief Transportation Coordinating Officers (ACTO)

Bus Users UK

Citylink

Clackmannanshire Council

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL)

Community Transport Association

Confederation of Passenger Transport

Consumer Scotland

COSLA

Cycling Scotland

David MacBrayne Limited

Disability Equality Scotland

East Dunbartonshire Council

Falkirk Council

Fife Council

First Bus

Glasgow City Council

Glasgow Taxis

Highland Council

Highland and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL)

Highland and Islands Enterprise

HITRANS

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Scotland

Loganair

Logistics UK

Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS)

McGills

Network Rail

North Ayrshire Council

North Lanarkshire Council

Prosper Scotland

Rail Freight Group

Renfrewshire Council

Road Haulage Association

Scotrail Holdings (SRH)

Scottish Canals

Scottish Government

Scottish Road Works Commissioner

Scottish Taxi Federation

Serco Northlink Ferries

SESTRAN

Smart Applications Management

Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS)

Society of Local Authoprity Chief Executives (SOLACE)

South Lanarkshire Council

South of Scotland Enterprise

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)

Stirling Council

TACTRAN

Technology Scotland

Transform Scotland

Transport Focus

Transport Scotland

Visit Scotland

ZetTrans

The agenda is set out in the following table:

09:00 – 09:30	Registration
09:30 – 09:45	Welcome – Cabinet Secretary for Transport
09:45 – 10:00	Keynote speech – Cllr Gail Macgregor, COSLA
10:00 – 10:15	An Economist’s View: Transport through a lens of the economy – Stephen Boyd, IPPR Scotland
10:15 – 10:25	Comfort Break
10:25 – 11:10	Acknowledge: The Value of Transport Panel discussion – Cabinet Secretary for Transport and NTS Board members, facilitated by Dr Gary Gillespie, Chief Economist, Scottish Government
11:10 – 11:30	Refreshment break
11:30 – 11:45	Aspire to reinforce our National Transport Strategy Vision Align Government, local authorities, and industry on long-term goals and priorities. – Fiona Brown, Transport Scotland
11:45 – 12:25	Align our strategic priorities Group Discussion 1: Enabling economic opportunity through sustainable travel and freight – Morna Cannon, Transport Scotland
12:25 – 12:35	Comfort break
12:35 – 13:15	Group Discussion 2: Integrating public transport to support economic and social outcomes across the different regions of Scotland – Bettina Sizeland, Transport Scotland
13:15 – 13:30	Thanks, and closing remarks – Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Alison Irvine, Transport Scotland
13:30 – 14:30	Lunch and networking

Question reference: S6W-40653

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which organisations are represented in the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group, also broken down by the rationale for each being invited to participate.

Question reference: S6W-40907

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mairi McAllan on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress against its Heat in Buildings Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-40825

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40443 by Ivan McKee on 17 September 2025, and in light of reports that NatureScot has advised that the development would damage an internationally important Ramsar site and a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), whether it has engaged with the Ramsar secretariat as part of the consultation process on the proposed development of an 18-hole golf course at Coul Links, and if so, what the outcome of any such engagement was.

The Scottish Government has not engaged with the Ramsar Secretariat on the planning application at Coul Links. NatureScot serves as a statutory advisor to the Scottish Government on developments that may affect Ramsar sites, offering expert ecological guidance to assess environmental impacts. The Ramsar Secretariat, based in Switzerland, is responsible for the day-to day co-ordination of convention activities. Whilst the Secretariat provides guidance, technical advice, and support to member countries to help ensure Ramsar sites are protected within their national planning processes, the Secretariat does not have a direct role in specific planning applications.

Question reference: S6O-05043

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what scoping work it has undertaken regarding dualling and electrifying the Highland Main Line.

Question reference: S6O-05042

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the decision by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to progress with proposals for bus franchising.