- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 3 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Fire
and Rescue Service regarding fire-raising and antisocial behaviour in Mid
Scotland and Fife.
Answer
Answer expected on 3 October 2025
- Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2025
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Ivan McKee on 19 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Programme for Government commitment to consult on modernising Scotland’s compulsory purchase system.
Answer
I am pleased to announce that we have today published a consultation on a comprehensive package of proposals to modernise compulsory purchase in Scotland, to make it simpler, more streamlined and fairer for all parties. The publication of this consultation, which was a Programme for Government commitment, marks an important step towards the wholesale reform that many stakeholders have been calling for.
Compulsory purchase orders are a powerful tool which can help to deliver a wide range of projects, from major infrastructure developments to bringing empty homes and vacant land back into use. However, the legislation is complex and out of date, which can discourage public bodies from using it. The reform programme aims to overhaul the system so that it can fulfil its potential to drive change, as well as being fairer and more transparent for those whose property is affected. Following commitments given to parliament earlier this year, the consultation also includes some questions on compulsory sale orders and compulsory lease orders.
The consultation is available on the Scottish Government website and is open until 19 December.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 19 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its policy is on issuing multiple parliamentary security passes to individuals who identify as having more than one gender identity.
Answer
We can confirm that security passes are not issued on the basis of gender identity. Our pass management system records the details necessary to ensure safe and secure access to the Parliament estate and gender identity is not a factor in the issuing of passes.
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan, published in June 2025, whether any areas of NHS board spend will be protected from its commitment to “Deliver NHS Board 3% recurring savings against core funding”.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan confirms that efficiency and improvement is a key focus for the Health and Social Care portfolio and reflects the commitment to ensure use of core resources is optimised and best value is delivered across NHS Scotland.
Spending decisions are an operational matter for individual NHS Boards to consider within the overarching financial framework of governance and accountability set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM).
The Chief Executive of each NHS Board is designated as the Accountable Officer, responsible in leading the Board to promote the efficient, economic and effective use of resources, whilst ensuring patient outcomes are protected. However, Scottish Government are consistently clear that NHS Board savings should be sensible, proportionate, and minimise the impact on frontline services.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 19 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the uptake of Free Personal and Nursing Care has been in each local authority area, and what action it is taking to (a) address any regional disparities and (b) increase the overall uptake.
Answer
The most recent Data (2023-24) for those who received Free Personal and Nursing Care is contained in the Scottish Government website:
Introduction - Free Personal and Nursing Care, Scotland, 2023-24 - gov.scot
Data is captured at a specific moment rather than cumulatively.
Regional disparities are not as easy to identify due to diverse demographics, geography etc which make direct comparison difficult. This is compounded by the mixed returns from Local Authorities.
Free Personal and Nursing Care is a core part of the Scottish Government’s Health and Social Care strategy the funding of which is at a record level. Our 2025-26 budget is investing £21.7bn. including almost £2.2 billion investment for social care and integration, delivering on our commitment to increase social care spending by 25% over this Parliament, two years ahead of schedule.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the permanent
removal of ScotRail peak fares on season ticket holders, and whether regular
commuters will receive proportionate financial benefits compared to occasional
travellers.
Answer
An extra 20% discount was applied to the cost of all Season Tickets for 12 months from 27 September 2024 when the peak fares pilot ended. With peak fares gone for good season ticket pricing was reviewed to ensure frequent travellers benefit from the simplicity and ease of use a season ticket offers. From 28 September 2025, season ticket customers will save at least 5% versus the cost of five daily return tickets each week.
The pricing of Flexipass tickets have also been adjusted from 1 September, to ensure they continue to offer significant savings for those who travel less regularly.
Flexipasses, offer six return tickets with a 5% discount
ScotRail has a fare comparison tool on its website, to help passengers find the best ticket option for their travel needs — whether they’re travelling by train daily, or a few times a week.
ScotRail will continue to develop fare initiatives to attract more passengers while providing savings and additional value to existing rail users.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that an estimated 27% of state pension
age people in Glasgow are not aware of Pension Credit and an estimated
£30,263,573 goes unclaimed annually by 13,377 pensioners, what measures it can
take to communicate directly with state pension age people to encourage maximum
uptake of all relevant social security benefits they are entitled to.
Answer
The DWP is ultimately responsible for increasing take-up of Pension Credit. Despite this, through our Benefit Take-Up Strategy, of which there is no UK Government equivalent, we continue to tackle barriers to take-up and explore opportunities to raise awareness of this payment to people in Scotland. For example, Social Security Scotland have shared content on Pension Credit, via social media, and information is included in posts where entitlement is relevant to a devolved payment.
When promoting devolved entitlements, like Pension Age Disability Payment, we have engaged with older disabled people in communities to raise awareness of this benefit. In addition, most people will not need to apply for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment this winter, as most payments will be made automatically, ensuring take-up remains high.
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan, published in June 2025, in what areas it plans for NHS boards to make savings in order to achieve its commitment to “Deliver NHS Board 3% recurring savings against core funding”.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan confirms that efficiency and improvement is a key focus for the Health and Social Care portfolio and reflects the commitment to ensure use of core resources is optimised and best value is delivered across NHS Scotland.
Spending decisions are an operational matter for individual NHS Boards to consider with the overarching financial framework of governance and accountability set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM).
The Chief Executive of each NHS Board is designated as the Accountable Officer (AO). They are responsible in leading the Board to promote the efficient, economic and effective use of resources, this includes decisions regarding areas in which to make savings, whilst ensuring patient outcomes are protected.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the concluding observation by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2023 that all marriages of under-18s should be prohibited in Scotland, what progress it has made with increasing the legal age of marriage to 18, and by what date it will publish its consultation on this matter.
Answer
The Scottish Government is taking seriously concerns that 16- and 17-year-olds may need more protection. Our consultation on a range of family law matters, including whether we should legislate to raise the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership to 18, is in the latter stages of preparation and will be published this Autumn. The responses to the consultation will, along with other available evidence, help inform our decisions on next steps.
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan, published in June 2025, what the total projected savings are from its commitment to “Deliver NHS Board 3% recurring savings against core funding”, in the financial year (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27, (c) 2027-28, (d) 2028-29 and (e) 2029-30.
Answer
NHS Boards continue to work towards to 3% recurring savings target in 2025-26, and Scottish Government officials continue to work with all NHS Boards to enable savings where appropriate. Whilst the 3% recurring savings target is expected to continue, the level of savings required will depend on the budget settlement in each year.
