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: S6F-04067

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2025

To ask the First Minister when the landslip shelter on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful will be complete.

Question reference: S6F-04052

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04054

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04053

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-37260

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to increase the uptake of Funeral Support Payment since its introduction in 2019.

Social Security Scotland is committed to tackling funeral poverty and increasing take-up of all Scottish benefits. Since its introduction in 2019, Funeral Support Payment has been promoted across a wide range of channels including advertising on radio, in print and online, as well as through articles in media outlets and content on our own social media channels.

Social Security Scotland works with funeral directors and other stakeholders to increase their awareness of the payment so they can identify people who might need help to pay for funeral costs. This work includes provision of print information and attending events to raise awareness. Social Security Scotland also ensures there is accessible information available to people if online at mygov.scot.

When Funeral Support Payment launched, the Scottish Government substantially widened eligibility compared to the UK Government equivalent. Since launching in 2019, the Scottish Government has provided £56.9 million to over 29,000 people to help pay for funeral costs at a time when they need it most.

Question reference: S6W-37107

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of recent reported findings linking untreated hearing loss to a third of dementia cases in older people.

The Scottish Government recognises the serious impact that untreated hearing loss can have on individuals, including potential links to cognitive decline and dementia risk in older people.

The Independent Review of Audiology Services, published in August 2023, set out 55 recommendations which the Scottish Government accepted in principle to support improvements to audiology services across Scotland. A significant amount of work has been undertaken to date, to move forward the implementation of recommendations made as part of the Independent Review, involving a wide range of stakeholders across the public and third sector. In December 2024 we concluded this phase of work and will soon publish a report outlining how each of the recommendations set out in the Independent Review has been closed or transitioned, and the rationale for that.

We know that audiology services are facing sustained pressure, and this challenge is not unique to Scotland, with similar issues being felt across the UK. However, it is not acceptable that some people have had to wait longer than they should for appointments and referrals. The Scottish Government is taking action, and the 2025-26 Budget is providing a record £21.7 billion for Health and Social Care.

Audiology is considered a clinical priority area within the NHS in Scotland and improvement work is being progressed through the National Planning and Delivery Board under leadership from the Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-37047

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been an increase in the number of people appearing before courts in Scotland who also have a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and if this is the case, what assessment it has carried out of any such increase.

The Scottish Government does not collate data on the number of people with ADHD appearing before the courts in Scotland.

The information held on the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Services (SCTS) live operational case management systems is structured to support the processing of court business, rather than for statistical reporting or research purposes. SCTS and their staff provide administrative support to the Scottish courts, tribunals and their judiciary and rely on information provided by justice partners to consider any adjustment that may be required to facilitate a court hearing. Their computer systems do not record information of this nature.

In criminal proceedings, adjustments for vulnerable witnesses are requested by the Crown or defence - usually in advance of hearing - and are considered by the sheriff or judge. In civil proceedings, information is provided to the court by parties and solicitors. This information is typically only names and addresses of the parties and their legal representatives.

The Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill aims to ensure that the rights of neurodivergent people, including people with ADHD, are respected, protected and championed. The Bill consultation sought views on proposals for how the Justice system (including the Courts system) could be improved for neurodivergent people.

Question reference: S6W-37119

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to NFU Scotland’s warning that many farms will not survive without urgent and continued farm support.

Question reference: S6W-37055

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that sewage may have been discharged into Scottish waters once every 90 seconds in 2024.

As part of a commitment made in its improving urban waters routemap, Scottish Water installed 1000 new overflow monitors by December 2024 and it now publishes overflow information online. It is not correct to state that combined sewer overflows spill every 90 seconds as the data published by Scottish Water only covers a subset of overflows.

Scottish Water aims to install an additional 700 monitors during 2025. Information gathered by overflow monitors allows Scottish Water to optimise the management of its sewer networks and understand where spills occur most frequently and why. This information is critical in informing future investment needs to achieve the greatest benefit for customers and the environment.

Furthermore, Scottish Water’s investment in its assets has contributed towards 87% of Scotland’s entire water environment being assessed by SEPA as having a ‘high’ or ‘good’ classification for water quality and 97% of Scotland’s bathing waters currently achieve the bathing water quality standards.

Question reference: S6W-36246

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many cases that are currently lodged with the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) are yet to have an initial hearing date set.