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-03630

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make asbestos awareness training mandatory for workers whose duties may bring them into contact with asbestos-containing materials.

Question reference: S7W-03633

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will engage with specialist charities and clinicians in the development of a Paediatric Long Term Conditions Framework.

Question reference: S7W-03614

Asked by: Duncan Dunlop, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it or Transport Scotland has issued any guidance to local authorities regarding the installation of traffic lights with the purpose of reducing vehicle speeds, such as the ones in Springholm on the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S7W-03606

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently published consultation on fisheries management measures in relation to Marine Protected Areas and Priority Marine Features, including its inclusion of alternative fisheries management options, for what reason it has quantified the economic costs of restricting existing mobile fishing activity, but has not assessed on an equivalent basis the potential economic and social benefits of a managed transition to lower-impact fishing methods, particularly static-gear fisheries.

Question reference: S7W-03611

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's call for evidence on the impacts of the rearing, releasing and shooting of gamebirds on wildlife, the environment and animal welfare, what plans it has to join in with any future consultation on the issue by DEFRA.

Question reference: S7W-03628

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it consulted trade unions in shaping its recently published proposals for local government reform.

Question reference: S7W-03634

Asked by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will begin work on a Paediatric Long Term Conditions Framework.

Question reference: S7O-00299

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Pauline McNeill (on behalf of the SPCB) on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it is supporting MSPs to offer benefits to their employees, including those which promote healthy living and wellbeing.

The SPCB offers a wide range of services and benefits which promote healthy living and wellbeing. These are available to MSP staff as well as SPCB staff and include, for example, a free on-site gym for staff based in Holyrood, corporate gym membership discounts and the cycle to work scheme. Staff also have access to an Employee Assistance Service which delivers 24/7 counselling as well as an online wellbeing platform. This platform contains fitness programmes, nutrition guides and on-demand e-learning and podcasts on a wide-range of wellbeing topics. The SPCB takes seriously its responsibility to support positive wellbeing for all members of the parliament community, including MSP staff.

Question reference: S7O-00292

Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jackie Dunbar (on behalf of the SPCB) on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment and engagement with building users informed its decision to introduce facial template authentication for passholders on the parliamentary estate, whether it is aware of similar technology being used in any other UK parliament and whether it will consult with MSPs further before implementation.

The existing system is nine years old and has become slower, with its performance declining and more difficult to maintain. Facial authentication should be quicker and more reliable, while maintaining the security benefits of two-factor authentication.Finger template technology is supposed to have a 93% success rate however the system performance has declined to <85% success rate. This has impacted on both new people trying to enrol onto the system, and for users who have found that their template is no longer working and been unable to re-enrol.

Feedback from passholders, particularly Members, has also highlighted delays and queues at entrances.

Following specialist security advice, facial authentication was assessed as offering the best balance of security, reliability and ease of use. The SPCB considered privacy, cyber security, accessibility, resilience and personal safety before approving the upgrade.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the security arrangements of other legislatures. Holyrood’s arrangements are determined by the SPCB, based on the Parliament’s needs and advice from its security partners, including Police Scotland. The rollout will be phased so that the system can be tested and monitored. Security and access-control arrangements are the responsibility of the SPCB. It considered the proposal in detail, including privacy, cyber security, resilience and personal safety, before approving it. Feedback from building users has informed how the new arrangements will operate.

Question reference: S7O-00289

Asked by: Cara McKee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Graham Simpson (on behalf of the SPCB) on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what additional measures can be taken to ensure compliance with best practice regarding clear allergen labelling for non-pre-packaged food offered for sale in the catering outlets across the parliamentary estate.