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-34900

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried of the reasons for the reported increase in the percentage of people diagnosed with HIV who no longer engaged with HIV clinical services.

The latest data on people living with HIV in Scotland and not attending for HIV treatment and care can be found in Public Health Scotland’s HIV in Scotland surveillance report, which is available at: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/hiv-in-scotland/hiv-in-scotland-update-to-31-december-2023/.

It is important to note that changes to service delivery during and since the COVID-19 pandemic mean that the reported proportion of diagnosed individuals receiving treatment may be an under-estimate and work is underway to ensure the accuracy of this reporting.

Through our HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Plan, we are working with partners including the third sector to ensure that people living with HIV are receiving the treatment, care and support they need. Through our Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults we are also funding a number of projects offering peer support and practical assistance which can help people living with HIV to stay well and engage or re-engage in care.

Question reference: S6W-34902

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it carried out to determine which NHS boards would take part in the emergency department opt-out blood borne virus testing pilot.

The Scottish Government has funded pilots of emergency department opt-out blood borne virus testing in three areas – NHS Lothian, NHS Grampian and NHS Highland. The funding allocations followed a call for bids which was open to all Scottish territorial NHS Boards. Bids were assessed against criteria including geographical spread and value for money, and we were pleased to be able to fund every Board that applied to participate.

Question reference: S6W-34537

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to find out what the reasons were for its national care service proposal not going ahead, and what lessons have been learned from this.

The Scottish Government is committed to bringing forward a National Care Service and will deliver vital reform through legislative and non-legislative means, and those with lived experience at the heart of our work.

We have reflected on feedback from people with lived experience, stakeholders and political parties to put forward revised proposals. We have worked to find balance and practical solutions to ensure we can deliver social care reform for the people of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-34506

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Human Rights Commission report, “Tick Tock…” A human rights assessment of progress from institutionalisation to independent living in Scotland, which was published on 30 January 2025.

The Scottish Government thanks the Scottish Human Rights Commission for their report on independent living in Scotland.

In addition, the Scottish Government asked the Mental Welfare Commission to review the care and treatment of people with learning disabilities and complex care needs who have remained in hospital for more than ten years. And I am grateful for their report, also published in January 2024.

We will now take the time to carefully consider the findings and recommendations of these reports in full. The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering the changes that are evidently required for people with Learning Disabilities.

Change in this area cannot be delivered by the Scottish Government alone. We will continue to work closely with COSLA, Health Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships to deliver the change required to ensure peoples human rights are upheld.

Question reference: S6W-35079

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue the 2025 summer timetable service frequency between Ardrossan and Brodick into the (a) winter 2025-26 and (b) summer 2026 timetable.

Question reference: S6W-35061

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to ensure that Transport Scotland takes action to mitigate any safety concerns regarding the Shawhead flyover in Coatbridge.

Regular updates will be provided by Transport Scotland to Ministers to ensure appropriate action is taken to address concerns at the Shawhead Flyover. The current position is that Transport Scotland has asked its maintenance contractor (Scottish Roads Partnership) to assess several options for works at the junction to improve driver confidence. This work is underway. In addition, Transport Scotland has also asked Police Scotland for the junction to be assessed by their Police Camera Safety Team in the next site selection exercise, which is due to begin in April.

Question reference: S6W-34821

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of people who have sought transgender chest surgery privately in each of the last five tears, including those who fundraise through online platforms.

Question reference: S6W-35040

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the implementation of the pavement parking prohibitions introduced by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, and how it ensures that local authorities enforce these effectively.

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 places a duty upon all local authorities to enforce the new parking prohibitions. It is for each local authority to determine how best to enforce these prohibitions in their area. Transport Scotland annually collates figures on income and expenditure and Penalty Charge Notices issued, which now includes pavement parking. The most recent report was published in December 2024 and can be found at the following link: Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) Report 2023-2024 | Transport Scotland

Question reference: S6W-35173

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the largest number of section 16AA licences is that has been granted to a single landholding in recognition of the assignation of sporting rights to different persons.

Question reference: S6W-34819

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been referred for transgender chest surgery, including masculinising mastectomies, in each of the last five years, also broken down by how many were aged (a) 17 to 25 and (b) 26 and over.

This information is not collected centrally by the Scottish Government and is an operational matter for NHS National Services Scotland, National Services Division (NSD).

Gender reassignment surgeries, as a treatment option for assessed gender dysphoria, are highly specialised and are carried out within the framework of a four-nations contract managed by NHS England. This contract is managed on NHS Scotland’s behalf by NSD.