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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-39561

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what policies and strategies it has in place to facilitate a freight modal shift to rail.

The Scottish Government has shown leadership in setting out positive policies that work for the rail freight industry through our rail freight strategy (published in 2016), our first of a kind regulatory growth targets for rail freight as part of our High Level Output Specification for Control Period 7 funding, and our mode shift grants. Scotland was the first UK nation to have a rail freight growth target and this focus is being retained with a target of 8.7% for the period 2024 to 2029 and a requirement for a longer term growth plan to be delivered by 2027. These policies have encouraged positive behaviours and collaborative working with the industry to grow rail freight and have been supported with investment of over £40 million in recent years in rail freight specific projects and over £421 million in wider projects with rail freight benefits. We will continue to maximise benefits for freight in our future investment in the rail network.

Question reference: S6W-39582

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 13 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39106 by Ivan McKee on 8 July 2025, what the projected cost is of the development of the Scottish Government mobile app.

The development of a Scottish Government Mobile App is a commitment under the Digital Public Services strand of the Government’s Public Service Reform Strategy, published in June 2025.

The App is intended to serve as a single, secure gateway to personalised public services, enhancing accessibility and user experience across government platforms. It is scheduled for initial release within the current financial year.

Work is underway to develop a business case including expected expenditure, related financial and budgetary considerations. This is expected to be completed in Autumn 2025. Once approved, further details will be made available to Parliament and stakeholders.

Question reference: S6W-39734

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done to provide extended resources to GP practices that will enable them to provide NHS prescriptions following a private diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

GPs do not require “extended resources” to provide NHS prescriptions following a private diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. GPs are contracted and resourced to provide appropriate ongoing treatment and care to all their patients taking account of their specific needs.

GPs should use their own judgement about what treatment is appropriate for patients who have a private diagnosis of any condition.

Question reference: S6W-39762

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its justification is for reportedly paying a civil servant for 18 months despite them having no formal duties.

Question reference: S6W-39410

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken on each of the recommendations in the Audit Scotland report, Tackling digital exclusion, published in August 2024.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Audit Scotland report Tackling digital exclusion, published in August 2024, and recognises the importance of its recommendations in shaping a more inclusive digital future for Scotland.

The Scottish Government continues to work in close partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) to develop a comprehensive action plan that directly addresses the report’s findings. This collaborative work has focused on ensuring that the plan sets out clear steps, timelines, and responsibilities for delivery.

The action plan will be embedded within the refreshed joint Digital Strategy, which is due to be published later this year. This strategy will provide a coordinated framework for tackling digital exclusion, aligning efforts across sectors and ensuring that digital services are inclusive by design. It will also support the delivery of meaningful, measurable outcomes that reduce digital exclusion and promote equitable access to digital opportunities for all.

The Scottish Government remains committed to working with COSLA and wider stakeholders to ensure that digital inclusion is at the heart of Scotland’s digital transformation.

Question reference: S6W-39370

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of a significant number of people in Dumfries and Galloway moving from NHS dental services to paying privately for dental services, whether any funding that was previously used for NHS dental services has been ring-fenced for future reinvestment in NHS dental provision in the region.

Question reference: S6W-39463

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that its employees do not need to leave their jobs as a result of the closure of the Victoria Quay nursery.

A transition period is supporting continued provision at the Victoria Quay (VQ) nursery until 10 October 2025. This period will support parents to source alternative childcare provision.

The current operator of the VQ nursery, North Edinburgh Childcare Enterprise Ltd, has offered all parents, including those on the waiting list, places at their sister nursery. Where families are currently accessing their child’s funded ELC hours at the VQ nursery, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Early Years team can support parents to find alternative funded provision.

Scottish Government staff will continue to be supported during any period of disruption as they source alternative childcare provision, including access to the existing Special Leave policy and flexible working patterns which can accommodate individual circumstances.

Question reference: S6W-39462

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent any staff at the Victoria Quay nursery from being made redundant.

Question reference: S6W-39461

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware that the Victoria Quay nursery may be at risk of closure, and when this was communicated to parents.

A full tender exercise was conducted and during the final stages of consideration, the only bidder, North Edinburgh Childcare Enterprise Ltd (NECEL) informed us on 9 May 2025 of their decision to withdraw from the tender process following their review of the economic case – this was done so after consultation with their Board and is a decision independent of the Scottish Government. There were no other bidders, therefore the procurement exercise was unsuccessful.

Scottish Government officials communicated the position on the closure of the nursery on 13 June 2025. This was at the same time as NECEL also informed their staff and issued their own communication to impacted families.

Question reference: S6W-39460

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it consulted with parents prior to the decision to close the Victoria Quay nursery.