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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.

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Question reference: S6W-41149

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week thrombectomy service, in light of the recent announcement that such a service has been introduced at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.

A commitment to a round-the-clock thrombectomy service was set out in our Stroke Improvement Plan and this remains our aim for the thrombectomy service in Scotland.

NHS National Services Division have been commissioned by Scottish Government to lead on the development of a national thrombectomy service and have undertaken work to establish the current position of thrombectomy services. A task and finish group has been established, to undertake an assessment of updated capacity and analysis of clinical, operational, financial and workforce challenges to inform work on increasing provision.

Included in this will be to steps to benchmark against NHS England and international models.

Question reference: S6W-41432

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 6 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the Family Court system is compliant with article (a) 3, (b) 9, (c) 12, (d) 18 and (e) 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In terms of the operation of the courts, the Scottish Government has not made any such assessment and would not seek to do so. The Lord President is the head of the judiciary in Scotland and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service supports the courts by providing the staff, buildings and services needed.

As regards family law in Scotland in relation to child contact, residence and Parental Responsibilities and Rights, the key legislation is the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (the 1995 Act). The driving principle is that the welfare of the child must be the court’s paramount consideration.

The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 (the 2020 Act) reforms the 1995 Act. One of the key aims of the 2020 Act is to ensure further compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. A Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment was carried out when the Children (Scotland) Bill (now the 2020 Act) was introduced in 2019.

Question reference: S6W-41597

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 6 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its guidance on the proposed phasing out of cages for laying hens.

Question reference: S6W-41564

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 6 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to deliver on its commitment to create a National Register of Ancient Woodland.

Question reference: S6W-41563

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 6 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what staffing resource its agencies have allocated to the development of a National Register of Ancient Woodland.

NatureScot’s Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Programme Manager will be responsible for overseeing this project, supported by a woodland Senior Land Use adviser and an officer to act as secretary to the steering group, manage the contract and liaise with NatureScot’s data team. It is estimated that the contracted technical project officer would work around 2.5 days per week for 18 months, though this may be subject to change depending on the outcome of the tender process. Staff from Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland will also be supporting the project.

Question reference: S6W-41562

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 6 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on its commitment to deliver a National Register of Ancient Woodland.

NatureScot is leading on this work, and has set up a steering group including Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland. This register will allow Scottish agencies to use a single means of condition assessment for these woodlands rather than the multiple competing methodologies previously used. Procurement is currently underway to appoint a technical officer to undertake the work of assembling all available data.

Question reference: S6O-05140

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to help deliver regeneration in the south west, including any plans for future infrastructure and housing investment.

Question reference: S6O-05144

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase income tax in the forthcoming Scottish Budget.

Question reference: S6O-05139

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it received in relation to the decision to allow the continued use of electro-fishing for razor clams beyond January 2025, when the trial that started in February 2018 was due to end.

Question reference: S6O-05145

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that the Auditor General conducts an investigation into the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round, in light of the finding in the Future Economy Scotland report, Rethinking ScotWind: Maximising Scotland’s offshore wind potential, that, on a per megawatt basis, a comparable leasing round in England and Wales is projected to raise up to 40 times more than the £755 million raised in one-off fees in Scotland.