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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-38891

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a full list of heating methods that will be permitted as part of its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.

Question reference: S6W-38884

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the use of bioenergy fuels, such as renewable liquid gases, in heating systems will be permitted as part of its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.

The provisions of our proposed Heat in Buildings Bill will take a technology-neutral approach to decarbonising Scotland’s buildings, enabling building owners to choose the technology which is right for them. While not appropriate for most homes, bioenergy – as a low carbon, renewable energy source – can be the best solution to decarbonise heating heat homes in some communities. We intend to ensure that sustainable bioenergy and biofuels remain an option for these communities.

Question reference: S6W-38885

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take to ensure that its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill will be technology-neutral.

Question reference: S6W-38883

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.

Question reference: S6W-38886

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on which clean heating solutions are most effective for reducing fuel poverty in rural and remote areas.

The Scottish Government will introduce a revised Heat in Buildings Bill that will set a new target for decarbonising heating systems by 2045, alongside continuing work to reduce fuel poverty. This includes introducing a minimum energy efficiency standard in the private rented sector, where fuel poverty rates are at 44%. The worst levels of fuel poverty are associated with the lowest energy performance certificate bandings.

The revised Heat in Buildings Bill will take a technology-neutral approach to decarbonising Scotland’s buildings, recognising that different properties and people will require different heating solutions. It is important that a whole-house approach is taken to ensure that whichever heating solution is chosen for the property can run effectively, and this might involve installing energy efficiency measures as well as a heating system.

While not appropriate for most homes, which will be suitable for heat pumps or heat networks, bioenergy – as a low carbon, renewable energy source – may be the best solution for decarbonising homes in some remote and rural communities. We intend to ensure sustainable bioenergy and biofuels remain an option for these communities. Support for households in, or at risk of, fuel poverty is available through our Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, including those in rural and remote areas.

Question reference: S6W-38887

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make an assessment of any potential merits of the use of renewable liquid gases in properties where a heat pump cannot be fitted.

While not appropriate for most homes, bioenergy, including renewable liquid biofuels, is a low carbon, renewable energy source which can prove the best solution to decarbonising heating in some remote and rural communities. We intend to ensure that sustainable bioenergy and biofuels remain an option for these communities, and the provisions of our proposed Heat in Buildings Bill will take a technology-neutral approach so that building owners are able to choose the technology which is right for them.

We are currently consulting on proposals for a Heat and Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment (HEETSA). The consultation will remain open until 29 August 2025. The HEETSA will include a technical suitability assessment methodology that allows for the comparative assessment of different clean heat options in a property and provide information on when the installation of a system would not be suitable.

Question reference: S6T-02590

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many transgender prisoners have had their criminal records erased, following a self-identification process and changing of their birth name.

Question reference: S6W-37681

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 10 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health during the debate on motion S6M-17186 on 30 April 2025, that “a task and finish group…to oversee and support a suite of national actions and co-ordination that will be required for the delivery of each region's implementation plan” would be established, whether it will confirm (a) when this group was established, (b) who has been invited to participate, (c) what its remit is, (d) on what dates it has met or is scheduled to meet and (e) how its decisions and progress are being communicated to the (i) neonatal community and (ii) public.

The three NHS Regional Chief Executives leading implementation for the North, East and West established a Task and Finish Group in March 2025. The Group’s membership comprises of the NHS Regional Chief executives, regional planners and service leaders bringing working knowledge and understanding of current services, to lead delivery of the work.

The remit of the group is to oversee and support national action and coordination required for delivery of Regional Implementation Plans to implement the move to three Neonatal Intensive Care units across Scotland. This includes work to develop a funding model, and work to model the additional impact on capacity in maternity services.

The group met on the 2 June 2025 and will meet monthly thereafter.

The Task and Finish Group will provide updates to and seek any collective agreement through the Board Chief Executives and Planning and Delivery Board reporting to NHS Scotland Executive Group.

Question reference: S6W-37682

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the debate on motion S6M-17186 (Best Start New Model of Neonatal Care) on 30 April 2025, whether the same criteria will be used across Scotland to determine which groups of babies are prioritised for transfer at each phase of implementation of the Best Start new model of neonatal care.

Safety for the babies, families and staff is our utmost priority, which is why we have taken a phased approach to transition, allowing time to build the right levels of capacity in all areas with NHS Boards working towards full implementation by 2026.

Implementation is already underway in the East region with Fife babies transferring to Edinburgh, and in the West Region with Ayrshire babies being transferred to Glasgow.

Each of the three Regions have developed plans for implementation. The plans include a phased approach to implementation and Regions have chosen to take different approaches to phasing.

Question reference: S6W-37680

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the debate on motion S6M-17186 (Best Start New Model of Neonatal Care) on 30 April 2025, what the timeline is for implementing the Best Start model of neonatal care by 2026, and by what date each neonatal unit will be operating under its new designation.

Implementation is already underway in the East region with Fife babies transferring to Edinburgh, and in the West Region with Ayrshire babies being transferred to Glasgow.

The Scottish Government has requested progress updates from the three regional chief executives in response to the timelines indicated within the three regional plans. These updates are expected to be provided by 31 May 2025.

Over the course of this year we will continue to work with the Regional Chief Executives and NHS Boards to continue to implement this service change.