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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-41699

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether NHS Grampian is ensuring that all detainees in police custody in Elgin can access their prescribed medication, including methadone, in line with existing relevant operational procedures and guidance, and following the rapid review carried out in 2023.

Question reference: S6W-41698

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress it has made towards receiving annual updates from NHS boards to ensure that the appropriate healthcare standards and practices are in place for detainees in police custody.

Question reference: S6W-41700

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what input its ministers have had into the development of Police Scotland’s Unacceptable Actions by Complainers Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

Question reference: S6O-05138

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting and improving the experience of victims of domestic abuse, particularly in situations where there are young children in the family.

Question reference: S6O-05105

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure comprehensive emotional, bereavement and practical support is accessible for people who have experienced baby loss.

Question reference: S6W-41468

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 October 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Gillian Martin on 27 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will give community energy projects priority access to sites on public land due for repowering, through measures such as updated guidance and enhancements to the Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS).

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the transition to net zero delivers real and lasting benefits for communities, not just in terms of infrastructure, but in jobs, investment, and local opportunity. We know Scotland’s energy transition is not just about infrastructure, it’s about people. That is why we are taking action to give communities priority access to renewable energy assets on public land that are due for repowering.

This includes enhancements to the Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS), which will now ensure communities receive early notification of in scope public land sites due for repowering and a dedicated 12-month window to apply before a commercial strategy is pursued.

We’re moving beyond the idea of communities as passive hosts of energy infrastructure. Our approach supports communities to become active partners, investing in, owning, and benefiting from the clean energy future.

Ten Forestry and Land Scotland onshore wind sites under 50 megawatts have been identified to pilot this approach. We are also working with public bodies to ensure communities have access to clear guidance through Local Energy Scotland and Forestry and Land Scotland. Updated information on the enhanced CATS will be available online from both organisations today. In addition, communities hoping to utilise the enhanced CATS will benefit from advice available through our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). This will ensure that communities are supported to play an active role in shaping their energy future, not just hosting developments, but helping to lead them.

Question reference: S6W-40858

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract (CHFS3) will commence.

I am pleased to confirm that the suite of CHFS3 documentation has been signed by all parties and the new arrangements will come into effect on 1 October 2025 for an initial duration of 10 years.

This is the culmination of a significant amount of work over a number of years including a robust due diligence exercise and extensive stakeholder engagement to inform the approach taken.

The new contract will fundamentally change the ethos of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services by moving from a commercial arrangement to a model which is more focused on the delivery of a public service, and which is fully engaged and responsive to the particular needs of the communities served.

The flexibility afforded under these new arrangements, along with our commitment to ongoing stakeholder engagement, will help deliver continual improvement throughout the duration of the contract.

Alongside the Scottish Government’s ongoing significant investment in new vessels and infrastructure, I fully expect CHFS3 to be a catalyst for positive change across the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network.

Question reference: S6O-04985

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Distress Brief Intervention programme.

Since November 2024, the Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) programme has been live in all 31 Health and Social Care Partnership areas across Scotland for those aged 16 and over.

We also have three national referral pathways to DBI - via NHS24; and via call handling centres operated by both the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland. These provide additional options for key services to refer people for DBI support.

As at the end of July 2025, over 95,000 people have been referred to DBI.

With our partners across a range of sectors, we will look to continue to embed and grow the DBI programme across Scotland, building on its considerable success to date.

Question reference: S6O-05004

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its approach to considering a hypermobility pathway for healthcare, in line with that being brought forward in Wales.

Question reference: S6O-04955

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill aims to give school pupils an independent right to opt in, but not opt out, of religious observance.