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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-41718

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the launch of the procurement process for ScotRail's new suburban train fleet on 5 November 2025, whether this will include having Scotland-based social value requirements or other incentives to deliver local manufacturing and assembly work, similar to the plan announced by the Welsh Government to have a train production facility in Newport, and how it will prioritise supply chains and job creation in Scotland as part of the tender process.

Question reference: S6O-05153

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding reports of a lack of sufficient local school provision in Robroyston.

Question reference: S6W-41402

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its procurement of lifeline ferries, whether it will request that CMAL seek advice from the UK Government National Security Unit for Procurement regarding an assessment of any potential national security concerns in relation to any prospective non-UK based suppliers for the design and construction of lifeline ferries, including in relation to Northern Isles services.

Question reference: S6W-41401

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will instruct CMAL to disregard any tenders from Chinese shipbuilding firms, in light of reported concerns regarding unfair, market-distorting state support for Chinese shipbuilding firms, and the lack of a trade agreement between the UK and China as defined by section 89 of the Procurement Act 2023.

There is no policy or approach that excludes Chinese companies from bidding for work on Scottish Government led or funded projects. CMAL, as the Procuring Authority, considers bids for vessel contracts in accordance with the requirements of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

We expect CMAL, as the Procuring Authority, to carry out appropriate due diligence, including financial and other checks on all of the companies they invite to tender

Question reference: S6W-41398

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the temporary barriers will be removed from the carriageway at the railway overbridge at Whitevale Street in Dennistoun.

Question reference: S6W-41280

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there should be trade union representation on the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting strong trade unions in Scotland for the benefit of workers and our economy. The STUC is a member of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board, of which the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council is a sub-group. Trade unions are represented on the UK Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) of which the Scottish Government is also a member. This is the most appropriate forum for trade unions to engage with government on reserved matters such as employment rights. The STUC also sat on the Offshore Wind Skills Short-Life Working Group convened by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-41278

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Crown Estate Scotland regarding the introduction of Fair Work principles to any future offshore leasing rounds.

I refer to the answer provided to question S6W-39996 on 3 September 2025, that the assessment process for seabed leasing for offshore wind and other marine renewable developments and the criteria that underpins that process, is a matter for Crown Estate Scotland.

Crown Estate Scotland is committed to the Fair Work Framework and its underlying principles. With regard to seabed leasing, they require a Statement of Commitment and, for the most recent Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing round, that Statement required inclusion of a commitment to adopting Fair Work practices.

The Scottish Government encourages all employers across Scotland, including those involved in the Offshore Wind sector, to adopt Fair Work practices.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-41282

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider including a requirement for bids to include public equity stakes in any future offshore leasing rounds.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39996 on 3 September 2025, that the assessment process for seabed leasing for offshore wind and other marine renewable developments and the criteria that underpins that process, is a matter for Crown Estate Scotland.

Specific assessment criteria are developed in the run-up to the launch of leasing rounds.

Question reference: S6W-41641

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the recently launched Scottish National Building Standards Hub is equipped to provide the expertise of conservation accredited structural engineers, who are on the Conservation Accreditation Register of Engineers (CARE), to local authorities that may require such specialised advice but may not have access to it in-house, including when decisions are being made around dangerous historic buildings and the potential need for demolition works.

Question reference: S6W-41411

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered engaging with the UK Government to explore the potential for a proportion of the increased UK defence budget to be ring-fenced specifically for veteran mental health support.

As the member will be aware, defence is a reserved matter. Scottish Government officials continue to engage closely with colleagues at the Ministry of Defence and the Office for Veterans to ensure that the needs of veterans living in Scotland are considered fully in all projects.

Work is ongoing by the Scottish Government to develop a Veterans Mental Health & Wellbeing Pathway across Scotland. Working with veterans, the third sector and statutory services, the core aim of the pathway is to ensure that all veterans living in Scotland are able to access the best possible care and support, including safe, effective and person-centred healthcare.

The intention to launch the Pathway on a phased basis during financial year 2026-2027.