- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that paid-for visits at private health clinics in the first quarter of the year were at the highest level recorded in a single quarter.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2025
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 3 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR) will publish a list of all the ownerless property that it currently holds within the Glasgow City Council area by virtue of (a) ultimus haeres (estates of people who died without heirs or a will) and (b) bona vacantia (property last owned by dissolved companies).
Answer
The King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR) has an administrative function only and he does not hold or own property which has fallen to him as bona vacantia or ultimus haeres.
The KLTR already publishes a list of properties which have fallen to the Crown as bona vacantia which are (or were) suitable for consideration through the KLTR’s Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme (OPTS). These properties, including those currently under consideration within the Glasgow City Council area, can be viewed on the KLTR’s website at: Cases | KLTR.
The OPTS was launched in March 2024. During this process, the KLTR circulates information on properties to public bodies, local authorities and communities to ascertain if there is a local interest in taking ownership. The OPTS then provides for the property to be transferred to the applicant at a nominal value where there is a public interest in doing so. OPTS Guidance can be viewed on the KLTR’s website at: OPTS Guidance | KLTR
The KLTR’s website also includes a list of estates which the KLTR has administered (or is presently administering) which appear to have fallen to the Crown as ultimus haeres in the absence of a will or identifiable heirs. This can be viewed at Find an estate | KLTR
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to prevent the permanent closure of Ballantine Castings Ltd, in light of reports that it is Scotland's last architectural ironworks.
Answer
Whilst the Scottish Government are aware that Ballantine Casting Ltd is going through liquidation, we were not notified in advance of commercial decisions to appoint the liquidation. The business is not account managed by Scottish Enterprise. The individuals affected by these decisions are always our main priority and the Scottish Government will do everything in its power to help those affected through our initiative for responding to potential redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE). PACE will work with the liquidators [Johnston Carmichael] to offer direct support to affected employees.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 1 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support Bruntwood SciTech investment to alternative sites in Glasgow, in light of the withdrawal from its Met Tower city centre innovation hub and laboratory development in 2024.
Answer
As our national economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise has engaged extensively with Bruntwood SciTech over a number of years, both in relation to the Met Tower development and, most recently, to explore alternative proposals and investments in Glasgow and elsewhere. Scottish Enterprise is not aware of any current plans that the company has to secure an alternative location in the Glasgow area, but stands ready to support should that position change.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the contractual commitment of around £70 million that is reportedly still outstanding on the Glasgow Subway modernisation project is fully funded so that the key milestone of achieving unattended train operation by the third quarter of 2026 is achieved.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the crucial role that the Subway plays in Glasgow’s transport system and the importance of the modernisation programme.
By the end of 2024-25 it had contributed £199.9 million to this vital project. With a further £25.1 million allocated for 2025-26, cumulatively this will discharge the Scottish Government’s £225 million commitment to the programme in full. Transport Scotland officials continue to engage regularly with SPT. The most recent meeting took place on 19 June 2025, focusing on the current financial profile of the Subway Modernisation Programme and ensuring ongoing dialogue is maintained.
We remain strongly committed to infrastructure investment as a cornerstone of economic growth and the delivery of high-quality public services across Scotland.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many Petroineos workers who were made redundant as a result of the closure of the Grangemouth refinery have, to date, subsequently been offered new employment by Ineos and other firms operating within the Grangemouth petrochemical industrial cluster.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working with Forth Valley College, UK Government, Skills Development Scotland and Petroineos to track workers affected by the closure of the Grangemouth refinery as part of our jointly funded Refinery Skills Intervention which is currently ongoing. Ministers have persistently requested this information from Petroineos but this has not been received despite the business previous commitments to do so.
Our initial evidence shows that workers are being supported into new employment in in-demand industries, including roles with Scottish Power, Forth Ports and Syngenta. However, we do not have exact figures despite asking PetroIneos to share any data on destinations they may have.
The Scottish Government is continuing to do all it can to support workers at the Grangemouth refinery through the funding of training, tailored specifically to their future career needs.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38881 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 July 2025, what actions Social Security Scotland (SSS) is exploring to strengthen its support for veterans and service members, and whether these will include the establishment of a network of armed forces and veterans champions in SSS.
Answer
Social Security Scotland is committed to delivering services with dignity, fairness and respect for all people, including veterans and service members. This includes activities to advance its equality outcome to improve the service and experiences of diverse clients, including veterans. Progress will be formally reported in the organisation’s Mainstreaming Equality Report in 2027.
Whilst there are no current plans establish a separate internal network of champions for veterans within Social Security Scotland, the organisation already works with the Scottish Government to engage established Veterans Champions Networks, including those based in local authorities across Scotland to address barriers when accessing services.
Social Security Scotland also ensures knowledge and practical skills are embedded for trauma informed approach when delivering services to clients. This enables clients, such as veterans, to receive better support.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Water owns the Glasgow Harbour Tunnel, or only the water main pipe within the tunnel.
Answer
The ownership status of assets is an operational matter for Scottish Water. Scottish Water have advised that they are carrying out investigations to establish the ownership status of Glasgow Harbour Tunnel and will write to you directly with a response once they have concluded their investigations.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of recent reported medical breakthroughs, including the new Aberdeen-designed Field Cycling Imaging brain scan, whether it will work with partners in the medical equipment industry to create a dedicated medical equipment manufacturing site in Scotland to ensure that any innovations developed in Scotland are exploited in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government is supportive of innovations developed in Scotland being commercialised in Scotland.
Through Scottish Enterprise we have established the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre(MDMC) which is a pan-Scotland collaboration with five universities (Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Robert Gordon). This provides Scottish medical device developers and manufacturers with free advice, technical expertise, and facilities essential for companies that are seeking to translate medical device concepts to commercial products. Technology specialists assist companies with the translation of medical device concepts into small-batch prototypes by offering technical expertise, state-of-the-art equipment and access to health informatics and NHS collaboration. Additionally, the MDMC provides support for clinical trial design.
As well as commercialisation, the Scottish Government also wants to see patients in Scotland benefit from Scottish innovations. The Scottish Government fund three NHS Regional Innovation Hubs to facilitate the development of new technologies, products and services. They enhance the NHS's capacity and capability to engage in innovative activities across the triple helix of industry, academia, third sector and the NHS to develop and scale innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of our healthcare system.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commission a new design options appraisal
for the cancelled Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL) project as a means of
providing a direct heavy rail connection between Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow
Queen Street Station.
Answer
The Scottish Government currently has no plans to investigate a new rail link connecting Edinburgh airport to the current Edinburgh to Glasgow rail line.
The second Strategic Transport Projects Review, published in 2022, did consider this but did not identify this as a priority for investment given the current opportunities that exist for air passengers travelling by rail from Glasgow and the west, to interchange with the Edinburgh Tram service to the airport.
The Government remains committed to supporting sustainable and integrated transport solutions that strengthen Scotland’s connectivity and economic resilience.
