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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: S6O-05471

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in the current parliamentary session on preventing gender-based violence in relation to non-fatal strangulation.

Question reference: S6W-43213

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that freight infrastructure investment is aligned with wider economic development zones and industrial strategy areas.

The Scottish Government works through established national and regional governance structures to ensure that freight-related infrastructure investment aligns with wider economic and industrial priorities. Regional Economic Partnerships and City Region and Growth Deals provide coordinated engagement between local authorities, industry, and national agencies, supporting investment in freight corridors, ports, and logistics assets. This approach is guided by National Planning Framework 4, which sets clear spatial priorities for development, including regeneration areas and energy transition zones where improved freight connectivity is essential to unlock economic opportunity. Local Development Plans are also required to align with these national and regional strategies.

The draft Infrastructure Strategy, published for consultation on 13 January 2026, further strengthens this alignment, highlighting the role of national developments such as Green Freeports, where public and private investment in transport and enabling infrastructure is coordinated. As part of the Green Freeports Programme bidders were required to show how seed capital proposals aligned with regional and local transport plans, regional Economic Strategies, Local Development Plans, and skills plans.

In addition, the second Strategic Transport Projects Review(STPR2), published in 2022, provides the evidence base for future transport infrastructure investment. It highlights the economic importance of safe, efficient, and resilient movement of goods to Scotland’s economy and the predominance of road freight. It also notes the need for the freight sector to support Scotland’s 2045 net zero ambitions, identifying opportunities to increase rail freight and reduce dependence on road haulage alongside advances in low-maritime, rail and road technologies.

Question reference: S6W-43212

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with Network Rail and other stakeholders to increase capacity for rail freight in Scotland.

Transport Scotland works closely with Network Rail, and the wider industry, on a range of opportunities, plans and projects. Targeted infrastructure upgrades, network modernisation and operational enhancements can all help increase capacity for rail freight in Scotland.

Funded by Scottish Ministers Network Rail recently completed a £7 million upgrade at Mossend (which handles circa 80% of rail freight in Scotland). Additional investment of £250,000 at Mossend also increased yard entry and exit speeds from 5 to 15 miles per hour allowing freight trains to clear the line more quickly improving rail capacity.

Scotland’s rolling programme of electrification also benefits the rail freight industry as do freight specific performance and timetable measures. The rail industry is also working with the freight and logistics industry to develop a long-term plan for rail freight growth as specified by Scottish Ministers.

In addition in 2025 Scottish Ministers awarded two freight facilities grants including a grant of £3,000,000 to enable the construction of rail freight terminal near Inverness to facilitate the movement of finished goods to the UK market by rail.

Question reference: S6W-43059

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to the full dualling of the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen, following the announcement in the draft Scottish Budget for 2026-27.

Question reference: S6W-43057

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm what key sections of the A96 it plans to dual, as announced in the draft Scottish Budget for 2026-27.

Question reference: S6W-43214

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to Scotland’s ports to expand short-sea shipping routes.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the maritime sector to the people and economy of Scotland, including the value of short sea shipping routes.

Ports in Scotland are independent commercial bodies. Ministers have no involvement in the day to day running or commercial decisions of a port. It is the responsibility of individual ports to identify potential new routes and any necessary infrastructure improvements; including the business case and funding to support this and an assessment of any consents that may be required. The Scottish Government is open to discussing with port operators and other stakeholders what, if any, support it may be able to offer for the movement of freight.

Freight Facilities Grants of over £25 million have been made to Scottish ports since 1997. This has enabled ports to purchase shore based handling equipment, has allowed piers and berths to be built or refurbished and enabled rail lines to be built into ports.

Question reference: S6W-42994

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to secure funding for Winchburgh railway station.

Question reference: S6W-43217

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the provision of secure parking facilities for HGVs on the trunk road network.

Question reference: S6W-43215

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is collaborating with industry and education providers to create pathways into freight-related careers.

Question reference: S6W-43216

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is liaising with Police Scotland regarding freight crime, and how such crime can be mitigated.