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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-43641

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many non-UK-owned fishing vessels, including vessels operating under foreign flags, (a) visited and (b) transhipped catches in (i) Ullapool, (ii) Lochinver, (iii) Scrabster and (iv) Lerwick ports in (A) 2024 and (B) 2025.

Question reference: S6W-43442

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 10 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many weapon surrender bins (a) it and (b) Police Scotland has funded in each year since 2021, broken down by local authority area.

The provision of weapon surrender bins is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Information on how many weapon surrender bins have been funded by Police Scotland is not held centrally. The member may wish to contact the Chief Constable of Police Scotland to ask for information in relation to Police Scotland.

In 2022, the Scottish Government operated with Police Scotland a specific surrender and compensation scheme. This related to criminalisation of certain weapons in the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 which previously were legal to own. A surrender and compensation scheme was operated to allow legal owners of relevant weapons to hand them in and, if wanted, claim compensation prior to the new law taking effect. Weapon surrender bins were used for this scheme with the Scottish Government providing £2,600 to Police Scotland for bins to be purchased. It was an operational matter for Police Scotland where these bins were located with this information not being held centrally.

Question reference: S6W-43443

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 6 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42816 by Ivan McKee on 21 January 2026, whether the figures it cites from the Scottish Fiscal Commission take into account any projected reduction of occupied business premises as a result of the non-domestic rates revaluation.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s forecasts of the non-domestic rates Contributable Amount (i.e. the amount that local authorities transfer to Scottish Government) are based on the draft 2026 valuation roll which was published on 30 November 2025. Forecasts in future years assume a level of buoyancy in the non-domestic tax base based on long-term trends.

Empty Property Relief was devolved to local authorities on 1 April 2023 and non-domestic properties are liable for non-domestic rates at the same rates as other properties. Local authorities may however choose to put in place local relief schemes in their area including for unoccupied properties. This does not however affect the Contributable Amount forecast by the Scottish Fiscal Commission.

Question reference: S6W-43327

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43104 by Fiona Hyslop on 26 January 2026, for what reason it does not hold the information requested and, in light of ScotRail being owned by it through Scottish Rail Holdings Limited (SRH), whether it will ask SRH to provide this detail.

While publicly owned, ScotRail is a distinct legal entity, separate from Scottish Ministers, which is both empowered and required to take operational decisions in the execution of its duties. This includes issuing relevant guidance to its passengers. If all public bodies and publicly-owned companies issued copies of all operational guidance to Scottish Ministers, and were Scottish Ministers to note and file all such guidance, the administrative burden of that duplication would be significant.

ScotRail, as a train operating company owned by a non-departmental public body (Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH)), is subject to Freedom of Information (Scotland) regulations and can provide information under these regulations.

As SRH is not an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, it is not appropriate for its Chief Executive Officer to respond to Parliamentary Questions. The member may wish to write to SRH directly.

Question reference: S6W-43307

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support Highlands and Islands Airports Limited to upgrade security scanners in its airports, in order to allow passengers to carry liquids of more than 100ml in their hand luggage.

The Scottish Government’s 2026-27 draft budget includes £15.229 million in relation to Highlands and Islands Airports Limited’s (HIAL) capital requirements. In December 2025 the HIAL Board approved a business case for the introduction of scanners at Benbecula, Islay, Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh airports which will enable passengers to carry larger liquids through the airports. HIAL’s intention is to install this equipment during 2026-27, starting with Inverness.

Question reference: S6W-43325

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the vibration issues reported on the MV Glen Sannox have now been repaired during its scheduled drydocking.

The MV Glen Sannox remains in dry dock to allow completion of the scheduled warranty works. The warranty work underway includes installation of additional steelwork to protect the vessel from vibration issues. The vessel is expected to return to service on 23 February 2026.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with CalMac to minimise disruption to services where possible and keep communities informed.

Question reference: S6O-05492

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the number of available beds in Dr Gray's Hospital Elgin and throughout NHS Grampian facilities.

Question reference: S6W-43321

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the expected total cost is of repairs associated with the MV Glen Sannox’s first scheduled drydocking.

Question reference: S6W-43374

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants were involved in delivering its We are Scotland campaign.

Question reference: S6W-43324

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the average length of time is that CalMac ferries spend in scheduled drydocking.