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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-37610

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of plumbers in Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises the vital importance of a skilled plumbing workforce and is actively supporting its growth. A key route is our continued investment in Modern Apprenticeships, backed by £185 million this year. We are also exploring how to maximise the impact of this investment.

We are engaging directly with industries and employers to shape a new skills planning approach that will aim to effectively address national and regional needs. including considering how Recognition of Prior Learning can help individuals with experience enter the sector.

While we take these actions, it's crucial to acknowledge that Brexit and current UK immigration policy exacerbate skills gaps and hinder Scotland's progress, which is why we advocate for a tailored migration approach for Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-37708

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many compensation payments for wrongful imprisonment have been made in each of the last 10 years.

The Scottish Government operates two schemes to pay compensation to people who have suffered a miscarriage of justice: the statutory scheme and the ex gratia scheme.

The statutory scheme applies where a person's conviction has been reversed on appeal made ‘out of time’ and the appeal was successful because a new fact shows beyond reasonable doubt that there has been a miscarriage of justice. The ex gratia scheme applies where a person has spent a period of time in custody following wrongful conviction or charge and the wrongful conviction or charge was either the result of serious default on the part of the police or another public authority, or there are other exceptional circumstances justifying the payment of compensation. As such, while it is a condition of eligibility for the ex gratia scheme that the applicant has spent a period of time in custody as a result of wrongful charge or conviction, it is not a condition of the statutory scheme that the applicant was imprisoned for the offence for which they were wrongfully convicted.

Because of the small number of people to whom compensation has been paid to over this time period, there is a risk that information about the amounts paid to individuals could be identified from information about the number of individuals who received compensation in a given year, together with the amount of compensation paid in that year. Within this context, information is provided split into two five year periods.

In the period 2015-16 to 2019-20, five people have been paid compensation under the statutory and ex gratia compensation schemes with the amount paid totalling £1,196,259.

In the period 2020-21 to 2024-25, two people have been paid compensation under the statutory and ex gratia compensation schemes with the amount paid totalling £1,995,468.

Question reference: S6O-04722

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the roadworks on the M8 in Glasgow will be completed by 2026.

Question reference: S6W-37407

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any evaluation of the pre-arrest diversion from drugs programme trialled by the Drug Deaths Taskforce in Inverclyde and the Highland Council area.

The regular reporting in achieving progress and outcomes of both these programmes are collated through the Corra Foundation.

An evaluation of the Inverclyde Early Help in Police Custody Service found that there were practical challenges involved in covering such a vast geographical. However, the project demonstrated good progress towards an effective model of early intervention support for people who use drugs and alcohol that are caught up in the justice system.

A range of methods are being used to collate the learning and impact of the Pathfinder programme that originated in the Inverness area. Due to a lack of referrals in that area the project is now based in Dundee, Lanarkshire and Glasgow, and a full evaluation will be available when it concludes in 2026.

Question reference: S6O-04640

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Scotland participating in a UK-wide fan-led review of the live music industry, in light of the recent UK-wide survey of the industry.

Question reference: S6W-36125

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is encouraging the use of faecal calprotectin tests, which help to improve the diagnosis for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

We expect all healthcare professionals to follow best practice and adhere to current guidelines and standards when providing care and support for people with suspected IBD, including the use of faecal calprotectin tests, to help improve diagnosis for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

A national IBD pathway for NHS Scotland was published in January 2025: inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd-pathway.pdf. This pathway is intended to be used for primary and secondary care health care professionals who are concerned that a patient may have undiagnosed IBD.

Question reference: S6O-04502

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding what support could be provided in Scotland to any Palestinian refugees resettled to the UK.

I have written to the UK Government several times, most recently on 3 February calling for a resettlement route for refugees from Palestine who choose to leave. I have also called for those with family members in the UK to be supported to join them.

We continue to urge the UK government to use its existing UK Resettlement Scheme, and ensure it is aligned with UNHCR to provide those who want to leave with the support they require. Our New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy supports refugees from the day they arrive.

Question reference: S6W-36124

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards have the availability of faecal calprotectin tests, which help to improve the diagnosis for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The Scottish Government does not hold this information which is a matter for NHS heath boards locally.

We are committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

Whilst our role is to set the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, it is NHS Boards locally who are responsible for service delivery. We expect all Boards to follow best practice and adhere to current guidelines and standards for people with suspected IBD and a national IBD pathway for NHS Scotland was published in January 2025: inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd-pathway.pdf. This pathway is intended to be used for primary and secondary care health care professionals who are concerned that a patient may have undiagnosed IBD.

The pathway includes the use of faecal calprotectin tests which is supported by current clinical evidence for distinguishing between IBD and non-inflammatory bowel diseases (such as irritable bowel syndrome).

Question reference: S6O-04515

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-04323

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to encourage the prescription of medicinal cannabis on the NHS for the relief of chronic pain.