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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-38703

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the alternative green route, along the other side of the glen, for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful section should be re-evaluated to assess whether it would be a more proportionate or cheaper alternative route for the road to take.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a long-term solution to the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful and in December we made further progress by publishing draft Orders for the long-term solution and also for future phases of the medium-term solution to provide an improved diversionary route along the Old Military Road. Publication of draft Orders marks the start of the statutory authorisation process.

Transport Scotland carries out a rigorous assessment process to establish the preferred option for a trunk road improvement, like improvements to the A83. The three-stage assessment process, based on standards and good practice set by the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), covers environmental, engineering, traffic and economics.

Public engagement and meaningful dialogue with directly affected communities and other stakeholders is also at the heart of the development and delivery of our projects.

Following the detailed assessment of the options under consideration, including the Green Option, the preferred route option for the long-term solution to the landslide challenges at the Rest and Be Thankful, a 1.4km long debris flow shelter along the route of the existing A83, was announced in June 2023. This option will reduce the impact of disruption for travel to, from and between Argyll and Bute and the central belt of Scotland, had the greatest potential to be delivered quickly, was the most favourable across a broad range of environmental criteria and had the greatest opportunity to encourage active travel.

It should also be noted that the latest estimated cost for the preferred debris flow shelter option is £409 million to £510 million at 2024 prices; while the estimated cost of the Green Option as assessed during the route options assessment process was £821 million to £932 million at 2023 prices, significantly more than the debris flow shelter preferred option.

Further detail on the assessment work undertaken during the route options assessment process is set out in the DMRB Stage 2 Route Options Assessment Report, a copy of which is available on the Transport Scotland website (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) stage two route options assessment report - A83 Access to Argyll and Bute | Transport Scotland).

Transport Scotland continues to progress the preferred option through the statutory authorisation process. Revisiting the route options assessment process would introduce significant delay to delivering a long-term solution to the landslip risks at the Rest and Be Thankful.

Question reference: S6W-38585

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to hold property factors accountable and to remove them from the Scottish Property Factor Register if they have breached the Code of Conduct.

The Scottish Government revised the Code of Conduct, in August 2021, to make it clearer, to drive up standards and to improve transparency and consistency, supporting homeowners to challenge poor performance, using the Tribunal as necessary.

In considering the continued registration of a property factor, or of any application to enter the register, the Scottish Ministers will take steps as set out in the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 including, amongst other things, consideration of the extent to which a property factor has complied with the Code of Conduct and with any property factor enforcement order made by the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber). Failure to comply with an Order is a criminal offence.

The Housing Bill (Scotland) contains minor adjustments to improve the effectiveness of the property factor registration processes. Ministers have committed to undertaking a review of the property factor regulatory regime.

Question reference: S6O-04843

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle violence against women.

Question reference: S6W-37437

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 10 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its reported comments that, while it engages regularly with cross-party groups (CPGs), “they are informal groupings of MSPs and other people and groups with an interest in a specific subject which are not part of the formal parliamentary structure for scrutinising government”, what its position is on the efficacy of CPGs in bringing stakeholders’ concerns to its attention, and what responsibilities or obligations it considers it has to act on any such concerns.

Cross-Party Groups provide an opportunity for MSPs to engage with external stakeholders on a particular subject or issue and many MSPs then raise those in Parliament or with the Government.

The role of CPGs is a matter for the Scottish Parliament and as set out in the Scottish Parliament’s Code of Conduct for MSPs, CPGs are and I quote, “not formal parliamentary business and should not be confused with the Parliament’s committee system” and “CPGs do not have any power to introduce issues formally into the parliamentary or government systems”.

Question reference: S6O-04784

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on ensuring that 10% of frontline NHS spending is on mental health services.

Question reference: S6W-37927

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide copies of all technical reports and test results in full from the investigation into the presence of radon at Inverness Justice Centre.

Question reference: S6W-37670

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the reported £4.4 million ferries "resilience fund", how information on the (a) fund, (b) eligibility criteria and (c) application process will be conveyed to eligible communities.

Question reference: S6W-37671

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the reported £4.4 million ferries "resilience fund", whether applications will be backdated, and, if not, from what date applications will be eligible.

Question reference: S6W-37666

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the reported £4.4 million ferries "resilience fund", which routes will be covered and what the (a) eligibility criteria, (b) application process and (c) rates of compensation payable will be.

Question reference: S6W-37658

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 28 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of end dates for any leases it has issued to operate (a) windfarms, (b) other forms of renewable energy production and (c) energy storage on Forestry and Land Scotland land.

Scotland's national forest estate, managed by Forestry and Land Scotland has 93 lease agreements in place covering renewable energy schemes. There are 29 windfarms, 25 of which are operational and 4 are under construction. There are 62 hydro schemes, 61 of which are operational and 1 is under construction. There are 2 battery storage schemes, 1 of which is operational and 1 is under construction.

The lease end dates vary depending on lease length, whether any variations are applied during the lease period and whether any lease extension rights are exercised.

Scheme	Type	Status	Lease End Date
Milton Glen Burn	Hydro	Operational	23-Feb-56
Inverlael	Hydro	Operational	04-May-51
Shenval - Allt Seannbhaile	Hydro	Operational	18-Sep-56
Maolachy	Hydro	Operational	31-Mar-29
Allt Phocachain	Hydro	Operational	09-Jan-55
Douglas Water	Hydro	Operational	31-Mar-48
Allt a' Chonais (Strathcarron)	Hydro	Operational	13-Oct-63
Glen Skiach	Hydro	Operational	16-Sep-39
Garbhaig 2	Hydro	Operational	26-Feb-90
Kames - Eas Mor	Hydro	Operational	31-Mar-55
Carie	Hydro	Operational	05-Mar-55
Allt Cheanna Mhuir	Hydro	Operational	14-Aug-54
Abhainn Gleann nam Fiadh	Hydro	Operational	31-Mar-56
Allt Choire a' Bhalachain	Hydro	Operational	17-Jul-54
Duror 1	Hydro	Operational	31-Oct-60
Eas a' Ghaill	Hydro	Operational	02-Nov-54
Coire Ealt Burn	Hydro	Operational	22-Jun-54
Abhainn Shalachain	Hydro	Operational	18-Dec-53
Allt Garbh	Hydro	Operational	15-May-56
Allt Ladaidh	Hydro	Operational	19-Mar-55
Allt Lararidh or Lairairidh	Hydro	Operational	05-Oct-54
Allt Luaidhe	Hydro	Operational	20-Jan-55
Inverliever (River Liever) including Cam Loch	Hydro	Operational	11-Jun-49
Allt a Mhuilinn	Hydro	Operational	23-Apr-58
Allt Garaidh Ghualaich (Garry Gualach)	Hydro	Operational	11-Sep-26
Braevallich (Allt Bheallach)	Hydro	Operational	12-Nov-33
Cia Aig	Hydro	Operational	03-Mar-53
Schoolhouse Burn, Loch Long	Hydro	Operational	30-Jun-60
Allt Coire Chaorach	Hydro	Operational	03-Aug-64
Donich Water	Hydro	Operational	02-Feb-56
Bruach Chaorainn Burn	Hydro	Operational	26-Apr-57
Leacann	Hydro	Operational	12-Sep-79
Allt Easach	Hydro	Operational	13-May-59
Balnacarn Burn	Hydro	Operational	08-May-51
Allt Stronyre	Hydro	Operational	21-Jun-51
Benmore Burn Benmore Home Farm	Hydro	Operational	27-Aug-55
River Lochy	Hydro	Operational	10-Feb-55
Allt Beochlich	Hydro	Operational	21-Jan-49
Invernoaden	Hydro	Operational	31-Dec-58
Lephincorrach Burn Torrisdale	Hydro	Operational	31-May-55
Duror Extension	Hydro	Operational	30-Jun-60
Allt na Fearna	Hydro	Operational	31-Aug-57
Glen Righ - Abhainn Righ - Allt Meurach	Hydro	Operational	29-Jan-58
Allt Dearg	Hydro	Operational	03-Sep-57
Cuil Burn, Loch long	Hydro	Operational	24-Oct-59
Feorline Burn	Hydro	Operational	07-Jul-60
Allt a' Chaitchinn or Achlain	Hydro	Operational	26-Mar-59
Allt Coire a'Bhainidh	Hydro	Operational	01-Nov-57
Allt an Laghain	Hydro	Operational	22-Apr-58
Allt nan Cnocan - Glen Finart	Hydro	Operational	17-May-56
Allt Garaidh Ghualaich - Upper	Hydro	Operational	08-Dec-59
Abhainn Achachoish, Corranbuie	Hydro	Operational	15-May-56
Greenfield Burn	Hydro	Operational	08-Dec-59
Burnmakiman Burn Dunoon	Hydro	Operational	02-Jul-57
Littleton Burn	Hydro	Operational	16-Oct-59
Glen Burn - Barbeth	Hydro	Operational	29-Apr-56
Allt Eilidh	Hydro	Operational	28-Oct-59
Allt an t-Sidhein	Hydro	Operational	01-Mar-60
Allt Mhuic	Hydro	Operational	19-Jan-60
Merkland Burn	Hydro	Under Construction	04-May-65
Little Clyde	Wind	Operational	28-Mar-38
An Suidhe	Wind	Operational	07-Dec-33
Whitelee 2	Wind	Operational	19-Sep-38
Mid Hill	Wind	Operational	25-Oct-37
Stroupster	Wind	Operational	30-Nov-37
Myres Hill	Wind	Operational	13-Dec-36
Whitelee 1	Wind	Operational	09-Aug-34
Rothes 2 (Cairn Uish Hill)	Wind	Operational	20-Jun-37
Burn of Whilk	Wind	Operational	25-Apr-38
Cruach Mhor	Wind	Operational	06-Mar-29
Kilgallioch	Wind	Operational	28-Jun-43
Blackcraig	Wind	Operational	29-Nov-43
Black Law	Wind	Operational	31-Mar-32
South Kyle	Wind	Operational	02-Aug-55
Halsary	Wind	Operational	29-Sep-49
Beinn An Tuirc 1	Wind	Operational	02-Jun-30
Beinn An Tuirc 2	Wind	Operational	28-Oct-37
Beinn An Tuirc 3	Wind	Operational	24-Oct-47
Harestanes	Wind	Operational	30-Apr-40
West Benhar	Wind	Operational	29-Feb-48
Camster	Wind	Operational	14-Nov-35
Arecleoch	Wind	Operational	01-Dec-36
A' Chruach	Wind	Operational	06-Nov-42
Clashindarroch	Wind	Operational	10-Jul-41
Deucheran Hill	Wind	Operational	18-Feb-26
North Kyle	Wind	Under Construction	30-May-63
Pencloe	Wind	Under Construction	28-Apr-52
Camster 2	Wind	Under Construction	12-Sep-53
Arecleoch Ext	Wind	Under Construction	14-Apr-55
Whitelee	Battery	Operational	09-Aug-34
Harestanes	Battery	Under Construction	03-Jul-40