Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 347 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-43683

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on its support for wave energy projects, in light of reported concerns in the Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency regarding future funding for the local company, Wave Energy Scotland.

The Scottish Government has invested over £70 million in Wave Energy Scotland (WES) since its inception in 2014 demonstrating a clear commitment to developing wave energy technologies in Scotland. However, as the sector moves into the next phase, the main levers for enabling the commercialisation of these emerging, pre-commercial technologies lie with the UK Government.

Officials are working closely with WES, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other partners to sustain operations in 2026-27 while future alternative sources of funding are identified. This will give WES the opportunity to explore longer term funding solutions, while also enabling ongoing project work to continue.

Question reference: S6W-43889

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus project, including the preparation of the Outline Business Case, and what can be done to share this information more proactively with community organisations in those islands.

Question reference: S6W-43614

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether a public dental service adhering to minimum NHS guidelines regarding the frequency of routine dental appointments is available to residents in Uist and Barra, where there is reportedly no access to a general dental service.

NHS guidelines advise an average minimum frequency for routine dental appointments however Health Boards are not statutorily obligated to provide General Dental Services to patients directly.

NHS Western Isles is actively working towards accessible dental care to patients across their region. A locum dentist is expected to begin providing service mid-March 2026.

Additionally, the Public Dental Service (PDS) continues to provide urgent and emergency care to unregistered patients unable to access general dental services. These provisions remain in place within NHS Boards, to ensure unregistered patients with a dental emergency are seen as a matter of urgency.

Question reference: S6O-05542

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Care Inspectorate and Scottish Childminding Association regarding the improvement of access to childcare across the Western Isles, both for children under three and three- to five-year-olds.

Question reference: S6O-05491

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with NHS Western Isles regarding dental provision across the islands.

Question reference: S6W-42973

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 2 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many students from Scotland have received free university tuition since 2007-08.

Question reference: S6W-42972

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of school leavers in each local authority area have gone on to a positive destination in each year since 2007.

This information is available in table L2.1 of the supplementary tables accompanying the Summary Statistics for Attainment and Initial Leaver Destinations (SSAILD) publication which is available on our website.

Supporting documents - Summary Statistics for Attainment and Initial Leaver Destinations, No. 7: 2025 edition - gov.scot

The time series for this data begins in 2009-10. Data is not available for earlier years.

Question reference: S6O-05399

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting dental practices in island communities to provide sufficient levels of service to ensure that islanders can access the dental care that they are entitled to.

Question reference: S6W-42684

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 December 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 18 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support Scotland’s pelagic processing factories, following significant mackerel and herring quota cuts and the reduced volume of product available to them next year.

I recognise the serious challenges that quota reductions pose for Scotland’s pelagic sector in 2026.

Following a period of intensive engagement and consultation with key stakeholders across the pelagic supply chain, I have, after careful consideration, decided it is necessary for the Scottish Government to introduce an emergency measure for 2026 to help maintain jobs and investment in Scotland’s processing sector and support the wider supply chain.

I am, therefore, announcing today that the current Economic Link arrangements will be amended. Effective from 1 January 2026, the Economic Link licence condition will require species-specific landings of 70% for mackerel and 70% for herring into Scotland in 2026, up from the current combined requirement of 55%.

These measures will apply for 2026 and be kept under review.

Question reference: S6O-05331

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to ensure that rural and island communities have access to legal aid.