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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-41763

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 21 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure equitable access to medicines for people with metastatic breast cancer, in light of the decision by the Scottish Medicines Consortium not to fund the medicine, Piqray, which is available to patients in England.

Question reference: S6W-41157

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 6 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41119 by Jim Fairlie on 9 October 2025, who will be attending the Wildfire Summit on 14 October 2025, and what will be discussed.

The following stakeholders were invited to the Wildfire Summit on 14 October 2025:

Scottish Government

Forestry and Land Scotland

Cairngorms National Park Authority

Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority

Scottish Forestry

NatureScot

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Firebreak Services

Police Scotland

Her Majesty's Fire Inspectorate Service

Brightsparks Burning Techniques

Scottish Land and Estates

Scottish Gamekeepers Association

British Association for Shooting and Conservation

National Farmers Union for Scotland

Scottish Crofters Federation

Scottish Countryside Alliance

Heather Trust

Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust

RSPB Scotland

John Muir Trust

National Trust for Scotland

Scottish Ramblers Association

Scottish Countryside Rangers Association

Trees for Life

UK Met Office – Scotland liaison

Association of British Insurers (ABI) – Scotland representative

Highland Council

Dumfries and Galloway Council

Highland Adapts

Local Gamekeepers

The focus of the summit was for stakeholders to share their views on addressing future wildfire risks, including what is needed to increase Scotland’s resilience to wildfires.

A roundtable on wildfires event will take place in the coming weeks at the Scottish Parliament which will provide MSPs with the opportunity to hear from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Government about a brief overview of the 2025 wildfires season, key outcomes from the Scottish Multi-Agency Resilience Training and Exercising Unit (SMARTEU) debrief, an overview of learnings so far from the series of engagements and to contribute to building resilience into our wildfire preparedness and response.

Question reference: S6W-41673

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given at the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 4 November 2025, how many times the sustainable aviation fuel expert working group has met, and on what dates.

Question reference: S6W-41276

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported growing body of research on the harmful effects of microplastics, including crumb rubber, on human health and the environment, whether it will adopt the EU approach to precaution and public health, which promotes zero plastic use and supports sustainability and circular economy goals, which crumb rubber reportedly cannot meet, and whether it will therefore ban the use of crumb rubber in 3G sports pitches.

We understand these concerns, and we are committed to working with the key stakeholders to explore alternative artificial pitch systems and more sustainable infill products to reduce the spread of microplastics in the environment.

Artificial grass pitches play an important role in the delivery of sport and physical activity across Scotland, helping the nation to lead more active, healthy lives. Well maintained artificial pitches allow for year-round, intensive use and can provide significantly more playing hours than traditional grass pitches.

sportscotland, our national agency for sport continue to engage with sporting bodies, educational bodies, and key partners across the sporting sector in the development of synthetic pitches and surfaces.

EU legislation designed to protect the environment from exposure to microplastics means that, from 2031, rubber crumb infill material will no longer be available for use on artificial pitches within the EU.

While preparation of a restriction proposal under UK REACH has not been taken forward at this time, we are still in discussions with Welsh Government and UK Government on next steps.

Question reference: S6W-41098

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported staffing shortages in trading standards teams across Scotland, in light of reports that this is resulting in fewer than half of local authorities being able to participate in test purchase programmes to monitor the sales of tobacco and vapes to underage children.

The 2025-26 budget delivered record funding of over £15.1 billion for Local Government, a real terms increase of 5.5 per cent compared to 2024-2025. In line with the Verity House Agreement the Scottish Government does not ring-fence or direct local government funding.

Local Government have responsibility for ensuring local budget decisions deliver local and national priorities, including the enforcement of existing legislation, such as tackling underage sales

The Scottish Government works closely with the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS), including funding a National Coordinator, to support enforcement of Tobacco and Vaping legislation including checks on sales of tobacco and vapes to under 18s.

Question reference: S6W-41096

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much it received in Barnett consequential funding as a result of the UK Government’s announcement on 22 March 2025 that it was committing £10 million of new funding in 2025-26 for trading standards in England to tackle underage sales of tobacco and vapes, prevent sales of illicit tobacco and nicotine products and fund up to 80 new apprentice enforcement officers.

At the UK Spending Review the Scottish Government received a Barnett share of the net changes to UK departmental budget allocations, which ultimately fed into the total settlement. This is not broken down by programme, with any new of additional spending allocations in 2025-26 forming part of the overall allocation to the Scottish Government.

The 2025-26 budget delivered record funding of over £15.1 billion for Local Government, a real terms increase of 5.5 per cent compared to 2024-2025. Local Government have responsibility for ensuring local budget decisions deliver local and national priorities, including the enforcement of existing legislation, such as tackling underage sales and illicit tobacco and vapes.

Question reference: S6W-41097

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it has allocated the Barnett consequential funding it received as a result of the UK Government’s announcement on 22 March 2025 that it was committing £10 million of new funding in 2025-26 for trading standards in England to tackle underage sales of tobacco and vapes, prevent sales of illicit tobacco and nicotine products, and fund up to 80 new apprentice enforcement officers.

The majority of funding to Scotland is not ring-fenced by the UK Government, with decisions on how money is spent in Scotland made through the Scottish Budget process including in-year Autumn and Spring budget revisions.

In line with the principles of the Verity House Agreement, the Scottish Government does not ring fence funding it provides to local government.

The 2025-26 budget delivered record funding of over £15.1bn for Local Government, who are responsible for the enforcement of existing legislation on underage sales, illicit tobacco and vapes. This a real terms increase of 5.5 per cent.

Question reference: S6W-41299

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for delivering a just transition in Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government on the working paper, Community benefits and shared ownership for low carbon energy infrastructure, which was published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in May 2025.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with the UK Government on community benefit and shared ownership policy and continues to press for a mandatory scheme for mature onshore technologies, alongside a robust GB-wide voluntary framework for emerging technologies.

On 26 June 2025, I co-chaired a joint ministerial roundtable with the UK Minister for Energy to discuss the UK Government’s working paper and consider how policy can deliver fair outcomes for communities and build capacity while supporting investment in net zero. Officials continue to work closely with UK Government counterparts to ensure Scotland’s priorities are reflected and aligned with the refresh of our Good Practice Principles, to be published in the latter half of 2026.

Question reference: S6W-41275

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of crumb rubber in Scotland, in light of the research report on Options to Reduce Intentionally Added Microplastics Emissions (UK), which was commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and identified that artificial sports pitches were the main source of intentionally added microplastic pollution in the UK.

Artificial grass pitches play an important role in the delivery of sport and physical activity across Scotland, helping the nation to lead more active, healthy lives.

The Scottish Government works with Welsh and UK Governments under the preliminary Common Framework on Chemicals and Pesticides, to identify and address chemical issues across Great Britain under relevant regulations, including UK REACH.

Microplastics was identified as a priority issue for consideration under the UK REACH restriction process in 2021. We agreed with UK Government and Welsh Government that an evidence project would be undertaken, led by Defra, on the risks and possible mitigation measures for the use of intentionally added microplastics in Great Britain.

Following the publication of the report earlier this year, we are still in discussions with Welsh Government and UK Government on next steps.

Question reference: S6W-41273

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK-Faroe Islands fisheries negotiations 2025 and regarding any impact on cetacean populations in Scottish waters, what recent discussions it has had with UK Government ministers regarding whale and dolphin hunts in the Faroe Islands.

The Scottish Government has not had any recent discussions with UK Ministers regarding whale and dolphin hunts in the Faroe Islands, although officials do have engagement on this and other matters.

International negotiations and membership of organisations such as IWC are a reserved matter for the UK Government. However we fully support the UK Government and International Whaling Commission (IWC) in seeking to secure a permanent worldwide ban, and in continuing to call on all countries who practice any form of whaling, to cease these operations and enforce the worldwide ban.