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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-39303

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it holds to account any local authorities that breach their statutory duties under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 places statutory responsibility for the provision of education in Scotland with individual local authorities. Under section 70 of the 1980 Act any interested party can make a reference to the Scottish Ministers that a responsible body (the managers of a school or education establishment, an education authority or other persons) has failed to discharge a duty imposed on them by or for the purposes of any enactment relating to education. This includes duties imposed by the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Furthermore, where families are concerned that education authorities may not be fulfilling their duties under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, there is a range of dispute resolution mechanisms available to them. These mechanisms include mediation, independent adjudication, and referral to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-39337

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36403 by Gillian Martin on 24 April 2025, in light of section 52(1)(b) of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, whether the reports required under section 52 for years 2010 to 2012 were included in the Scottish Ministers' reports under section 26 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 for the calendar years concerned.

Question reference: S6W-38974

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to how reserved social security payments could be integrated into its updated Benefit Take-Up Strategy due in 2026, alongside devolved payments, to maximise the incomes of older people.

As set out in the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, Scottish Ministers have a statutory duty to promote take-up of devolved benefits across the Scottish social security system. Reserved benefits remain the responsibility of the UK Government and the Scottish Government has no formal role in the administration of these payments. We continue to urge the UK Government to more actively promote reserved benefits and to follow Scotland's example by developing a Benefit Take-Up Strategy.

Welfare rights advice services, supported by Scottish Government investment, continue to assist people to take up benefits they may be entitled to, including reserved payments. In 2025-26, we are allocating over £15 million for provision of free income maximisation support, welfare and debt advice services.

Question reference: S6W-38975

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding Scottish social security benefits, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding accessing the data available between the UK Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC records to identify older people on low incomes in Scotland who are likely to be eligible for pension credit, and what assessment it has made of how this data, along with data held by the Scottish Government and local authorities, could be used to target action to improve the uptake of both devolved and reserved social security payments in Scotland.

As responsibility for promoting the take-up of Pension Credit lies with the UK Government, the Scottish Government has not had any specific discussions with the UK Government regarding access to the Department for Work and Pensions or HM Revenue and Customs data for the purposes of promoting take up of Pension Credit.

However, I have wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions last year, highlighting the need for a targeted campaign to increase awareness of Pension Credit and offered our support in promoting take-up, which we will continue to do to ensure everyone receives the support they are entitled to.

Question reference: S6W-39374

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what long-term plan it has to support people with pulmonary fibrosis.

Question reference: S6W-39375

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what efforts it is making to improve awareness of pulmonary fibrosis, and whether it has any events planned for Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, which will take place in September 2025.

Question reference: S6W-39376

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to (a) GPs and (b) other medical professionals to gather a greater understanding of pulmonary fibrosis, and to equip them with the training necessary to support people living with the condition.

Question reference: S6W-38972

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason public sector bodies, like national park authorities, reportedly do not need to publish any cost-benefit analyses of their spending decisions.

All public bodies in Scotland, including National Parks are required to demonstrate value for money in the discharge of their functions via compliance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) and Accountable Officer (AO) Framework. The use/publication of cost-benefit analysis as a tools to support and inform spending decisions is an operational matter for individual organisations to consider with the overarching financial framework of governance and accountability set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM).

Question reference: S6W-38971

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, when reviewing the annual reports and accounts of national park authorities over the last 10 years, what concerns have been raised about the economic impact of national parks.

Scotland’s National Parks generate significant economic benefits via tourism, employment and investment. Like all Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs), National Park’s Annual Reports & Accounts are formally reviewed by external auditors before being laid in the Scottish Parliament for public scrutiny. The Scottish Government has not routinely raised concerns about these formally audited records of public spend, and nor have concerns been raised by other bodies.

Question reference: S6W-38973

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its decision to not proceed with plans to create a Galloway National Park, whether it will reconsider its position on carrying out an independent review of the economic impact of Scotland’s national parks on businesses and industries within national parks.

There are no current plans for the Scottish Government to conduct an independent review of the two existing National Parks in Scotland, as we consider there are already adequate accountability mechanisms in place. As set out in their underpinning legislation, National Parks are accountable to their boards and to the Scottish Government. They are required to produce a five year National Park Partnership Plan and their Corporate Plans are aligned to these. These Plans, including the aims and objectives within them, are signed off by Ministers.

Delivery is monitored and reviewed at regular meetings between the Scottish Government and National Park authority Convenors and Chief Executives. Park authorities are also required to report on their delivery and performance through their Annual Report and Accounts, which are laid before Parliament and published.

The Scottish Parliament can also scrutinise the Parks’ performance directly, as it can for all public sector bodies.