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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-42224

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has made available for workers to retrain and upskill in AI and information technology at any stage in their career.

Question reference: S6W-41829

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any analysis relating to the impact of population decline on apprenticeship uptake in the South of Scotland region.

Question reference: S6W-41827

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has spoken with businesses about labour shortages in the South of Scotland region.

The Convention of the South of Scotland (CoSS) aims to strengthen alignment between the Scottish Government, Dumfries and Galloway Council, the Scottish Borders Council and public agencies delivering in the South of Scotland to drive inclusive growth. Labour market shortages are regularly discussed, most recently at its last meeting in Spring 2025, when the focus was on Transport. Local businesses joined the previous meeting in Autumn 2024, which was chaired by the Deputy First Minister, where the agenda focussed on skills and employment issues in the region. Minutes from the meeting can be found Convention of the South of Scotland minutes: October 2024 - gov.scot

Labour market and skills shortages, and the impact that this has on businesses is something that Ministers discuss frequently, including with business directly, and has also been the focus of discussion at the NSET Delivery Board.

Question reference: S6W-41828

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help businesses unable to fill vacancies in the South of Scotland region.

As part of our £85 million commitment to the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, Scottish Government will invest up to £7 million in developing skills in the South of Scotland. The project will work with regional partners to respond to the identified future skills and knowledge exchange needs.

Our enterprise agencies play a key role in promoting economic and business growth and supporting capital investment in Scotland’s places and industries of the future. They also work closely with partners to resolve issues which can present a barrier to business growth, such as skills and training, transport and local housing provision, helping businesses expand, remain in their local area and employ more people. Last year (2024-25) South of Scotland Enterprise invested £12.5 million in business and community enterprises, supporting 377 full-time equivalent jobs and leveraging £23.5m of funding for the region.

Question reference: S6W-41826

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has done of historic population movement and projected labour market shortages in the South of Scotland region, broken down by sector.

National Records of Scotland publish a wide range of statistical data with regards to population and migration in Scotland.

Skills Development Scotland publish annual Regional Skills Assessments (RSAs), which provide detailed information on regional labour markets. The latest RSA for the South of Scotland region was published in October 2025. The data included in these publications, including Oxford Economics forecast data, is the most up-to-date available at the time of writing. Forecasts are provided by sector, occupation and for the medium and longer term up to 2035.

rsa-college-region-report-scottish-borders.pdf

rsa-college-region-report-dumfries-and-galloway.pdf

rsa-college-region-report-south-of-scotland.pdf

Question reference: S6W-41900

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for permanent landslip mitigation on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful, and by what date this will be completed.

The Scottish Government recognises the impacts the landslip risks at the Rest and Be Thankful have on the local community and businesses and is committed to developing a response as quickly as we are able.

The situation is being treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves, with measures to maintain connectivity on a short, medium and long term basis being implemented. Delivery of a permanent and resilient solution to the landslide risks at the Rest and Be Thankful is a priority for the Scottish Government and we continue to seek ways to achieve that as quickly as possible.

It is a sign of that ongoing commitment that Transport Scotland published draft Orders for both the long-term solution and future phases of the medium-term solution for improving the diversionary route along the Old Military Road on 13 December 2024. Transport Scotland is considering all representations received, including objections, to the published draft Orders and is working at pace to resolve these if possible. If it is not possible to resolve objections a Public Local Inquiry may be required to consider objections received and not withdrawn.

The Scottish Government is duty bound to follow the correct statutory procedures which rightly include the opportunity for local communities to input and have any objections received resolved appropriately. As with all infrastructure projects, construction of the long-term solution can only commence if it is approved under the relevant statutory authorisation process and thereafter a timetable for delivery can be determined.

Question reference: S6W-41901

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what key performance indicators it uses to assess performance on west coast ferry routes, and which routes are the (a) best and (b) worst performing under each measure.

The Key Performance Indicators are set out in Schedule 11 of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services Grant Agreement between The Scottish Ministers and CalMac Ferries Ltd. This information is available on the Transport Scotland website by following this link: Grant Agreement - Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS3) | Transport Scotland

The first review meeting between Transport Scotland is scheduled, but yet to take place. Following the meeting, information relating to performance will be published.

Question reference: S6W-42075

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish an annual breakdown of ScotRail passenger complaints by category, including cleanliness, punctuality and customer service.

Question reference: S6W-42073

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when each of its ministers last took a ferry for official business-related travel.

Question reference: S6W-42072

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many planning officials there currently are in Scotland, and what assessment it has conducted of any future need.