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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-35718

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what level of patronage would be required on existing services calling at Milngavie Station for ScotRail to consider returning to quarter-hourly services throughout the day.

Question reference: S6W-36832

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to provide access for young people living on islands to mainland sports facilities and training.

Question reference: S6W-35719

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures other than existing patronage numbers are used when considering varying the frequency of rail services on particular routes.

Existing patronage data is the main measure used to determine the necessary frequency on a given line, however various other data sources are consulted to determine the right service level. ScotRail engage with Local Authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships, Housing Developers and the wider Business community to understand current and future markets which may inform varying the frequency of rail services.

Question reference: S6W-35642

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it selects locations for water quality monitoring and reporting.

Water bodies may be monitored for different purposes, such as public health or assessing the status of the water environment, which helps determine the location for quality monitoring and reporting.

The process for the designation of new bathing waters is set out on SEPA’s website: Bathing Waters | Designation | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

SEPA delivers a prioritised programme of cost-effective environmental monitoring across Scotland. Its monitoring network is defined using a risk-based approach that is designed to meet the requirements of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003. More information is available here: Monitoring | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Question reference: S6W-35641

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider designating new water quality monitoring locations north of Largs in the Clyde estuary.

A comprehensive range of monitoring activities are undertaken across Scotland for a variety of purposes. This includes for public health, at designated bathing waters, and assessing the state of the water environment. No new monitoring activities are planned in the Clyde estuary north of Largs.

SEPA prepares and carries out a programme of monitoring to assess the status of the water environment. SEPA’s monitoring plans are risk-based. The Firth of Clyde inner and Largs Channel, both achieve good status, meeting their environmental objectives. More information is available here: Monitoring | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Question reference: S6W-35364

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 17 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the debate on motion S6M-15875 (Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill) on 17 December 2024, what progress it has made with carrying out a pilot exercise in using the democratic engagement grant for the purpose of automatic registration at education institutions.

The Government is currently working on commencement of the Act. The ability to provide democratic engagement funding is intended to support involvement in elections and improve democratic participation. The Government made clear during the passage of the Bill that it would be necessary as a first step to secure funding.

We are monitoring the automatic registration pilots in Wales so we can factor the results into our planning. All innovations will be:

proposed in consultation with the electoral community,
piloted on a temporary basis and
fully evaluated before being put to Parliament for a decision on whether to make the reforms apply generally and to be made permanent.

I will keep Parliament updated on our plans.

Question reference: S6W-35226

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to increase availability of English as a second or other language (ESOL) classes in the Greater Glasgow area, in light of reports that lack of availability is causing challenges for people who require at least a B1 level of English to access employability, social security and other support.

The Scottish Government recognises the vital role English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) plays in supporting people whose first language is not English, equipping them with the communication skills necessary to contribute and integrate economically, culturally and socially in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to ESOL and welcomed the independent review of community learning and development (CLD) which followed with a report, Learning: For All. For Life report. The report provided 20 recommendations, including on ESOL, varying in complexity and scope.

The Scottish Government and CoSLA accepted recommendation 1.1 to set up a joint CLD Strategic Leadership Group (SLG). The SLG will play a central role in developing our detailed response to the remaining recommendations.

This academic year, Scottish Government provided £500k for ESOL in Glasgow. This is in response to the review report calling for immediate action to address the exceptional pressures and need for ESOL, which disproportionately impacts Glasgow.

I have also written to the Scottish Funding Council with supplementary guidance to ensure ESOL remains a priority for colleges in the forthcoming academic year 2025-26.

Colleges are responsible for decisions on course provision and are best placed to respond flexibly to local ESOL need alongside partners including local authorities and the third sector. Local authorities themselves play an important role in delivering their CLD Plans, which supports the provision of community based ESOL.

Question reference: S6W-35080

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether (a) in principle, Scottish port authorities should be publicly owned and (b) the privatisation of some port authorities under previous UK administrations was the correct decision.

Scottish Ministers recognise the crucial role the port sector plays in supporting the Scottish economy. Ports ownership in Scotland is a diverse mix of mainly private, local authority and trust operated. We recognise that a diverse and successful ports sector contributes significantly to the national, regional and local economies in which they operate.

Regardless of the ownership model, ports in Scotland are deemed commercial entities. Therefore, the Scottish Government has no say in the day-to-day running of their business, nor can it dictate business decisions made by a company on how to best to utilise its resources. This remains the responsibility of the statutory harbour authority.

Question reference: S6W-35078

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the 2025 summer timetable for the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry will have the same service frequency as before the recent reported disruption.

Question reference: S6W-35079

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue the 2025 summer timetable service frequency between Ardrossan and Brodick into the (a) winter 2025-26 and (b) summer 2026 timetable.