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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: S6F-04684

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2026

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that hundreds of teachers have sought medical treatment following attacks by pupils in the last five years.

Question reference: S6F-04691

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2026

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the development of a Just Transition plan for the north east of Scotland, including how communities and workers have been engaged.

Question reference: S6F-04678

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04690

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2026

To ask the First Minister what measures the Scottish Government is taking to standardise the criteria for urgent referrals to child and adolescent mental health services for an assessment, in light of reports that it is currently a postcode lottery.

Question reference: S6W-43514

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 16 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40593 by Natalie Don-Innes on 30 September 2025, when it will publish a full report on the evaluation of the early learning and childcare expansion to 1140 hours for the period 2018-25.

As stated in the answer to S6W-40593, it is our intention to publish our overarching report on the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) 1140 expansion evaluation for the period 2018-2025 in the coming weeks. This report will draw together findings from across the main strands of the outcomes evaluation, including the Scottish Study of Early Learning and Childcare and parent and carer surveys carried out before, during and after the ELC expansion.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-43682

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 February 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the escalation status of NHS Ayrshire and Arran for finance.

The NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework is one of the key elements of the evidence-based approach to monitoring performance and managing risk across the NHS in Scotland. All NHS Boards are reviewed against the framework based on their financial position. Following careful consideration of NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s position, the decision was made by Government for the Board to be escalated to Stage Four of the Framework for finance, specifically: financial sustainability; financial management and control; and financial governance and leadership. This is based upon a financial assessment of the Board and the level of support required to deliver a return to financial sustainability.

On 4 November 2025, Audit Scotland published a Section 22 report regarding NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s financial position concluding “the severity of the financial challenge facing NHS Ayrshire and Arran is unprecedented”. As a response the Scottish Government has been liaising closely with the Health Board on their financial position and the Director General now deems further escalation necessary to ensure the Board’s financial recovery. There has been a recent change in the Board’s leadership, and so the focus of escalation will be to provide the Executive team a package of support commensurate with the financial challenges faced.

Stage Four escalation will come into immediate effect and will involve senior external support and monitoring from Scottish Government. This will support the Board to return to financial sustainability, including establishing an Assurance Board chaired by Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with NHS Ayrshire and Arran to monitor their financial position and assist with longer term financial planning and improvement. Regular updates will be provided to Ministers on the financial position of NHS Ayrshire and Arran following this escalation.

The Parliament will of course be kept updated on any further developments.

Question reference: S6W-43629

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the total number of registered foster carers has been in each of the last five years.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.

Local authorities and independent fostering agencies are responsible for foster care recruitment. The Care Inspectorate is the official body responsible for registering, inspecting, and publishing national statistics regarding fostering services in Scotland. It publishes annual statistics on fostering services and foster carer numbers, with the latest report published on 28 October 2025. Fostering_and_adoption_statistical_bulletin_2024-2025.pdf

Question reference: S6W-43591

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to use funds raised from the expansion of UK Emissions Trading Scheme to the maritime sector to support the provision of Onshore Power Supply projects in Scottish ports.

Question reference: S6W-43583

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities there are for communities affected by a proposed development, such as the Center Parcs proposal in the Scottish Borders, to have representations considered by ministers once a byelaw application has been submitted for determination.

Section 202(7) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 makes provisions for any aggrieved party to object to Scottish Ministers, as confirming authority, within 12 weeks of the notice of intention to apply for confirmation of the byelaws having been made by the Local Authority. The period for representations to be made to Scottish Ministers regarding the proposed byelaws related to the Center Parcs development opened on 19 September 2025 and closed on 5th December 2025.

Question reference: S6W-43590

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any impact of the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to the maritime sector on Scotland’s competitiveness in attracting cruise business.