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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-43009

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what training has been made available to civil servants to ensure compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Civil servants in Scottish Government and its Executive Agencies have access to an online training module on the UNCRC and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. They also have access to self-led and facilitated training, guidance and a template on the section 17 duty of the UNCRC Act, which requires Scottish Government and Executive Agencies to prepare and publish a child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA) in certain circumstances.

Question reference: S6W-42981

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42575 by Maree Todd on 7 January 2026, how it is working with (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards to encourage disabled people to participate in physical activity or sport.

The Scottish Government remains committed to increasing opportunities for everyone to participate in sport and physical activity, no matter their background. This involves working closely with a wide range of partners across the sector, including both local authorities and NHS boards.

Our national agency for sport, sportscotland, invests in all 32 Scottish local authorities. This investment includes support for Community Sport Hubs and the Active Schools programme, which provide inclusive opportunities to participate, including for disabled people.

sportscotland has increased investment in Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) to £750,000 in 2025-26. This investment helps SDS to deliver a range of programmes to increase the participation of disabled people in sport and physical activity across Scotland, including through their work with local authorities and wider partners in the delivery of Parasport Festivals.

Our Physical Activity for Health Framework was delivered in partnership with CoSLA and recognises the important role that local authorities play to help increase rates of physical activity for all across the population.

In addition, the Framework acknowledges the vital role of health professionals in encouraging and supporting their patients to be active, including disabled people. The Framework includes an action to integrate the NHS Physical Activity Pathway into routine healthcare and exiting clinical pathways as part of treatment and rehabilitation. Public Health Scotland are working with NHS Boards to review progress with implementation.

Question reference: S6W-43007

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership on the extension of the operating hours of The Thistle safe drug consumption facility pilot in Glasgow, in light of a reported shift in drug use from heroin to cocaine at the facility.

Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has confirmed there is currently no proposal to extend the operating hours of The Thistle service. Any extension would require approval from the Glasgow Integration Joint Board, as it would involve additional budgetary provision ,clear evidence of demand, and detailed planning for staffing and service delivery.

The HSCP’s immediate priority is the development of a business case for an inhalation space, in response to evolving drug-use patterns. This work does not include consideration of extended operating hours. No further service changes are proposed at this stage, and the independent evaluation will identify any future service gaps.

Question reference: S6W-42982

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42573 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 January 2026, what action it is taking to encourage households with a disabled parent to take part in sport or physical activity with their children.

Sport and physical activity is crucial for the health and wellbeing of our communities and we want everyone to have the opportunity to be active.

Our devolved disability benefits help with the additional costs of being disabled. They are non-means tested and people can spend them as they choose in line with their needs. These vital payments can reduce barriers to equal participation in communities and increase life opportunities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42574 on 7 January 2026. 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-43006

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the amendment of legislation to enable a smoking and inhalation space at The Thistle drug consumption facility pilot in Glasgow.

In November 2025 Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership approved the development of a business case for an inhalation/smoking space within The Thistle. Glasgow HSCP are now developing that business case, and have been engaging with the Scottish Government, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Police Scotland.

The Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 and associated Regulations restrict the smoking of any substance in no smoking premises(including health care premises such as the Thistle).The Scottish Ministers will continue engaging with partners and, once a business case is developed, will consider any proposals and whether any amendments should be made to legislation.

Question reference: S6W-42994

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to secure funding for Winchburgh railway station.

Question reference: S6W-43124

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many Electricity Act 1989 consent applications were live when responsibility transferred to the Minister for Public Finance on 18 December 2025.

Question reference: S6T-02866

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Information Commissioner taking legal action against it in relation to it missing deadlines to produce documents regarding James Hamilton’s investigation into alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code.

Question reference: S6T-02862

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that then health secretary, Shona Robison, u-turned on a promise to carry out an independent audit of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital before it opened to patients.

Question reference: S6T-02861

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the finding from UKHospitality Scotland that licensed premises face, on average, an 86% increase in non-domestic rates as a result of the current revaluation.