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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-37645

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement within the Programme for Government 2025-26 of £4.5 million for new specialist support for long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), chronic fatigue and other similar conditions, what it identifies as "similar conditions".

Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are examples of post-acute infection syndromes. Work is ongoing to determine how the additional £4.5 million announced in the 2025-26 budget to deliver new specialist support will be allocated to NHS boards. It is expected that NHS boards will develop support based on their understanding of local population need and synergies with existing local service provision.

Question reference: S6W-37632

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not implemented its 2021 commitment to reduce teacher class contact time to 21 hours per week.

Question reference: S6W-37701

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the average fine issued for the possession of (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) ecstasy, (d) cannabis and (e) amphetamines has been in each of the last 10 years.

The latest available information on convictions is for the financial year 2022-23. The answer is provided in the following table.

Average fine amount (£), where main penalty, for people convicted of a main charge of drug possession or possession with intent to supply, by selected drug types, 2013–14 to 2022–23
		2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Possession with intent to supply	a:Heroin	369	353	562	462	371	277	3,826	836	379	499
	b:Cocaine	425	700	1,598	1,071	655	683	885	450	627	719
	c:Ecstasy	502	610	450	543	400	534	527	280	478	503
	d:Cannabis	582	551	526	600	545	532	636	534	698	485
	e:Amphetamines	575	1,615	300	364	-	-	550	1,000	750	-
Possession	a:Heroin	186	192	175	193	202	195	200	204	203	243
	b:Cocaine	238	250	233	266	246	238	273	280	293	356
	c:Ecstasy	208	220	205	236	255	213	223	309	303	311
	d:Cannabis	140	148	154	177	197	190	198	215	253	274
	e:Amphetamines	179	218	214	180	216	226	173	168	164	275

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database.

Please note: data for 2021-22 and 2022-23 are affected by the pandemic, subsequent court closures, reduced court capacity due to physical distancing measures and delays to cases where key participants were forced to self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19, and may not be considered indicative of long term trends.

Question reference: S6W-36973

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that any ideological language or policies do not undermine the professional judgment of staff working with vulnerable young people.

There are a range of approaches in place which support the prevention of harm to vulnerable young people by those who work with them.

If an organisation has employees or volunteers doing a regulated role, it has a legal duty to report harmful behaviour to Disclosure Scotland. This duty applies whether the person is a member of the PVG scheme or not.

There are also a range or regulatory organisations whose function are to maintain professional standards. For example, the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

We are committed to tackling the underlying issues which influence ideologies and seek to protect the rights of all young people. For example, in schools we have undertaken work, aligned to the implementation of the Equality Act to prevent discrimination; through challenging racism, misogyny, and bullying and through approaches such as LGBT Inclusive Education and Supporting Transgender Young people in Schools Guidance which makes clear the responsibility of schools to support young people who are considering or who have changed their gender identity in order to ensure that they do not experience discrimination within schools and can reach their full potential.

Question reference: S6W-37687

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to (a) local authorities and (b) other education bodies on preventing the unauthorised use of AI by pupils.

The SQA is actively addressing issues in respect of unauthorised use of AI in assessment by providing centres and candidates with guidance on appropriate use of AI in assessment: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) in assessments - SQA.

While any reports of malpractice are concerning, the number of occurrences identified from National Qualifications candidates are relatively low when compared to the numbers of candidates taking these qualifications. We will continue to monitor any issues as they evolve and work with partners to respond as appropriate.

Education Scotland have also produced guidance on the appropriate use of AI in schools: Teaching and Learning with Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Resources | Education Scotland

The Scottish Government is actively working with local government and teachers’ representatives to develop a set of AI guidelines to support learning and teaching.

Question reference: S6W-37700

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the consultation on fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and priority marine features outside MPAs.

Our marine environment is one of Scotland's most important natural assets and we are committed to protecting it for future generations.

Ministers have a legal requirement to put in place fisheries management measures for Marine Protected Areas and priority marine features.

Developing evidence-based and effective fisheries management measures for more than 160 sites and areas within the inshore region is a complicated and challenging process.

We are continuing to work at pace to complete the necessary statutory social, economic and environmental assessments. These are currently being undertaken and we are progressing them as a matter of urgency in preparation for the launch of the public consultation. Fisheries management measures will be implemented as soon as possible after this.

Question reference: S6W-37695

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to address any regional variation in the uptake of home dialysis among patients in renal centres, in light of reports that this ranges from 7.2% to 26.2% across different NHS boards.

The decision to offer home dialysis to patients is primarily a matter for NHS Boards. Last year, we agreed a national policy to reimburse patients for the additional electricity costs of home dialysis so that patients are not exposed to the impact of high energy prices. It also removes the financial disincentive to making a choice for home dialysis over in-centre treatments, allowing personal choice in where and how to receive treatment.

Question reference: S6W-37709

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much in compensation payments for wrongful imprisonment has been paid in total in each of the last 10 years.

Question reference: S6W-37693

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have needed catheterising in each year since 1999, also broken down by local authority area.

Question reference: S6W-37512

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many young people have received a private mental health diagnosis in each year since 1999.