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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-36909

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what policy is in place for vetting and approving access to gender-affirming items by prisoners convicted of violent or sexual offences.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The Management of Transgender People in Custody Policy 2023 is in place for managing transgender people in prisons who may need access to additional property to assist them to live in their affirmed gender.

The procurement of these items is subject to the same level of assurance and approval processes as it is for all items requested by individuals living in prisons.

Question reference: S6W-36907

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what costs have been incurred by the Scottish Prison Service since 2021 in sourcing any wigs, underwear and other gender-affirming items for transgender inmates.

Question reference: S6W-36916

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any implications of the delaying of downgrading elements of the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme, particularly for (a) the Port of Grangemouth and (b) other key national infrastructure.

The next steps in the process for the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme are to be undertaken by the local authority.

Should Falkirk Council confirm the scheme in its current form and wish to access further Scottish Government funding, it will be necessary to demonstrate that the scheme, in whole or phased elements, is value for money, and assessed against other flood protection schemes across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-37276

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether any First Minister has ever (a) met and (b) requested to meet the Chairman of INEOS, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Question reference: S6W-37045

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether any guidance has been issued to NHS boards and public bodies regarding the practice of seeking private hearings or restricting access to tribunals.

Question reference: S6W-37189

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36216 by Kaukab Stewart on 17 April 2025, and in light of the UK Supreme Court ruling regarding For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, whether it will provide an update on whether it will ensure that, whenever sex is recorded, it is made clear whether this refers simply to sex, or to a person's "legal sex" based on a Gender Recognition Certificate.

Work has already begun across the Scottish Government to consider the implications of the Supreme Court judgment. While we await the updated Code of Practice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Permanent Secretary has convened a Short Life Working Group (SLWG), at the request of Scottish Ministers.

The SLWG is considering the implications of the Supreme Court judgment in areas such as legislation, guidance and funding. The SLWG has already met and consists of senior civil servants across the Scottish Government.

The outputs of the SLWG, along with the updated EHRC Code of Practice, will inform our next steps in determining updates to relevant guidance affected by the Supreme Court judgment.

Question reference: S6W-37239

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the MV Glen Sannox, what estimates it has made of the (a) annual consumption of (i) marine diesel and (ii) liquefied natural gas (LNG) and (b) proportion of the vessel’s total propulsion energy that it expects to be provided by LNG in the first full year of scheduled operation.

The Scottish Government has not made any estimates or assumptions around the level of fuel consumption by MV Glen Sannox as this is a matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) as the operator.

CFL have confirmed, however, that total marine diesel consumption is estimated to reach around 1,800m3 per year. The vessel is expected to consume around 1,700 metric tonnes of LNG per year. The proportion of annual propulsion by LNG is expected to be around 70%, but this is under constant review.

Question reference: S6W-36911

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has undertaken with prison officers and women's advocacy groups on the reported proposal to make wigs and underwear available to transgender prisoners through a centralised repository.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

No consultation has been taken forward in response to the suggestion made in His Majesty’s Inspector of Prisons’ Full Inspection report on HMP Barlinnie published on 24 March 2025 for a central repository for items to support people on their transgender journey. SPS has no current plans to create such a repository.

Question reference: S6W-37243

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to (a) monitor and (b) publish data on the (i) actual volumes of marine diesel and liquefied natural gas consumed by the MV Glen Sannox once it is in service and (ii) associated fuel-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the CHFS (Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service) contract, the Scottish Government monitors fuel consumption by all vessels operating on the CalMac network. However, there are no plans to publish this data at present.

The Scottish Government does not monitor or publish greenhouse gas emissions produced by, or associated with, vessels operating on the CalMac network. However, CalMac have a reporting requirement under UK MRV (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification) regulations on total carbon emissions for all vessels in their fleet over 5,000 GT (Gross Tonnage).

Question reference: S6W-37237

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Aberdeen City Council and (b) hydrogen suppliers regarding securing alternative fuel supplies for the hydrogen-bus project while life-extension works are carried out at Kittybrewster and Cove, and what the outcomes were of any such discussions.

Scottish Government and Aberdeen City Council officials undertake regular engagement relating to hydrogen in Aberdeen. This has involved discussions relating to the city’s bus fleet, including in the context of the Energy Transition Fund grant to the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub project over the period 2021-22 to 2024-25. Decisions on hydrogen supply to the fleet are a matter for the Council. The Scottish Government has not engaged in any direct discussions with hydrogen suppliers for that fleet.