Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 48968 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-41869

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Islands Connectivity Plan’s project to replace the Gourock-Dunoon-Kilcreggan passenger vessels by December 2026, and what the budget is for this project.

The Programme Working Group has been considering interlinked vessel replacement and port infrastructure matters to develop the options for investment in ferry services to Dunoon and Kilcreggan. The review of services reported following the completion of the Community Needs Assessment work has been included in the ongoing business case work. Programme costs and budgets are currently being reviewed and will be included in the Outline Business Case which is expected to report in due course.

Question reference: S6W-41857

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of removing peak ferry fares on routes that it supports through public service contracts, including the Northern Isles Ferry Services.

Question reference: S6W-42196

Asked by: Joe FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee City West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on funding and support for the University of Dundee to secure a sustainable future, one year on from serious financial issues coming to light.

It has been over a year since the extent of financial mismanagement at the University of Dundee first emerged.

Since then, the Scottish Government has worked closely with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and the University of Dundee to help the University chart a route to recovery, while clearly respecting its autonomy.

From the independent investigation led by Professor Pamela Gillies, the Strategic Advisory Taskforce led by Sir Alan Langlands, workshops with the University, expert advice and due diligence from contractors, and expert support and advice from the SFC and scrutiny by its Board, substantial work and resource has been deployed to support the University to create a path to recover.

In June, I informed the Parliament that the Government would make unprecedented use of section 25 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 to offer up to £40 million direct funding via SFC to give the University the support it needs to identify and build on its strengths, engage fully with staff, and focus on income generation as well as reducing costs.

It has taken longer than anticipated to develop the stable leadership and focus required to move the university forward. This has affected staff and students directly, who have been living with instability and uncertainty in their place of work and place of learning.

However, significant advancements are now underway, and I can advise parliament that the SFC has issued the University with clear, fair, proportionate and achievable funding conditions. These have been published by the SFC (Board-Approved-Conditions.pdf ) alongside a cover letter (Letter-to-Acting-Chair-of-Court-Re-Conditions-of-Section-25-Funding.pdf), and shared with the University's leaders and court.

The expert SFC Board undertook careful scrutiny and debate and concluded that the conditions as drafted are reasonable, feasible and justifiable, while providing essential assurance for the provision of additional public funding. Crucially, these conditions have been drafted to avoid any impact on the University's status as an independent autonomous institution.

These conditions do not yet provide a firm offer of funding, as the University must be given an opportunity to consider and feedback. The SFC Board is clear that the conditions set the appropriate balance, and the Scottish Government agrees with this assessment.

The University remains autonomous and responsible for its own governance and financial planning. The conditions provide an appropriate framework for this during the recovery period when it is receiving additional Government funding.

Following a period of engagement a formal offer will be made, and it will be for the University Court to decide whether to accept or reject. I will ensure Parliament is kept updated as the situation progresses.

Question reference: S6W-42075

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish an annual breakdown of ScotRail passenger complaints by category, including cleanliness, punctuality and customer service.

Question reference: S6W-42076

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the cleanliness of ScotRail trains, including in relation to cleaning frequency, staffing levels and passenger feedback mechanisms.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42074 on 27 November 2025. 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

The Scottish Government instructed ScotRail to carry out necessary recruitment to secure staff to allow ScotRail to deliver the best possible customer service to its passengers. Further to this, ScotRail’s staffing levels are currently at an all-time high.

Question reference: S6W-41998

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have spent more than (a) four, (b) eight, and (c) 12 hours on a trolley while waiting for (i) treatment and (ii) admission in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-41995

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects data on the number of callers who report being unable to access care after multiple attempts to contact NHS 24 or other health services.

The Scottish Government does not collect data on the number of callers who report being unable to access care after multiple attempts to contact NHS 24.

The Scottish Government continues to support NHS 24, including revising performance indicators to better reflect demand and improve service delivery. Over the past two financial years, NHS 24 has received £28.3 million in additional funding, enabling the recruitment of 22 extra clinicians and achieving its highest-ever treatment capacity.

Question reference: S6O-05243

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is engaging with communities based near the Moray Firth regarding the proposed Moray FLOW-Park project.

Question reference: S6O-05247

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact of the visitor levy on businesses operating in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

Question reference: S6O-05249

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Government Budget regarding how it affects the North East Scotland region.