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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-41827

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has spoken with businesses about labour shortages in the South of Scotland region.

The Convention of the South of Scotland (CoSS) aims to strengthen alignment between the Scottish Government, Dumfries and Galloway Council, the Scottish Borders Council and public agencies delivering in the South of Scotland to drive inclusive growth. Labour market shortages are regularly discussed, most recently at its last meeting in Spring 2025, when the focus was on Transport. Local businesses joined the previous meeting in Autumn 2024, which was chaired by the Deputy First Minister, where the agenda focussed on skills and employment issues in the region. Minutes from the meeting can be found Convention of the South of Scotland minutes: October 2024 - gov.scot

Labour market and skills shortages, and the impact that this has on businesses is something that Ministers discuss frequently, including with business directly, and has also been the focus of discussion at the NSET Delivery Board.

Question reference: S6W-41816

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the number of prisoners developing drug problems has compared between private and publicly-run prisons in each of the last five years.

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

The healthcare provisions within Scottish Prisons have been the responsibility of NHS since 2011, this includes but is not limited to, the delivery of Alcohol and Drug services and all clinical assessments used to develop individual care plans or referrals. SPS are therefore unable to provide the information required.

Question reference: S6W-41814

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has been reported that not all sewage discharge points in Argyll and Bute are monitored.

Question reference: S6T-02771

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns and frustration of the Educational Institute of Scotland about its four-day working week proposal for teachers.

Question reference: S6T-02767

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the TRANSFORM prostate cancer screening trial, including any implications this may have for improving prostate cancer screening in Scotland.

Question reference: S6T-02772

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the warning from Scottish Care that the UK Government’s immigration proposals risk destabilising care provision in Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-04480

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government plans to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.

Question reference: S6F-04475

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04476

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04479

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

To ask the First Minister what impact the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement will have on Scotland.