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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-38849

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding (a) in total and (b) per capita has been allocated for public transport in each of the last two years, also broken down by (i) local authority area and (ii) parliamentary region.

The Government has been increasing its total allocation on public transport year-on-year. In 2025-26, the Scottish Government is investing more than £2.6 billion to support public transport, making our transport system available, affordable and accessible for all. In 2024-25, this figure was £2.5 billion and in 2023-24, it was almost £2.5 billion.

These figures include concessionary travel and the operation of rail and ferries networks, which make our transport system available, affordable and accessible.

The Scottish Government reports on budget allocation at a project and budgetary level and does not hold information on funding by constituency or parliamentary region.

Question reference: S6W-39019

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 8 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the eligibility criteria for tier 3 of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme support a range of actions, such as managing species-rich pastures, and do not only support tree planting.

Since it was launched in 2015, the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) has supported land managers to undertake a wide range of actions to benefit the environment. Support is provided for the management of species-rich grassland and small-scale tree planting, alongside options spanning nature restoration, climate change mitigation and adaptation, improving water quality and mitigating flood risk. The scheme offers both capital and resource funding to enable the uptake of options which complement existing farming systems and support both productive agriculture and nature and climate outcomes. Full scheme guidance is available on the Rural Payments website.

As stated in the Agricultural Reform Route Map, AECS is expected to continue until at least 2026 to deliver elements of Elective support ahead of Tier 3 launching in 2027.

Tier 3 Elective will support action that protects habitats or species or improves business sustainability. It will focus on funding a range of targeted actions for climate change and nature restoration. This could be specific to a particular species or habitat, support conversion to alternative forms of agriculture such as organic production, encourage innovation and provide supply chain support.

Question reference: S6W-39053

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what medical assessment is required by decision makers when authorising the renewal of Blue Badges; what type of healthcare professionals are involved in the renewal process; how they are involved, and whether they are involved in all applications.

Local authorities often refer to Blue Badge applications as 'renewals', but legally, all badges expire after three years and must be reassessed equally.

When authorising Blue Badge applications, local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility based on the information and evidence provided. Medical assessments are not automatically required. Where eligibility cannot be confirmed from the application alone, the applicant may be referred to an Independent Mobility Assessor (IMA). IMAs are regulated healthcare professionals, such as occupational therapists or physiotherapists, qualified to assess mobility impairments.

Question reference: S6W-38721

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32419 by Fiona Hyslop on 17 December 2024, when it plans to publish an updated Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan.

Question reference: S6W-38679

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns of the Scottish Police Federation that public inquiries are having a "detrimental impact" on policing.

As Public Inquiries are independent of Ministers, it is for the Chair to direct how an Inquiry carries out its duties whilst being mindful of their responsibilities under section 17(3) of the Inquiries Act 2005 to avoid unnecessary costs.

The operation of Police Scotland, including decisions on the allocation of resources and the deployment of officers and staff, is for the Chief Constable, under the oversight of the Scottish Police Authority. This includes the allocation of budget and staff to support the work of Public Inquiries.

Question reference: S6W-38828

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 7 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the practice that a minister could not be both dropped off at and collected from a private or party engagement on the same day, by the Government Car Service, changed, and, if so, when.

Question reference: S6W-38774

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what agreements are in place between Scottish Enterprise and Flamingo Land Lomond Banks regarding future grants and funding for the development proposal at Balloch.

Question reference: S6W-38827

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 7 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether any changes have been made to the rules relating to the ministerial use of the Government Car Service; if so, what specific changes were made, and on what date each change was made.

Question reference: S6W-38826

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 7 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what rules were in place in relation to ministerial use of the Government Car Service in 2007, and when any changes to those rules occurred.

Use of the Government Car Service is governed by the Ministerial Code. The version in 2007 can be found on the National Records of Scotland archive here:

https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20180130052300mp_/http:/www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/47133/0024899.pdf.

There has been several subsequent iterations of the ministerial code which can be found at the following links:

2008 – https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20170408064113mp_/http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/276226/0082926.pdf

2011 – https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20180126015215mp_/http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/364058/0123666.pdf

2015 - https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20170901063828/http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/06/2562/downloads

2016 - https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20241102232007/http://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2016-edition/

2018 - https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20241027204754/https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2018-edition/

2023 - https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2023-edition/

2024 - https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2024-edition/

Question reference: S6W-38789

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that at least 16,500 police officers will be employed by Police Scotland across the financial year 2025-26.

The recruitment and deployment of police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable, who confirmed to the SPA Board on 27 March 2025 that the “Scottish Government funding allows us to continue officer recruitment for a full time officer establishment of around 16,500, while modernising the workforce to release experienced officers from roles which don’t need warranted powers so that we can prioritise, maximise, and support the frontline to deliver for our communities.”

The Scottish Government has increased police funding year-on-year since 2016-17, investing more than £14.6 billion since the creation of Police Scotland in 2013, with £1.64 billion being invested in policing this year. Scottish Government funding in 2024-25 enabled Police Scotland to undertake the highest level of recruitment since its inception and Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales.