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-41650

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41468 by Gillian Martin on 27 October 2025, for what reason the 50 megawatt cap was set, and what the processes are for reconsidering this cap, including how the cap could be removed.

Repowering involves a new windfarm being developed following the decommissioning and removal of the existing operational site. This new pilot scheme is a unique chance for communities to take ownership of a second phase of generation, bringing long-term benefits to the local area.

The 50-megawatt cap reflects the current size of community energy projects in Scotland – offering significant scope for larger-scale projects to be developed on the FLS sites. This cap will be kept under review throughout the pilot, as part of ensuring successful delivery.

The sites in the pilot scheme, including which local authority they are located in, are the following table. This list can also be found on the Scottish Government website: Sharing the gains of clean energy - gov.scot.

Scheme Name	Indicative Repowering year	Local Authority
Black Law	2032	South Lanarkshire
An Suidhe	2033	Argyll & Bute
Camster	2035	Highland
Myres Hill	2036	East Renfrewshire
Stroupster	2038	Highland
Burn of Whilk	2038	Highland
Clashindarroch	2041	Aberdeenshire
A' Chruach	2043	Argyll & Bute
Beinn An Tuirc 3	2047	Argyll & Bute
West Benhar	2048	North Lanarkshire

Question reference: S6W-41663

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how the average resident doctor study budget in Scotland compares with that available in England.

Postgraduate medical education and study leave are funded differently in England and Scotland. In England study leave is managed by each region whereas in Scotland it is managed centrally by NHS Education for Scotland and there are differences in the funding available and what it can be used for.

In monetary terms an allocation of £600 per person is made in Scotland and £812 per person in England. In England, some local offices have an approved list of study leave courses for each specialty which can restrict access to opportunities that are not on the generic list unless there are special circumstances. In Scotland, each application is reviewed for appropriateness against curriculum requirements and while lists for each programme are in development they are for guidance only rather than approval.

Question reference: S6W-41706

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people with cleft lips or cleft palates are able to access appropriate dental treatment.

The National Cleft Surgical Service for Scotland (NCSSS) is hosted within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and provides surgical, psychological and cleft specialist nursing input for the management of children with Cleft Lip and/or Palate.

Cleft Care Scotland (CCS) is part of this, and is NHS Scotland's nationally commissioned cleft service and provides multidisciplinary assessment, surgical treatment and ongoing support via specialist teams. There are specific dental treatment pathways within this ensuring that people are seen regularly for check-ups and reviews, with this service provided by the Public Dental Service in each Health Board.

Anyone at any age affected by cleft can be referred or re-referred to CCS. People who have had corrective surgery, or are not currently under the care of the CCS, can also receive the full range of NHS treatment under the General Dental Service.

Question reference: S6W-41686

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41145 by Angus Robertson on 4 November 2025, whether it will provide the total cost of the legal advice it received in the preparation of its paper, A Fresh Start with Independence.

It is not possible for the Scottish Government to provide the cost of some of the advice it receives, such as internal legal advice, as this is work which would be taken forward by civil servants as part of their normal duties, and in line with usual practice, details of individual tasks carried out by civil servants are not routinely recorded, as there is no business need to do this. Additionally, it is a long-established convention that the Scottish Government does not disclose information which could reveal the source of legal advice other than in the most exceptional circumstances.

Question reference: S6T-02762

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that its core operating costs have increased by £53 million between 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Question reference: S6T-02759

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of cold temperatures and the first snowfall, whether it will provide an update regarding the steps it is taking to support any households at risk of fuel poverty.

Question reference: S6T-02757

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the University of Edinburgh plans to reduce jobs by up to 1,800 as part of £140 million in budget reductions by 2026-27, including what action it will take to protect staff and students from the impact of any such redundancies.

Question reference: S6F-04458

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04472

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2025

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to news that public satisfaction with the NHS has dropped to its lowest level in more than a decade, according to the Scottish Household Survey.

Question reference: S6F-04468

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2025

To ask the First Minister, in light of the UK Government’s reported decision to revisit compensating Women Against State Pension Inequality, what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential social security implications for those affected in Scotland.