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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-40486

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what process is in place for a complainant to make representations to the Scottish Ministers following a report from the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) regarding a property factor’s failure to comply with a Property Factor Enforcement Order, and whether it will consider extending the same right of representation to complainants as is currently afforded to property factors under the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011.

During development of the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011, careful consideration was given to homeowner redress. The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland was established as an independent judicial body to hear disputes and, where appropriate, issue Property Factor Enforcement Orders (PFEOs).

Failure to comply with a PFEO is formally notified to Scottish Ministers and informs the assessment of whether a property factor remains fit and proper. Ministers’ initial approach is to work with the factor to restore compliance and ensure service standards are met.

Removal from the register is considered only where compliance cannot be achieved, as this prevents the factor from operating anywhere in Scotland and affects all homeowners they serve. Therefore, full consideration of legal requirements, including Tribunal decisions, is essential.

Question reference: S6W-40599

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40164 by Angus Robertson on 4 September 2025, whether the First Minister raised the issue of Scottish independence with the President of the European Commission on 26 July 2025 in line with the advice that he received in the "Key message" section that was set out in the briefing document for that meeting, which was published under FOI reference FOI/202500477553 and, if so, what the outcome was.

Question reference: S6W-40671

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the establishment of a Scottish market position in the high-value superyacht industry with Ferguson Marine, in light of this reportedly being dominated by shipyards in other European countries, such as Benetti of Italy, Feadship of the Netherlands and Lürssen of Germany.

Question reference: S6W-40611

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask NHS boards to release a detailed breakdown of their spending on mental health services, and whether it considers that there is a need for greater standardisation of how finances are accounted for across boards.

NHS Scotland expenditure on mental health is published annually in arrears in the Scottish Health Service Costs book by Public Health Scotland. The Cost Book is publicly accessible and offers a consistent framework for financial data across NHS Boards. The most recent data published in February 2025 covers 2023-2024. Costs Book publication - Costs Book - Finance within the NHS - System monitoring, accountability and quality of care - Healthcare system - Public Health Scotland.

The Scottish Government continuously monitors NHS Boards’ financial positions through routine finance reporting. This resource provides a standardised approach to collecting detailed financial information, including outturn, spend by specialty, and achievement of efficiency targets.

Question reference: S6W-40608

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure equitable access to repeat prescriptions for contraception, including the contraceptive pill and Depo injections, for people who face barriers in accessing these, including because of travel, childcare or work commitments.

The process for ordering a repeat prescription for contraception, such as the contraceptive pill or Depo injection, is the same as for any other prescription medication. Patients must have approval from their clinician for a repeat prescription. Most GP practices offer online ordering and many pharmacies also provide collection and delivery services which may be convenient for patients, including evening and weekend opening. Patients are advised to speak to their GP practice or local pharmacy to see what is the best option for them to obtain their medication.

Additionally, anyone aged between 13-55 is able to access bridging contraception. This 3 month temporary supply of the progestogen-only pill (POP) from pharmacies across Scotland, allows for people to access contraception more easily prior to making an appointment with their GP or sexual health service.

Question reference: S6W-40539

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the discussions that it is holding with ferry companies and brokers regarding the availability of vessels to operate on the ferry network.

Question reference: S6W-40468

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister raised the issue of Scottish independence during his meeting with the President of the United States of America and the US Secretary of State on 9 September 2025.

Question reference: S6W-40473

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will pass a note of the salient points of any substantive discussions that arose during the First Minister’s meeting with the President of the United States of America and the US Secretary of State on 9 September 2025 to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in accordance with Section 11.15 of the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Question reference: S6W-40472

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether a brief note was produced for the First Minister ahead of his meeting with the President of the United States of America and the US Secretary of State on 9 September 2025 in accordance with Section 11.14 of the Scottish Ministerial Code, and, if so, whether this note will be published.

Question reference: S6W-40171

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 29 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to fully decriminalise abortion, in light of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) Concluding Observations on the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the recommendation to be guided by the World Health Organization’s 2022 Abortion Care Guideline.

The Scottish Government committed in the 23-24 Programme for Government to undertake a review of abortion law to identify potential proposals for reforms to ensure that abortion services are first and foremost a healthcare matter.

To take this forward, the Scottish Government established an Expert Group in August 2024 to examine the current law; international examples; a range of stakeholder views and other evidence will be published in due course.