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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.

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Question reference: S6W-44069

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 16 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many parents and families have had a funded cross-border nursery placement ended in each year since 2007 to date, broken down by local authority.

Question reference: S6W-44055

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether Crown Estate Scotland carried out an independent assessment, one not conducted or led by Offshore Solutions Group or others that might have a clear commercial interest in a particular potential project, of whether there is any need for marine storage, as opposed to storage that is land-, port- or harbour-based, of offshore wind bases and, if not, for what reason (a) no such assessment was carried out and (b) a payment of around £41,000 was provided for work led by Offshore Solutions Group, including how much of that sum was paid to the company, and when.

Question reference: S6W-44024

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 16 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister’s statement on 3 September 2025 regarding defence firms linked to Israel, how this policy is being delivered by (a) its relevant departments, (b) its enterprise agencies and (c) the Scottish National Investment Bank; whether the review of the policy has now taken place; if (i) so, by what date it was completed and the findings published and (ii) not, by what date it will do so and when this will be completed and the findings published, and what other similar policies it has since implemented or is considering.

The policy was implemented on 3 September 2025 after the First Minister’s statement to Parliament. Scottish Government officials have undertaken consultation with stakeholders and full operational guidance was issued in December 2025. This operational guidance outlined the applicable defence related sectors. This policy is under continuous review because it is a pause, but remains in place at the present time.

Question reference: S6W-44112

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the status is of the negotiations on the part of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service with the Fire Brigades Union on the pay uplift required following the in-principle agreement on role expansion for firefighters.

The in-principle agreement between the Fire Brigades Union and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on an expanded role for firefighters in Scotland includes a significant uplift in pay in exchange for carrying out the new duties. The challenging fiscal position has meant that the increases in funding provided to SFRS since 2022 have been in support of front-line services but have been insufficient to provide additional funding to support the expanded role proposals. Whilst a broadened role for firefighters remains a priority in the Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland, the overall funding position means there are currently no detailed negotiations taking place.

Question reference: S6W-44099

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 16 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister’s visit to SaxaVord Spaceport in Unst, Shetland, and in light of the site progress that was reportedly evident, what consideration it has given to support further progress to ensure that Scotland can continue to aim to be a key player in the space sector.

The Scottish Government recognises the progress being made at SaxaVord as the UK’s first fully licensed spaceport and the important role it can play in supporting Scotland’s ambition to develop a thriving space industry.

We are supporting the continued progress of the space sector through a range of levers. Our Cluster Development Programme is being established through collaboration across the public sector, academic, and industry to build excellence in areas where Scotland has strong assets such as Advanced Manufacturing within the Space sector. And through the activities of our Space Trade and Investment Envoy and Scottish Development International, we are promoting Scotland’s space capabilities to a global audience. We will also continue to work in partnership with the UK Government to leverage a greater share of available funding for space projects in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is confident that establishing sovereign launch capability from Scotland’s spaceports, including SaxaVord in Shetland, will help accelerate the growth of our space sector and strengthen Scotland’s position as a key player in the space economy.

Question reference: S6W-44236

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service visits vape shops as part of its fire prevention work.

Dutyholders (the employer, as well as any other person who may have control to any extent of any part of the premises) are responsible for complying with the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the associated Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 to ensure the safety of others from fire. This includes ensuring a fire risk assessment is carried out by a competent assessor. However, SFRS do work with dutyholders in relevant premises to achieve compliance in fire safety through partnership working, providing advice and support when requested.

It should be noted that SFRS base their auditing programme around high risk premises with sleeping accommodation – this includes care homes, hospitals, hotels and houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) which can include student accommodation.

SFRS remains the enforcing authority for general fire safety legislation in non-domestic premises, including vape shops, and its audit programme is informed by risk-based criteria, for example this includes where a complaint about a premises is received or a previous fire has happened.

Question reference: S6W-44233

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider running a safety campaign with local authority and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service partners aimed at highlighting the safe storage of products in vape shops and other businesses that deal with products with lithium batteries.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) already carry out regular lithium-ion battery fire safety campaigns, most notably alongside Glasgow City Council highlighting the need for proper use and disposal (here). SFRS also have dedicated advice on their website. The Scottish Government will consider if more should be done and support any further safety campaigns across Scotland alongside SFRS and Local Authorities.

Question reference: S6W-44402

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 13 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to commitment given by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on 27 November 2025, whether it will provide an update on the progress of NHS Tayside’s investigation into the destruction of theatre logbooks, and what further information will be offered on the progress of this process.

I have been advised by NHS Tayside that external investigators AAB began their formal investigation in February 2026, and that they are independently analysing all the documents they have requested to date, with further documentation being identified and new information requested as witness interviews progress and additional evidence is heard.

The agreed scope of the investigation is to:

Review NHS Tayside’s systems, processes, actions and governance arrangements in response to the Do Not Destroy notice
Examine NHS Tayside’s internal investigation to assess whether the Health Board has a full and accurate understanding of how the destruction occurred
Identify any systemic or procedural weaknesses that contributed to the incident
Provide recommendations to strengthen controls and prevent recurrence.

NHS Tayside has indicated it expects to receive its final investigation report and recommendations during the first week in April. The report will then be considered by NHS Tayside’s board and next steps agreed. The First Minister has written to the Chief Executive of NHS Tayside to ask that she keep former patients updated with any developments in the weeks ahead.

Question reference: S6W-44339

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Ben Macpherson on 13 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the review of modern apprenticeship contribution rates.

The review of modern apprenticeship contribution rates will be undertaken in two stages. The first stage of the review will begin imminently, in March 2026, and the initial evidence gathering work will be complete by the end of June 2026. The second stage will commence in February 2027 and will involve a more in-depth consideration of contribution rates.

The scope and terms of reference for the MA contribution rates review can be found on the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/modern-apprenticeship-contribution-rates-review-scope-and-terms-of-reference

Question reference: S6W-44154

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm that the next quarterly all-tenure housing statistics will be published before the next parliamentary elections.