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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: S6O-04796

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-04775

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any economic implications of the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s latest forecasts and the potential impact of rising public health costs on businesses across Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-04794

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on planned capital investment in the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works, including the no regrets funding commitment and what consideration is being given to further investment after the PFI contract ends, to meet the needs of population growth, climate change and the Edinburgh waterfront development.

Question reference: S6O-04795

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report, Energy Transition: 41st Survey, by the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, which reportedly demonstrates that the UK is losing the supply chain and skills necessary to deliver net zero.

Question reference: S6O-04780

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent reports regarding the Barnett formula, and its ministers stating a preference for full fiscal autonomy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to replacing the Barnett formula.

Question reference: S6O-04774

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the impact on Scotland's economic growth of the increase in employer national insurance contributions.

Question reference: S6O-04770

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent EY assessment of the Scottish economy.

Question reference: S6W-37676

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Northern Isles Ferry Service between Aberdeen-Kirkwall-Lerwick, when a decision will be made on funding for the two proposed new "Freight Flex" vessels.

Funding has been identified in the 2025-26 budget for a potential contract start on NIFS Freighter replacements. The outline business case work has identified a Freight Flex option as the preferred concept for the two replacement vessels, with higher freight capacity, higher operating speed, and ability to carry up to 200 passengers. CMAL will be progressing a two stage competitive procurement starting soon with a view to signing contracts in early 2026, subject to relevant processes and approval of the final business case.

The delivery of two new vessels for the NIFS routes from Aberdeen to Orkney and Shetland will support the communities and businesses using this service for years to come, providing additional capacity, particularly during the peak summer and livestock movements periods.

Question reference: S6W-37809

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 4 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many early learning settings have operated from (a) temporary and (b) modular buildings, since 2015

The information requested is not held centrally. Decisions about where to locate an early learning and childcare (ELC) setting are the responsibility of the service provider. The Scottish Government does not routinely collect or hold information about the characteristics of buildings from which ELC services are provided. Statutory requirements for the fitness of premises to be used for the provision of ELC are set out in Section 10 of The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011.

Question reference: S6W-36972

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 4 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that care staff who are working with children and young people do not feel pressured into affirming identities or behaviours that may lead to irreversible medical decisions.

All social care workers are registered with the Scottish Social Services Council and are therefore subject to their fitness to practise rules and requirements. Social care practice is clearly complex and it is for employers and the regulator to assess whether conduct is inappropriate or otherwise in any given circumstance. Scottish Ministers and Parliament have provided legislation that allows the relevant parties to carry out their functions in accordance with best practice and the law.

For young people who may decide to seek medical support related to their gender identity, a range of support is available and is currently provided in NHS Scotland via NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Young Person Gender Service.

Individualised assessment for, and potential treatment of, gender dysphoria is carried out by clinicians in this NHS service in consultation with their patient, as informed by patient need. Assessment will be carried out in line with relevant best practice. For example, guidance set by the General Medical Council (GMC) which, as the independent regulator of doctors, publishes a range of documentation to help clinicians fulfil their professional duties.