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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-40118

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 11 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on implementing the recommendations of the review of governance of NHS endowment funds, in order to increase the funding available to the NHS.

How the recommendations are taken forward will be determined following consultation with stakeholders, including NHS Boards and OSCR. Consultation will ensure no unintended consequences as well as appropriate consideration of capacity, as significant work will be involved for both for the Scottish Government and for Health Boards. The timing of that consultation has yet to be determined.

In the meantime, funds remain available to be directed in accordance with the charities’ purpose, and taking account any restricted funds.

It is also important to note that neither OSCR's inquiry nor the Independent Review indicated that there are widespread issues in the decisions being made about the use of NHS Endowments’ charitable funds.

Question reference: S6W-40113

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 11 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many hours NHS staff spent on clinical trials and research as part of protected development working time in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S6W-39935

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 11 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is acceptable for publicly funded cultural institutions to exclude authors on the basis of their views on women’s sex-based rights.

Question reference: S6W-39933

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 11 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct a review of public funding to any organisations accused of politically motivated discrimination.

Question reference: S6W-39934

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 11 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is protecting cultural freedom and open debate in any events that receive public funding.

The Scottish Government supports the culture sector to make its own decisions relating to artistic or cultural judgement. How individual cultural organisations engage in public debate is a matter for them, as are their programming decisions. Artists and cultural organisations are free to explore and convene dialogue on any issues whilst having regard to relevant legislation, such as the Equality Act.

Question reference: S6W-39925

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 18 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 11 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported declarations made by Summerhall Arts in Edinburgh regarding its policy on politicians appearing on stage at the venue, what its position is on the declarations, and whether it will continue to provide any public funding to the venue.

The Scottish Government has no decision-making role in the allocation of funding through Creative Scotland. It is for Creative Scotland to allocate funding based on its assessment of the artistic and cultural merits of proposals it receives and to ensure that funding is used appropriately. Creative Scotland has no role in the programming decisions of funded organisations.

Scottish Ministers strongly support artistic freedom of expression. It is of particular importance to the culture sector, which provides a platform for debate and engagement on important issues. It is vital that artists and cultural organisations are free to explore and convene dialogue on any issue. Clearly, not engaging in respectful dialogue and debate with those with whom we disagree is counterproductive and does not support freedom of expression.

Question reference: S6O-04953

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the unified statement agreed at the Community Council Convention of the Highland Council Area regarding the impact of major energy infrastructure in the region, in Beauly on 14 June 2025, what the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy’s response is to the statement and whether she will attend a future convention meeting to discuss it.

Question reference: S6O-04947

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that people with increased genetic risk of developing cervical cancer are offered additional screening tests.

Question reference: S6O-04946

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the worst wildfires ever recorded in Scotland affected the areas around Dava, Lochindorb and Carrbridge this summer, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding potentially commissioning an independent review of wildfire management practices.

Question reference: S6O-04949

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged with the Equality and Human Rights Commission in relation to the 19 public bodies and organisations that were found to have misrepresented the Equality Act 2010.