- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the forthcoming long-term location policy supports, rather than disadvantages, rural and island communities, and whether it will consult with affected staff and trade unions, including the PCS Highlands and Islands Branch, before finalising the long-term location policy.
Answer
The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including matters relating to workforce location policy.
The Scottish Government is committed to working in partnership with our recognised trade unions. The decision on the revised hybrid working policy was informed by a working group that included trade union representatives. As part of the implementation process, the organisation has committed to establishing a formal location policy. I understand that work will include consideration of any impacts on colleagues in rural and island communities and will be informed by consultation with staff networks and recognised trade unions via the Council of Scottish Government Unions. Work to finalise the location policy is expected to conclude later in 2026.
I would encourage the member to direct any further questions on this matter to the Permanent Secretary.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many civil service roles have been reclassified as “Edinburgh-based” or “central belt-based” since changes to the hybrid working policy were introduced in October 2025.
Answer
The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related hybrid working policy.
No civil service roles have been reclassified as “Edinburgh based” or “central belt-based” because of the revised hybrid working policy introduced in October 2025.
I would encourage the member to direct any further questions on this matter to the Permanent Secretary.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have opted to not attend an appointment following receipt of a text message in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The member may wish to contact health boards directly.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the use of digital devices in schools on pupils’ wellbeing, educational outcomes and screen time levels, and whether it will commit to a national review of device use in schools, including transparency around monitoring and parental opt-out options.
Answer
The Scottish Government keeps emerging national and international evidence under review, including work from bodies such as UNESCO and the OECD, to understand how digital tools can support learning, wellbeing and positive educational outcomes. This research highlights both the opportunities offered by well-designed digital approaches and the importance of ensuring device use is purposeful and balanced.
It is important to distinguish between school-managed learning devices and personal mobile phones. School-issued devices are used to support learning, giving pupils structured and secure access to digital tools. Decisions on the use of digital devices sit with local authorities, who are best placed to understand learners’ needs at various ages and stages, assess any local impacts, and ensure appropriate safeguards are in place while engaging with parents and carers.
In contrast, mobile phones are personal devices where the content accessed is not managed by local authorities. In response to concerns highlighted in the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research and the Programme for International Student Assessment, the Scottish Government introduced refreshed guidance in August 2024 on mobile phone use in schools, making clear that headteachers can take the steps they consider appropriate to respond to the disruption caused by mobile phones, including full restrictions across the school day.
The Scottish Government will continue to consider international research and good practice in line with the wider digital vision and strategic approach for school education in Scotland, while recognising that day-to-day decisions on device use remain the responsibility of local authorities.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current implementation of free personal and nursing care reflects the original policy intent of the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44036 on 10 March 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether the £57.044 million allocated in 2026-27 to the Level 4 budget line of Equalities, Inclusion and Additional Support for Learning, under the Level 3 budget heading of Improvement, Attainment and Wellbeing in the Education and Skills portfolio, includes provision for increasing the supply of (a) qualified teachers of children and young people with visual impairment (QTVIs) and (b) qualified teachers of deaf children and young people (QTODs), and, if so, what the allocations are for each.
Answer
Education authorities have duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 to identify, provide for and review the additional needs of their pupils. The recruitment and deployment of specialist teaching staff is the responsibility of education authorities, who also have duties to employ qualified teachers for deaf and visually impaired pupils.
The Scottish Government is committed to investing in Additional Support for Learning (ASL), including provision for pupils with sensory impairments. Building on the record investment by local authorities in ASL of almost £1.1bn in 2024-25, the Scottish Government invested a further £28m to support the ASL workforce and teacher numbers nationally and locally in 2025-26. The 2026-27 budget maintains this additional investment.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 27 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many Pension Age Winter Heating Payments were still to be paid by 24 January 2026, and what the estimated total value was of any such payments.
Answer
The Scottish Government is delivering the strongest package of winter support compared with anywhere else in the UK.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is forecast to support at least 880,000 pensioners with heating bills this winter.
Applications can continue to be submitted until 31 March 2026 therefore the information requested is not available in any data publication. Applications received after this date may still be considered in certain circumstances. Additionally, individuals may choose to opt out of receiving the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
Management information published on 4 March 2026 shows that as of 21 February 2026,over 1,051,000 Pension Age Winter Heating Payments had been issued and the total value of payments issued was over £188.1 million.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to help people over 75 who wish to install solar panels but who may be ineligible for energy saving grants due to their age.
Answer
The Scottish Government supports households of all ages who are in, or at risk of, fuel poverty to makes their homes warmer and cheaper to heat, through our Warmer Homes Scotland and Area Based Schemes. This can include solar panels where appropriate. These schemes have supported around 75,000 households in the last 5 years alone, including over 2000 solar PV installations.
There are no age restrictions on these or any other Scottish Government energy efficiency schemes that would prevent people over 75 from benefitting, although, our Home Energy Scotland scheme no longer supports the installation of solar panels.
The Home Energy Scotland advice service, which is funded by the Scottish Government, already offers free, bespoke, impartial advice to all Scottish householders, on how to make their homes greener and easier to heat. This service offers the gateway to accessing all our energy efficiency funding schemes. Households who want advice about Scottish Government funding schemes, or improving the energy efficiency of their homes in general, can call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated age is of each of the CalMac Clyde and Hebrides ferries in operation under Transport Scotland’s public contract; how many are operating beyond their originally planned service life, and what the scheduled commissioning date is for their replacements.
Answer
The average lifespan of a passenger ferry is 25-30 years, a number of CalMac Ferries are operating beyond their original planned service.
The Island Connectivity Plan (ICP) includes the Vessels and Ports Plan (VPP) and the VPP provides detail of vessels operating the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) and Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS), information is available on the following link: Islands Connectivity Plan – Vessels and Ports Plan 2025-2045
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure transparent public reporting on water scarcity indicators, drought risk levels and associated infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Answer
Scotland’s National Water Scarcity Plan sets out how water resources are managed prior to, and during, periods of prolonged dry weather. Water scarcity indicators and seasonal conditions are reported publicly through SEPA’s weekly and seasonal reports, providing early insight and transparency for stakeholders.
In terms of public water infrastructure vulnerabilities, Scottish Water has recently updated its supply-demand balance forecasts based on UK Climate Projections (UKCP18) as reflected in the recently published Final Business Plan for 2027 – 2033. This follows initial presentation of previous data through the Long-Term Strategy and Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Work is ongoing to update drought risk levels for water resource zones across the country.
