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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-41046

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that it will publish its health and social care winter preparedness plan for 2025-26.

Question reference: S6W-41075

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care last met with (a) Alzheimer Scotland, (b) Cancer Research UK, (c) Marie Curie, (d) Prostate Cancer UK, (e) Age Scotland, (f) MacMillan Cancer Support, (g) Parkinson’s UK, (h) Royal College of Psychiatrists, (i) British Heart Foundation, (j) National Autistic Society, (k) MND Scotland, (l) Scottish Action for Mental Health, (m) Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, (n) Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and (o) Versus Arthritis.

Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly engage with third sector organisations to support our commitment to person-centred, effective, and safe care for people living with long-term conditions. We remain committed to ongoing dialogue with these organisations and greatly value their insight and expertise. Their contributions play a vital role in shaping policy and improving services across Scotland.

Details of the last meeting held between myself or the relevant portfolio Minister and these organisations are set out in the following table:

Organisation	Minister	Date
(a) Alzheimer Scotland	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	25-09-2025
(b) Cancer Research UK	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	25-02-2025
(c)Marie Curie	Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health	19-03-2025
(d) Prostate Cancer UK	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	08-08-2025
(e) Age Scotland	Minister for Equalities	24-09-2025
(f) MacMillan Cancer Support	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	04-06-2025
(g) Parkinson’s UK	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	26-09-2024
(h) Royal College of Psychiatrists	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	27-06-2025
(i) British Heart Foundation	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	15-01-2025
(j) National Autistic Society	Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Social Care and Sport	12-12-2024
(k) MND Scotland	Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing	05-08-2025
(l) Scottish Action for Mental Health	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	15-05-2025
(m) Children’s Hospices Across Scotland	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	14-08-2024
(n) Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	12-06-2025
(o) Versus Arthritis	Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health	25-09-2025

Question reference: S6W-40944

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether its commitment set out in the March 2021 paper, Green Datacentres and digital connectivity: vision and action plan for Scotland, to "position Scotland as a leading zero-carbon, cost competitive green data hosting location, which can contribute towards our ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2045" means that ministerial planning approval will only be given to those centres for AI and related purposes that are zero carbon.

We are responding to investor interest which has identified data centre sites that utilise our renewable energy sources while exploring opportunities to recycle waste heat from these facilities into the wider community. While data centres are very large consumers of energy, Scotland’s abundant renewable energy generating capacity presents an opportunity for the country to become a leader in green data centres. Local authorities will assess any planning application for data centres in the first instance. As a matter of law, all planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Application of planning judgement to the circumstances of an individual situation remains essential to all decision making, informed by principles of proportionality and reasonableness. Should Scottish Ministers be asked to make a final decision, then similar processes would be observed.

Question reference: S6W-40936

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister's speech on 27January 2025 regarding improving public services and NHS renewal, what impact the introduction of specialist frailty teams is having on (a) A&E waiting times and (b) outcomes for older people; what progress it made toward delivering such teams in every A&E department by the target of summer 2025; what funding and staffing resources were allocated towards this; what steps have been taken to address any recruitment or training challenges faced; what criteria is used to assess whether an A&E department now has a fully functioning team, and how many teams are now in place, compared with summer 2025 target.

The Scottish Government is investing £200 million to reduce waiting times, improve hospital flow, and minimise delayed discharges. This includes £85 million in 2025–26 to support unscheduled care improvements, such as expanding frailty services, Discharge without Delay, and Hospital at Home. Funding has been allocated based on boards’ needs and priorities, including frailty provision and performance.

All NHS boards now have access to frailty services, with tailored models being developed to meet local needs. Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) are providing practical improvement support to local systems to increase capacity and improve front door frailty pathways - an update on progress will be provided in the autumn. While not every board has a dedicated frailty unit in place, work is ongoing to develop or enhance these where appropriate, tailored to local needs and infrastructure.

While current A&E performance is below the levels we all wish to see, we are working closely with boards to manage pressures. These measures are already delivering early results—improving outcomes, reducing delays, and helping shift care from hospital to home.

Question reference: S6W-41566

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with credit unions regarding the termination of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings from 30 November 2025.

Question reference: S6W-41543

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what additional costs have been incurred due to reported construction or compliance delays at Forth Valley Royal Hospital’s new orthopaedic ward.

Question reference: S6W-41528

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much Glasgow City Council has spent on hotel accommodation for immigrants since 1 January 2024.

Question reference: S6W-41542

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the new 30-bed orthopaedic ward at Forth Valley Royal Hospital will be open to patients.

Question reference: S6W-41529

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish updated projections for housing demand in Scotland linked to the settlement of immigrants in the country.

Question reference: S6W-41559

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce any local authority reliance on supply teachers, in light of reports that Inverclyde Council spent £1.6 million on supply teachers in one year.