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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-43924

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the purchase of two needle bins in Calton, Glasgow, at a cost of £5,000 represents value for money.

The Scottish Government’s position is that expenditure must be assessed against demonstrable outcomes, particularly where interventions are designed to address complex public health harms. At the Committee hearing on 2 October, representatives from Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Calton Community Council and Morrisons supermarket provided positive evidence of local impact. Morrisons reported a reduction of over 90% in needle collections in the vicinity since the Thistle facility opened.

In this context, the £5,000 investment in two needle bins indicates that associated harm reduction measures are delivering clear community benefits.

This reported reduction supports the Scottish Government view that such expenditure contributes effectively to public health and neighbourhood safety.

Question reference: S6W-43955

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the proposed legal status will be of the new housing agency, More Homes Scotland; under what existing or proposed legislation it will be established; whether primary or secondary legislation will be required, and what the timetable is for its formal establishment.

We expect the agency to start operating from 2027-28 and to be fully functional in 2028-29. Insofar as this question concerns the legal status of the new housing agency, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43954 on 11 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.

Question reference: S6W-43952

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a ScotRail discount scheme similar to the 16-17 Saver Railcard used by other rail operators.

In Scotland, concessionary travel on rail is the responsibility of local authorities, which have discretionary powers under the Transport Act 1985 to provide and fund local concessionary travel schemes for residents. The extent and terms of any such scheme are for individual local authorities to consider and decide upon.

ScotRail currently offers discounted travel for those aged 16, 17 or 18 (or up to 25 years old and a full-time volunteer), who have a Young Scot National Entitlement Card. Eligible passengers receive 1/3 off most rail fares when travelling with ScotRail and 50% off weekly, monthly and annual tickets. Unlike the scheme the Member is referring to, ScotRail’s offer does not require the £35 upfront annual fee.

Question reference: S6W-43954

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what specific housing delivery targets and key performance indicators will be assigned to the new housing agency, More Homes Scotland; what increase in annual housing completions it anticipates will result from its establishment; when policy development work on this commenced, and what stakeholder consultation (a) has been carried out and (b) is planned.

We are investing a record £926 million in 2026-27 as part of up to £4.9 billion funding over four years to help deliver 36,000 affordable homes, providing safe, warm homes for up to 24,000 children. More Homes Scotland is in its design phase, so specific delivery targets, KPIs and any anticipated increase in completions will be confirmed once this work is complete.

Since 22 January, my officials and I have started a programme of extensive stakeholder engagement as part of this design phase. I will provide an update to Parliament in March.

Question reference: S6W-43923

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the opening of the Thistle drug consumption facility has resulted in an increase in (a) antisocial behaviour, (b) discarded needles and (c) drug dealing in Calton.

The Scottish Government recognises the concerns of local people in the Calton area and are grateful for the continued actions being taken to address them by Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership

While concerns have been raised, no evidence has been provided which isolates the opening of the facility as the sole cause of such activity. These issues existed in the area prior to the introduction of the service, which was established to reduce public injecting and associated harms along with reducing the levels of drug-related litter in the area. Since opening, the facility has overseen over 9,400 injecting episodes, hugely reducing the number of injecting episodes which would have taken place in public areas and leading to further discarded needles.

The Thistle operates like any other NHS facility and works closely with Police Scotland and local partners. Police Scotland maintains operational independence in policing the facility and surrounding areas, responding to reports, deterring criminal activity, and protecting public safety.

An extensive independent evaluation is underway which will include an assessment of community impact. Its findings will inform any future decision as part of an evidence-led approach.

Question reference: S6W-43918

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the use of naloxone by the Scottish Ambulance Service reached a post-pandemic high in 2025, and what its position is on whether this indicates that its drugs policy is working.

Naloxone is a life-saving opioid antagonist delivered through Scotland’s National Naloxone Programme to reverse overdoses and provide emergency response time for further medical intervention.

The increase in its administration by the Scottish Ambulance Service reflects the persistence of drug-related harms and demonstrates that frontline clinicians are equipped to intervene and prevent deaths.

The Scottish Government considers the effective deployment of naloxone to be clear evidence that harm-reduction measures are operating as intended by saving lives. At the same time, higher usage highlights the scale of ongoing harm. This is why we remain committed to delivering a comprehensive drugs policy that integrates harm-reduction with prevention, treatment ,recovery and enforcement measures to reduce deaths and address the underlying drivers of substance use.

Question reference: S6W-43848

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to the Urgent Question and supplementary questions by Dorothy Bain on 18 February 2026, and in light of the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General having recused themselves from Operation Branchform, whether this means that they should not have had any knowledge of, or dealings with, the criminal case against Peter Murrell, and, if so, for what reason a minute was sent to the First Minister.

The Solicitor General and I were not involved in decisions in this case. Recusal from operational prosecution decision-making by the Law Officers does not prevent them being advised of significant milestones in a case nor does it prevent them from notifying the government of such milestone.

As head of the system of prosecution in Scotland, I have overall responsibility for the investigation and prosecution of crime, including those cases in which they have recused themselves from decision-making. It was appropriate, therefore, to provide confirmation and necessary reassurance to the government that the normal, well-established practice of recusal had been followed.

Question reference: S6W-43801

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to the Urgent Question and supplementary questions by Dorothy Bain on 18 February 2026, what information has been provided by the Lord Advocate to (a) the First Minister and (b) any special advisers about the criminal case against Peter Murrell, and when.

In my letter to the Presiding Officer of 24 February 2026 I confirmed that there have been two minutes to the First Minister, in March 2025 and January 2026. These were to advise the First Minister that separate procedural milestones had been reached, to confirm that the appropriate processes had been followed in relation to Law Officers not being involved in decision-making, and to remind him that it would not be appropriate to make any public comment on the matter.

Question reference: S6W-43799

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to the Urgent Question and supplementary questions by Dorothy Bain on 18 February 2026, whether the Lord Advocate has ever contacted any minister or special adviser about any criminal case, aside from the case against Peter Murrell, and, if so, on what occasions, and who was contacted.

Question reference: S6W-43847

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to the Urgent Question and supplementary questions by Dorothy Bain on 18 February 2026, how many times the Lord Advocate has advised ministers of an indictment in criminal cases, and in which cases.