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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-43956

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 projected annual budget for the new housing agency, More Homes Scotland will be for each of the next five financial years; what proportion of this represents new funding as opposed to reallocated funding; what estimate it has made of the (a) administrative and (b) set-up costs; whether a business case or cost–benefit analysis has been completed and, if so, whether this will be published.

We expect set-up costs to be incurred over the period 2026-27 to 2028-29, when the agency is expected to be operational, and estimate these costs to be around £2 million, although this will depend on the scope of its design and operating model.

The projected annual budget, the proportion representing new rather than reallocated funding, and the agency’s ongoing administrative costs are still to be determined as part of this ongoing design process.

Question reference: S6W-43987

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of taxpayers projected to enter the higher rate income tax band between 2026 and 2030 due to threshold freezes, and what assessment it has undertaken of the potential impact of any such projected fiscal drag.

The Scottish Government relies on the independent analysis provided by the Scottish Fiscal Commission, including its forecasts of the number of taxpayers in each band in future years. These are published as part of its regular economic and fiscal forecasts.

These forecasts, which include the effects of the latest policy decisions, are set out here: Scotland’s Economic and Fiscal Forecasts – January 2026, and form an important part of our understanding of how the tax system may evolve.

Question reference: S6W-43958

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 statutory powers and operational functions the new housing agency, More Homes Scotland, will exercise; whether it will have borrowing powers or the ability to directly commission, develop or own housing stock, and what assessment it has made of potential duplication of functions with existing housing bodies or local authorities.

More Homes Scotland is in its design phase: its powers and functions will be confirmed once this work is complete. I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-43955 on 11 March 2026.

I will update Parliament in March on the ongoing process to design the agency’s functions and operating model.

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-43957

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 how many staff the new housing agency, More Homes Scotland, is expected to employ at establishment; how many are anticipated will transfer from existing public bodies or the core Scottish Government; what governance arrangements are proposed for the agency, including whether it will have a board and chief executive, and what the timetable is for appointments to these roles.

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-43922

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 provisions of free tours of the Thistle drug consumption facility to members of the public represents value for money.

The Government’s position is that the provision of organised visits to the Thistle supports transparency, accountability and an informed understanding of the service as a publicly funded health intervention.

These visits are carefully managed, time-limited and scheduled prior to the arrival of service users to avoid disruption to clinical operations and to ensure the dignity, privacy and safety of those assessing the facility are protected. They are also done by staff in their own time so there is no cost associated with them.

Being able to provide these visits also helps to dispel some of the myths and inaccuracies that have been reported around the Thistle. Glasgow HSCP have encouraged anyone interested to contact them to arrange a visit.

They are therefore considered entirely proportionate and informative with no additional use of public resources.

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-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.