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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-44168

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how the total cost of the Renewables Obligation is expected to change over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.

Question reference: S6W-44158

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) full-time equivalent jobs, (b) total jobs, (c) training positions and (d) apprenticeships the round of the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray that opened on 2 March 2026 is anticipated to create.

Question reference: S6W-44170

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost has been to date of payments to generators in Scotland under the Renewables Obligation.

Question reference: S6W-44148

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the closure of Torness Nuclear Power Station on consumer energy bills.

Question reference: S6W-44169

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the total net cost has been to date of payments to generators in Scotland under the Contracts for Difference scheme.

Question reference: S6W-44161

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish-domiciled students have studied in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) overseas, in each year since 2021-22.

Question reference: S6W-44119

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the new Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan.

The Scottish Government and COSLA have jointly published ‘Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland’s Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan’ today. Grounded in human rights, the Strategic Plan reaffirms our commitment to a public health, evidence-informed approach to alcohol and drug use.

It builds on the significant progress made throughout the National Mission, with a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, while strengthening vital harm reduction measures and improving treatment and care pathways to support long term recovery.

Whilst there has been a decrease in the most recent National Records of Scotland figures for both alcohol and drugs deaths, we know there is much more to do including addressing the escalating threat from synthetic drugs.

The Strategic Plan is a key component of Scotland’s broader public health reform agendas including the Population Health Framework and Service Renewal Framework.

Alongside the Plan, a revised Partnership Delivery Framework for Alcohol & Drugs Partnerships, and a National Specification for Alcohol and Drugs Services have also been published.

To deliver on our ambitions, we are sustaining the significant increase in investment made over the course of the National Mission. We are maintaining record levels of funding for alcohol and drug policy of more than £160 million in total. This includes £115 million for Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships across Scotland and continued investment in the third sector and voluntary organisations that provide invaluable support.

The Strategic Plan is available at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436835

The Partnership Delivery Framework is available at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806439843

The National Specification is available at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806439836

Question reference: S6W-44120

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angela Constance on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the report on the Scottish Law Officers’ roles and functions.

The report on the Scottish Law Officers’ roles and functions was published today and is available on the Scottish Government's website: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806439737

We are grateful to Malcolm McMillan for the diligent and comprehensive research and engagement undertaken to produce this report. The report provides robust factual information, context and analysis on the Law Officers’ numerous roles and functions, including the history, development and safeguards in place which protect their independence.

The report clearly sets out how and why the current system works and its considerable strengths. Careful consideration would be required if there were to be any changes made to the ways in which the Law Officers’ various functions were allocated. As protected by the Scotland Act, the Law Officers operate with integrity and entirely independently of any other person as they undertake their prosecutorial functions. Separating the functions would require legislation by the UK Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-44035

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the International Olympic Committee removing the requirement that host cities be elected seven years before the Games and revising its criteria to allow joint bids from multiple cities, regions or countries, what its position is on engaging with the “Great North” partnership of northern English cities, which is preparing a bid for the 2036 Summer Games, or on taking forward a joint Scottish bid for the event in 2036 or 2040.

Scotland is the perfect stage for events and has an enviable record in hosting mega events including this summer’s Commonwealth Games. We work closely with partners to attract events to Scotland and have an outstanding pipeline of events in the coming years with the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2027, UEFA EURO 2028 and the bid for the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Any hosting bid to the International Olympic Committee would need to follow the IOC guidance. It would be led by the British Olympic Association, who are not in any active discussions with the Scottish Government at this time.

Question reference: S6W-44039

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms exist to monitor compliance by local authorities with statutory duties relating to free personal and nursing care, particularly where payments are delayed due to financial pressures.