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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.

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Question reference: S6W-39070

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to (a) the role of coal as a strategic reserve or transitional energy source and (b) whether a blanket policy of no support potentially risks undermining Scotland’s energy security during periods of volatility or supply disruption, in light of the publication of its Coal extraction: policy position on 19 June 2025.

We have undertaken a full policy development process in order to reach a finalised position of no support for coal extraction in Scotland, in line with statutory requirements. The first step in this process was the launch of a call for evidence which ran from 21 June to 2 August 2022, which invited stakeholders’ views and expanded our evidence base in this policy area.

The call for evidence set coal extraction in its wider context of our statutory emissions targets and just transition and highlighted our work to date in relevant policy areas, including energy security, climate change, and just transition.

The policy position was subject to statutory and other assessments, including Strategic Environmental Assessment, before finalisation. This included in our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP), and our National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4). NPF4 is publicly available here: National Planning Framework 4 - gov.scot. The draft SEA of the draft ESJTP is publicly available here: strategic-environmental-assessment-draft-energy-strategy-transition-plan-environmental-report.pdf.

Coal exploitation is a matter reserved to the UK Government, and the Mining Remediation Authority is responsible for licensing coal mining activity in Scotland. Scotland’s planning system is fully devolved to the Scottish Government. We recognise that there may be circumstances where the extraction of coal is legally required, for example as part of building works or where a seam needs to be removed in the course of preparing foundations. Any holder of a licence issued by the Mining Remediation Authority may submit an application for planning permission for coal mining-related activities.

Where any planning applications come forward, as a matter of law these must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. As a statement of national policy, the finalised policy position on coal extraction would be a material consideration.

Question reference: S6W-39052

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the policy recommendations in the University of Manchester report, On Hydrogen, including their potential impact on future (a) policy and (b) publicly funded research on hydrogen in Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises that the work of universities, research institutes and industry play a valuable role in the development of the hydrogen sector, and we routinely engage with relevant academic outputs of universities as we continue to develop our policies and assess research needs in this emerging sector.

Hydrogen policy officials met recently with several of the academics from Manchester University who contributed to the collection of papers in their wide ranging ‘On Hydrogen’ report and will take these papers into consideration as part of the broader research landscape in the hydrogen sector. The Scottish Government continues to welcome engagement with universities regarding hydrogen and is fully committed to helping the Scottish hydrogen sector develop and grow.

Question reference: S6W-39072

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what definition it applies to its policy of no support for onshore conventional oil and gas extraction, and whether the policy allows for any limited exceptions where production could support local industry or employment, in light of the publication of its Onshore conventional oil and gas: policy position on 19 June 2025.

We have undertaken a full policy development process in order to reach a finalised position of no support for onshore conventional oil and gas extraction in Scotland, in line with statutory requirements. The policy position was subject to statutory and other assessments, including before finalisation. This included in our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP), and our National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4).NPF4 is publicly available here: National Planning Framework 4 - gov.scot.The draft SEA of the draft ESJTP is publicly available here: strategic-environmental-assessment-draft-energy-strategy-transition-plan-environmental-report.pdf. The partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment of the draft ESJTP is publicly available here: Regulatory Impact Assessment Template.

Our NPF4 makes clear that significant weight will be given to the global climate and nature crises when considering all development proposals. NPF4 Policy 33 sets out a policy of no support for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels, other than in exceptional circumstances aligned with national policy on energy and targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This includes our policy position on onshore conventional oil and gas.

Question reference: S6W-38845

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, what its policy is on whether it would introduce a ban on surrogacy in an independent Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-39042

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its next steps will be once the current pollinator strategy ends, including how it plans to evaluate the performance of the strategy.

The current Pollinator Strategy runs from 2017 to 2027 and has been a successful catalyst for local authorities, communities, and other organisations to come together to improve existing pollinator habitat and improve linkages between them. In 2026, NatureScot will begin discussion with a range of stakeholders over the successes of the current Strategy, the elements which need to be built on over the coming 10 years covered by the second Strategy, and new initiatives which may need to be taken forward.

NatureScot has recently published the annual Pollinator Strategy Progress Report which is available here: Pollinator Strategy - 2024 Progress Report | NatureScot. Evaluation of future Pollinator Strategies will be taken forward within the context of the wider Monitoring and Evaluation Framework which is being developed for the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy details of which are available here: Biodiversity strategy and delivery plan: governance, monitoring and evaluation - gov.scot.

Question reference: S6W-39023

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the Scottish Funding Council to ensure that colleges can continue to deliver any animal care, agriculture and rural skills training that is considered critical to Scotland’s rural economy.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is responsible for allocating funding to colleges, in line with Ministerial priorities, as set out in SFC’s Annual Letter of Guidance 2025–26. Colleges are responsible for determining their own operational decisions, including course provision.

To ensure that post school provision becomes more responsive to Scotland's strategic skills needs and priorities, the Scottish Government is working closely with partners, including SFC, to deliver on the Programme for Government’s commitment to introduce a new Scottish Government-led approach to national skills planning, and strengthen regional skills planning.

Question reference: S6W-39080

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the initiative to provide more specialist clinical care in the community, as detailed in the Health and Social Care Renewal Framework, whether increased specialist support in local settings will be available for people with inflammatory bowel disease in order to allow those with Crohn’s disease or colitis to manage their condition closer to home.

The Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland; however, the statutory responsibility for delivering or commissioning services at a local level lies with local authorities, NHS Boards and integrated health and social care partnerships. Operational decisions, including whether there is a need for additional specialist nurses, are therefore matters for those bodies.

Question reference: S6W-39092

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what interim mechanisms are being used to monitor the performance of fracture liaison services while work on the national audit is ongoing.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) is responsible for implementing and delivering the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) audit. They are working with NHS Boards across Scotland, to provide the necessary support as they develop the audit in line with Scottish National Audit Programme (SNAP) governance.

Scottish Government expects that everyone with a long-term condition to be able to access the care and support they need to be able to live well. As such, we expect that all NHS Boards have monitoring procedures in place to manage the performance and effectiveness of their services.

Question reference: S6W-39041

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there are regional enterprise agencies for the South of Scotland and the Highlands and Islands, but not for any other regions.

Question reference: S6W-39486

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of appointments and procedures that the additional £106 million investment will provide in 2025-26.

Through our £106 million additional investment targeted at the longest waits, NHS Boards plan to deliver more than 300,000 appointments and procedures this year.

The additional appointments and procedures are expected to break down as follows:

195,000 imaging scans;
31,000 inpatient or day-case procedures; and
88,000 new outpatient appointments.

A proportion of funding will also support cancer activity and provide critical supporting services which help our NHS deliver activity including pathology, diagnostic reporting and pre-assessment.

In addition, the Government has also now committed a further £4 million to deliver extra dermatology activity, bringing total additional funding for this year to over £110 million. This will support a planned:

4,100 new outpatient appointments; and
1,500 ‘see and treat’.

This funding will also see photo-triage of up to 8,300 digital images, allowing clinicians to triage, diagnose and assess some skin conditions, leading to a better and quicker service for patients.

Today’s announcement means 213,000 more appointments will be delivered this year than in 2024-25 and exceeds our Programme for Government target of delivering 150,000 extra appointments by more than 60,000.

NHS Boards will receive their allocated funding on delivery of activity. The Scottish Government may move funding between Boards and specialities throughout the year, subject to progress.