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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-44017

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what specific measures are being introduced to improve access to legal advice in rural island communities, beyond fee increases, to address the logistical challenges of travel and service delivery.

We know that change is needed to ensure that we have an adaptable, flexible, affordable and sustainable legal aid system in Scotland that supports people who are facing challenging issues and problems. Consideration is being given to primary legislation in the next Parliamentary term that will consolidate the Government's recent reform to legal aid in Scotland. This will ensure continued support to people who are facing challenging issues, of course including those in rural island communities. The decision to take this forward will be for the next Government.

This government has continued its investment in the legal aid system which is generally effective in delivering help to those in need, however we do recognise there are some challenges in relation to certain types of cases or locations.

There are several ways in which access to solicitors can be facilitated remotely, and funding is available to allow solicitors to travel to rural and remote parts of the country to carry out work, meaning that individuals do not have to rely on local provision alone when seeking publicly funded legal assistance.

The Civil Legal Assistance Office has been established and is a network of 3 offices in Scotland that helps people with civil legal problems. Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) employed solicitors can provide advice and assistance to people with particular types of civil legal problems across Highlands and Islands, Argyll and Bute, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and Edinburgh and the Lothians. Further, the Scottish Legal Aid Board manage 16 regional grant funded projects to support people facing legal action. This includes in island locations such as the Western Isles and Orkney Islands.

All of these services can operate across a wide geographical area and, through our ongoing reform programme, we are considering how different funding models can be used to strengthen access to legal aid where it is most needed.

Question reference: S6W-43976

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how long an investigation into a pollution incident at a loch should take.

We take pollution incidents very seriously. It is important that any investigation into pollution incidents is given sufficient time ensure a comprehensive and accurate understanding of both the causes and the environmental impacts before any findings are issued.

The time required to conclude an investigation of a pollution incident will vary depending on the scale and complexity of the event, the type and volume of pollutants involved, the sensitivity of the receiving environment, the availability and quality of evidence, and any requirement to coordinate with other regulatory or enforcement authorities.

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-43898

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential closure of the butchers in Inverurie, Donald Russell, when it last met with the affected (a) trade unions and (b) employees to discuss this.

The company has indicated that there is no trade union involved in the consultation process. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform & Islands and myself met with Donald Russell’s Interim CEO on 19 February to understand how the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise can work with the company to explore all options to support a positive outcome for the business and the workforce.

The local Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) Team has contacted the company to make them aware of the assistance available to employees if a positive outcome cannot be found and they are facing redundancy.

Question reference: S6T-02943

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the fire at Union Street in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6T-02941

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place with football authorities concerning the recent deplorable fan behaviour after the match between Celtic and Rangers.

Question reference: S6F-04747

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2026

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of any impact on the NHS arising from reports that the number of consultants working in the private healthcare system is the highest on record.

Question reference: S6F-04740

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04739

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04741

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.