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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-43881

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 4 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding for Shetland it (a) has provided in each financial year since 2023-24, including 2025-26 to date, and (b) plans to provide in 2026-27 (i) for healthcare provision, (ii) for a new hospital to replace the Gilbert Bain Hospital and (iii) directly to NHS Shetland.

In 2026-27, NHS Shetland will receive £86.6 million in baseline funding. Information regarding the funding provided to NHS Shetland between 2023-24 and 2024-25 is available within the Board’s published Annual Reports and Accounts for each respective year, as well as in publicly accessible Board papers.

In 2023-24, the Scottish Government provided NHS Shetland with capital funding of £555,000 for the development of a Gilbert Bain Hospital replacement business case.

Question reference: S6W-43914

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NHS Ayrshire and Arran's escalation to stage 4 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework, what discussions it has had with the board regarding whether it is seeking to sell the Carrick Glen National Treatment Centre, and whether the board has formally made such a request, including whether the board asked that the sale takes place after 7 May 2026, following the Scottish Parliament election.

The escalation of NHS Ayrshire and Arran to level 4 of the framework has no impact on decision making around the National Treatment Centre or the Carrick Glen site.

Carrick Glen Hospital has not yet been disposed of because the necessary service-planning and asset-surplus processes are still ongoing, and it would be inappropriate to bring a site to market before those steps are complete. Also, no request has been made regarding the timing of any sale in relation to the Scottish Parliament election.

We are currently working with all health boards to develop an NHS whole system infrastructure plan for Scotland. This will support continued safe and effective use of existing facilities as well as informing future investment priorities based on assessment of need across the whole of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-43926

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care last met with residents in Calton to discuss any impact associated with the Thistle drug consumption facility.

I have not held a meeting with residents in Calton specifically to discuss the impact of the Thistle drug consumption facility. However, Scottish Government officials continue to engage regularly with local partners, including Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, to monitor delivery of the service and any identified community impacts.

In addition, an independent evaluation is under way. This evaluation will assess a range of outcomes, including community impact and any unintended consequences, and will inform future decisions regarding the service.

Question reference: S6W-43925

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care last met with Police Scotland to discuss any impact associated with the Thistle drug consumption facility.

I have not held a meeting with Police Scotland specifically to discuss the impact of the Thistle drug consumption facility. However, Scottish Government officials maintain regular engagement with Police Scotland and local partners to monitor the delivery of the service and any identified community impacts.

Operational policing of the facility and surrounding area remains a matter for Police Scotland, which retains operational independence. In addition, an independent evaluation of the pilot is under way and will assess a range of outcomes, including community impact and any unintended consequences, and will inform future decisions regarding the service.

Question reference: S6W-43916

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NHS Ayrshire and Arran's escalation to stage 4 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework, what discussions it has had with the board regarding the (a) operating cost so far and (b) date of the opening of the National Secure Adolescent Inpatient Service for Scotland (Foxgrove); what its response is to the recent information released under Freedom of Information that £5,243,606 has been spent on salaries for staff at the site since 2021, despite it not yet formally being opened, what its position is on whether this represents good value for the public purse, and whether it expects Foxgrove to open prior to 7 May 2026, before the Scottish Parliament election.

Ministers remain committed to ensuring that the National Secure Adolescent Inpatient Service at Foxgrove opens as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so. Scottish Government officials meet regularly with NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Scotland Assure to monitor progress towards opening, including discussion of operational readiness, workforce matters and associated costs.

Recruitment of specialist staff in advance of opening is necessary to ensure appropriate training, governance arrangements and regulatory compliance are in place for what will be a highly specialist national service. The costs referenced relate to establishing and retaining a skilled workforce to support safe delivery of care once the service becomes operational.

Opening will take place once all safety, clinical and regulatory requirements have been fully satisfied.

Question reference: S6W-43928

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether any NHS boards continue to provide homeopathy, and what its position is on whether homeopathy services should be provided on the NHS.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information which is a matter for NHS Boards locally.

The Scottish Government’s position on homeopathy is unchanged. While some Complementary and Alternative Medicines, including homeopathy, may offer relief to some people, it is for NHS Boards to determine which treatments they offer in line with national and local priorities and national guidance: http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/dl/DL(2016)06.pdf.

Prescribing decisions, including the use of homeopathy, are made by clinicians in consultation with patients, drawing on their competencies, evidence-based advice, and relevant guidance. The Scottish Government expects that any treatment provided is appropriate, person-centred, safe, effective, and subject to ongoing review between clinicians and their patients.

Question reference: S6W-43901

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 3 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its decision to refuse on appeal the planning application for Flamingo Land, whether it will now end Scottish Enterprise’s exclusivity agreement with Lomond Banks.

Question reference: S6W-43875

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 3 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing in conjunction with administrator FRP Advisory to ensure that Orbex and its work to develop a sovereign space launch capability in Scotland is maintained as a going concern.

The Scottish Government has been engaging with FRP Advisory, as the appointed administrators of Orbex, to understand both the position of the company, its workforce and its infrastructure and assets to explore any measures that could support continuity of operations.

The Scottish Government’s enterprise and skills agencies are also monitoring developments closely to support any viable pathways that safeguard strategic capability and skilled employment.

Finally, Scottish Ministers have sought clarity from the UK Government around its intentions for generating and maintaining sovereign launch capability for the UK, given its relevance to our national security.

Question reference: S6W-43867

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work being carried out to simplify the application process of the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme, in light of its commitment in its 2025-26 Programme for Government.

The wide range of improvements delivered for the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan scheme include introduction of a digital customer claim verification process, simplified documentation requirements, language and layout updates to the application portal, as well as improved guidance and named caseworker support for applicants. We have also developed guidance tailored for installers.

These changes have improved the customer journey, with customer satisfaction scores rising to consistently above 90%. I attended a roundtable with installers and manufacturers in the clean heat sector at the Energy Training Academy in February to gather further feedback, and we remain committed to making further improvements.

Question reference: S6W-43868

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38780 by Mairi McAllan on 11 July 2025, by what date it will publish data relating to the average application and claim processing timescales for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme.