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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-43882

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Central Legal Office has made an assessment of the reliability of the electronic patient records system used by NHS Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-43747

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what measurable improvements in patient outcomes and service delivery have been observed since the recommendations of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland report were accepted, particularly in areas flagged as urgent, including paediatric diagnostic safety, waiting times and equitable access to audiology services across all NHS boards.

The final report in March 2025 on the Implementation of the Recommendations from the Review of Audiology Services in Scotland set out progress that has been made nationally on each of the 55 recommendations of the independent review.

As part of ongoing longer term improvement work, NHS Boards are currently undertaking a review of audiology services against the Improving Quality In Physiological Services (IQIPS) standards. This process will be completed by the summer of 2026 and will set out where Health Boards are achieving the standard, where there are any gaps, and what actions should be taken to address any such gaps.

Question reference: S6W-43870

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, following the pause to the publication of The Long Term Conditions Framework in December 2025, what progress has been made in establishing an advisory board for grouped long-term conditions, including myalgic enchephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID, and when the initial recommendations will be provided to the Scottish Government.

I opened an event with clinicians and third sector organisations on 25 February to set out the role and remit of the work on long term conditions going forward.

This work is a vital part of the Service Renewal Framework, Major Change One on the services that prevent disease, enable early detection and effectively manage chronic and long term conditions.

Advisory Groups led by clinicians and third sector organisations will now be set up with recommendations made to the new administration for consideration.

Question reference: S6W-43822

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on community participation and transparency of the removal of the automatic requirement for a Public Local Inquiry when a planning authority objects to an application under sections 36 or 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.

While the Scottish Government has not made a formal assessment, it is our expectation that community participation and transparency will not be reduced as a result of the removal of the automatic requirement for a Public Local Inquiry when a planning authority objects to an application under sections 36 or 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.

When a relevant planning authority objects to a section 36 or 37 application, the Scottish Ministers will appoint a reporter who can select the most appropriate examination procedure (written submissions, hearings, site inspections, or full inquiries) based on the specific circumstances of each case.

This follows the approach already in place under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and which is provided for in the Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2013. By matching the examination method to the complexity of objections, legitimate concerns of communities will be fully evaluated in the most appropriate format, while helping to significantly reduce the end-to-end timelines of applications for energy consent.

Question reference: S6W-43841

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what additional funding would require to be made available to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to implement the expansion of the firefighter role.

Question reference: S6W-43864

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the cancer research funding that it has awarded to date has been allocated to research on lobular breast cancer, and whether this has been in proportion to the prevalence of the condition, which accounts for a reported 15% of breast cancer cases.

The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office supports open competitive grant and fellowship schemes for applied health research in Scotland across a wide remit that is inclusive of consideration of applications for research relating to cancers, including lobular breast cancer. Applications submitted to these schemes are assessed through independent expert peer-review with funding recommendations made by independent expert committees. While funding has been awarded for breast cancer research, none has been for research on lobular breast cancer specifically.

Question reference: S6W-43863

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the suggestion by Lobular Moonshot Project for a ringfenced £20 million fund to be established by it and the other UK governments in the UK to support, over five years, research on the basic biology of lobular breast cancer.

Question reference: S6W-43713

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help GPs decarbonise their physical estates.

It is for individual NHS Boards to develop and implement plans to decarbonise their estates, including GP surgeries. The Scottish Government is contributing funding to support boards with this work.

The Scottish Government established the NHS Scotland Sustainability Action Programme to provide strategic oversight and support NHS Scotland to achieve their target of achieving net zero emissions by 2040 and aims for a net zero supply chain by 2045.

Question reference: S6W-43810

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of efforts to reduce child poverty, whether it will consider widening the eligibility criteria of the Young Patients Family Fund to make it more accessible to the families who are most in need of financial support by (a) taking a "cash first" approach and (b) extending it to outpatients attending regular appointments.

The Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) is designed to support the families of all babies, children and young people from birth to age 18 who require inpatient care in Scotland. The fund helps with travel, subsistence and accommodation costs to ensure families can remain close to their child during a hospital stay.

The Scottish Government keeps the operation and eligibility of the YPFF under regular review, alongside the wider financial support available to patients and families through the patient travel expenses reimbursement schemes. Any decisions on potential changes to the YPFF will be considered in that context, recognising that accessibility is an important factor.

Question reference: S6W-43814

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has given to the role of a respiratory Modern Service Framework in reducing winter pressures on the NHS by simultaneously improving outcomes for long-term respiratory conditions and short-term respiratory illness such as flu.

I refer the member to answer to questions S6W-43695 and S6W-43745 on 24 February 2026. The Scottish Government is aware of calls from respiratory stakeholders in England for a Modern Service Framework focused on respiratory care. To clarify, the UK Government has not introduced such a framework. Modern Service Frameworks are being developed for major conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia, but respiratory conditions are not currently included.

The Scottish Government will continue to monitor emerging approaches from across the UK while taking forward our own long term, evidence informed approach.

The Scottish Government’s strategic direction for respiratory care is currently set through the Respiratory care - action plan: 2021 to 2026 - gov.scot. This work supports resilience across the health system throughout the year, including during periods of increased pressure. Prioritising prevention, early detection and effective long term management helps reduce avoidable exacerbations which often drive urgent and unscheduled demand during winter.

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.