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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-41951

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on safety improvements at the A9 Dunkeld junction.

Road safety is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government. Transport Scotland assesses the safety performance of the trunk road network on an annual basis. The trunk road safety annual assessment process is a robust, evidence-based approach which ensures that the funding available can be prioritised to those locations that offer the possibility of delivering the greatest casualty accident savings across the country to support the effective delivery of the Scottish Government’s 2030 casualty reduction targets.

Through this process, Transport Scotland has undertaken, and continues to undertake where identified, road safety schemes related to the A9/A923/A822 Dunkeld junction. In November 2021, works were carried out to introduce solar road studs, refresh road markings, and upgrade local signage. In 2023, solar road studs and enhanced road markings were introduced on the section of the A9 between Bankfoot and Dalguise as part of the £5M A9 short-term measures announced by the then Transport Minister in December 2022.

Following engagement with the local community, Transport Scotland is currently reviewing signage associated with the A9/A923 Dunkeld junction and adjacent junctions. Any improvement works identified will be implemented during the 2026/27 financial year.

In 2024, following requests from the local community, a study was undertaken to assess the potential for a roundabout at the Dunkeld junction. A wide range of options were evaluated in terms of safety, operational performance, construction impacts on existing traffic, land requirements, environmental considerations, geotechnics, public utilities, construction programme, road geometry, public acceptability, and cost. The assessment concluded that roundabout options were costly, would likely be replaced by the A9 dualling in a few years, were disruptive to construct, and ultimately did not accommodate the traffic volumes at the junction.

As a result, and following discussions with the local community, Transport Scotland agreed to investigate traffic signalisation as an alternative. Our Operating Company BEAR Scotland has been instructed to examine the feasibility of introducing traffic signals and reducing the speed limit. This investigative work is scheduled for completion by the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

The A9/A923/A82 Dunkeld junction was identified in Transport Scotland’s 2026/27 Annual Road Safety Review report as a site requiring further investigation, which will take place during the 2026/27 financial year.

Question reference: S6W-41950

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many school buildings in the Argyll and Bute Council area are currently assessed as not fit for purpose, and what the estimated cost of repair or replacement is associated with each such building.

It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage and maintain their school estate, therefore, this would be a matter for Argyll and Bute Council. However, the condition ratings for all schools in Scotland are available within the School Estate Statistics 2025: Supporting documents - School estate statistics 2025 - gov.scot.

The Scottish Government continues to support Argyll and Bute Council in relation to its school estate. For example, through the £2bn Learning Estate Investment Programme, we will provide it with significant funding towards the school campus project on Mull.

Question reference: S6W-41948

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many subject-specific secondary school teaching posts are currently filled by non-specialist teachers in each local authority area.

The recruitment and deployment of teachers in schools is a matter for individual Councils, who have a statutory responsibility to provide a complement of staff in schools which best meets the needs of each of their schools and pupils.

It is important that local authorities and schools offer a broad range of subject choices and classes that meet their pupils' needs and aspirations.

We recognise there are recruitment challenges in some subject areas and that is why our Teaching Bursary Scheme provides bursaries to career changers, wishing to undertake a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), in the hardest to fill teaching subjects; including STEM and modern languages.

In addition, we are providing £186.5m to local authorities in 2025-26 to restore overall teacher numbers across the country to 2023 levels and maximise the number of teaching posts available.

Question reference: S6O-05249

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Government Budget regarding how it affects the North East Scotland region.

Question reference: S6O-05245

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Centre for Cities' recent report, which recommended having a directly elected Metro Mayor for the Greater Glasgow region.

Question reference: S6O-05248

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Transport last met with local communities over the future of the Corran Narrows crossing.

Question reference: S6O-05246

Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Government Budget announced on 26 November.

Question reference: S6O-05244

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is tackling the increase in demand for ADHD assessments in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6O-05243

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is engaging with communities based near the Moray Firth regarding the proposed Moray FLOW-Park project.

Question reference: S6O-05247

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact of the visitor levy on businesses operating in the hospitality and tourism sectors.