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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-42244

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what emergency support is available from it or the UK Government to any local authorities that are forced to use financial reserves due to the impact of any decisions that are outwith their control, such as asylum policy changes.

Local authorities must use the financial resources available to them as efficiently as possible to ensure the best possible value. How this is done is a matter for each council.

The Scottish government has provided local government in Scotland with record funding of over £15.1 billion, an increase of over £1 billion or 5.5 per cent in real terms compared to 2024-25. Decisions on the use of reserves for specific services are rightly the responsibility of councils to take where it is prudent and sustainable to do so.

The Scottish Government will continue to work in partnership with local government to address the challenges facing councils and ensure we are operating sustainable people centred public services that communities expect and deserve.

Question reference: S6W-42288

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the proposal for mandatory owners' associations for tenements, which it has asked the Scottish Law Commission to consider drafting legislation on, could be extended to include associations for outdoor areas, such as back lanes, which are generally owned by all adjacent private owners and can pose ongoing maintenance challenges.

Question reference: S6W-42308

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Holding Answer by Mairi McAllan on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41435 by Mairi McAllan on 18 November 2025, whether it will provide a list of those specific organisations that it (a) has met or consulted with (i) between 20 November 2024 and 16 January 2025 and (ii) since 17 January 2025 and (b) it plans to consult with in the development of the consultation on accommodation standards for caravans and mobile accommodation for seasonal workers.

Question reference: S6W-42307

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Holding Answer by Mairi McAllan on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41434 by Mairi McAllan on 18 November 2025, whether it plans to publish the final review report and options for ministers to consider for new accommodation standards for seasonal workers developed by its Housing Standards and Quality team, and, if so, by what date this will happen.

Question reference: S6W-42309

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41436 by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2025, whether it will consider introducing a relationship between the charge levied by the employer for accommodation and the accommodation offset rate when it introduces bespoke statutory accommodation standards.

Question reference: S6W-42306

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Holding Answer by Mairi McAllan on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the development of standards for caravans and mobile accommodation for seasonal workers, and further to the answer to question S6W-41436 by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2025, whether it will ensure that (a) there is a robust inspection regime, (b) those providing accommodation that does not meet the standards are penalised and (c) workers are not charged for or refunded any payments for substandard accommodation.

Question reference: S6W-42587

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 15 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36787 by Mairi Gougeon on 22 April 2025, whether it will provide an update on the work of the squid fishing trial.

Scottish Government officials have continued to undertake the work necessary to develop a squid pilot project to support longer-term policy decisions on fishing for squid under the North Sea Cod Avoidance Plan (NCAP). This has involved detailed analysis of the best available evidence and continued collaboration with stakeholders as part of the Squid Pilot Co-Management Group.

Officials in Marine Directorate are aiming to establish the parameters of the pilot project over the coming months with the aim of squid pilot taking place in certain trial areas in 2026. Further updates will be provided once the pilot project has commenced and data has been gathered.

Question reference: S6W-42586

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 15 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36786 by Mairi Gougeon on 22 April 2025, what the anticipated timeline is for the squid fishing trial.

Scottish Ministers remain committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders as part of the Squid Pilot Co-Management Group to develop and undertake a limited squid pilot project.

The squid pilot project will involve a number of inshore vessels and will gather information on the potential impacts of squid fishing on cod stocks and bycatch of non-target stocks. The outcomes of the pilot project will be analysed to support longer-term policy decisions on fishing for squid under the North Sea Cod Avoidance Plan (NCAP).

Work is currently underway on the design and scope of the project based on best available evidence, this includes detailed advice that has been produced by Nature Scot, with the intention of introducing the squid pilot project in 2026.

Question reference: S6W-42483

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, what its response is to the report, Independent Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in England – Reflections and Initial Impressions, which was published 9 December 2025, and how this will inform its national investigation into maternity services.

We note the publication of Baroness Amos’ Reflections and Initial Impressions report with interest. The report records issues Baroness Amos has identified from her engagement with families in England and provides updates on her investigation and next steps. The report also describes the five areas of work defined in the Terms of Reference: the local investigation phase, a system wide review, inequalities, a review of the legal framework regarding the role of Coroners in relation to stillbirths and compensation following harm caused by clinical negligence and the development of one set of national standards.

While we recognise some similarities between Baroness Amos’ findings and what Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s independent, ongoing inspection programme is reporting, it is important to recognise that Baroness Amos is conducting a rapid investigation into maternity and neonatal services in England. The Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will play a key role in ensuring lessons are learned and improvements are made following investigations and reviews in Scotland. It will also define the scope of a national review in Scotland.

We will continue to review outputs from the English rapid investigation as they are published.

Question reference: S6W-42540

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the confirmation process for executors to get authority to manage and distribute a deceased person's estate.

The Scottish Law Commission recently started a review of Scots executry law, which includes the need to seek confirmation. The project may review, amongst others, whether confirmation should continue to be a judicial process and whether some or all of the executry process could be simplified through the use of online or simpler processes. The Commission is always keen to engage with stakeholders who might be affected by the subject matter of any project, and who wish to contribute. Further information can be sought at info@scotlawcom.gov.uk. The Scottish Government will consider any recommendations for reform the Commission may make.