- Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the discussions that it is holding with ferry companies and brokers regarding the availability of vessels to operate on the ferry network.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to hold regular discussions with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), on the charter and potential purchase of available and suitable vessels to support and improve services on Scotland’s ferry networks. The operators and CMAL actively look for suitable second-hand tonnage and have brokers employed.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to fully decriminalise abortion, in light of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) Concluding Observations on the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the recommendation to be guided by the World Health Organization’s 2022 Abortion Care Guideline.
Answer
The Scottish Government committed in the 23-24 Programme for Government to undertake a review of abortion law to identify potential proposals for reforms to ensure that abortion services are first and foremost a healthcare matter.
To take this forward, the Scottish Government established an Expert Group in August 2024 to examine the current law; international examples; a range of stakeholder views and other evidence will be published in due course.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Science for Sustainable Agriculture’s report, Food Security – Outlook to 2025.
Answer
The Scottish Government has considered this UK report with interest and recognises the importance of a range of factors including land use, yield, and population in planning future food security.
The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 similarly recognises the importance of these factors and requires Scottish Ministers to make a statement on food security at least every three years and to also have regard to food supply and security in the rural support plan.
The publication of Scotland’s 4th Land Use Strategy to be published next year will also allow us to further consider the multiple pressures on land and the benefits and opportunities presented by a more integrated approach to land use.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to meet its obligations under s32(1) of the Scottish Languages Act 2025 concerning it carrying out action to support the development of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig as the national centre for Gaelic language, education and culture, and by what date it expects s32 to come into force.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides funding and support to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (SMO) in recognition of its importance to Gaelic through its key role in adult and Gaelic learning and Gaelic medium teacher education. The duty on Scottish Ministers through the Scottish Languages Act to conduct a review of the status of SMO is welcomed as a way of informing further and future actions. It is the intention to commence the duty on Ministers to undertake a review of SMO in due course and before the end of the Parliamentary term, subject to the parliamentary process and timetable.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 25 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how much NHS boards have spent on posting appointment letters to patients using (a) the Royal Mail and (b) private couriers in each year since 2021.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.
Spending on postage is an operational matter for individual NHS Boards to consider, as such, the information should be sought directly from each Board.
- Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that Scotland remains at the forefront of hydrogen development and deployment.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to reintroducing the "shared cabin" policy as a condition of the next Northern Isles Ferry Services contract.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will change the college and university funding frameworks to reflect the hybrid nature of Scotland's Rural College, which has both higher and further education provision.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025
- Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding the closure of any Jobcentres in Scotland.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the current state of readiness is for the upcoming ban on biodegradable municipal waste to landfill.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025