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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: S6O-05008

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on Scotland’s dentistry sector of the UK Labour administration’s recent changes to the Skilled Worker visa.

Question reference: S6O-05019

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the work of its Ministerial Population Taskforce, what action it will undertake to support people to have larger families, should they want more children.

Question reference: S6O-04998

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the agriculture minister has had with the justice secretary regarding support for farmers in relation to rural crime.

Question reference: S6O-05009

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland remain above 1,000 for the 12th year in a row.

Question reference: S6O-04999

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what long-term action it will take to support farmers growing malting barley.

Question reference: S6O-05002

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Chair of NHS Grampian and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S6W-40251

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support services are available for families affected by exposure to the pregnancy medication, stilbestrol (DES), including fertility, cancer screening and psychological support.

The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the professional body for Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK, has recommended that women who believe they may have been exposed to stilbestrol (DES) in utero and who are concerned about the risks of vaginal and cervical cancer should be offered careful monitoring by annual colposcopic examinations in specialist centres.

Cervical screening is offered to women who live in Scotland and are aged between 25 and 64 years and we encourage all women to take up routine cervical screening appointments when invited.

Evidence for an increased risk of other cancers is less conclusive but participation in the National Breast Screening Programme is recommended. Pregnant women who know that they were exposed in utero to DES should inform their obstetrician and be aware of the increased risks of ectopic pregnancy and preterm labour.

The Scottish Government continues to fund the charity Health in Mind to deliver peer support services to those affected by historic forced adoption, including mothers and adoptees.

Question reference: S6W-40543

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the China Tribunal and the European Parliament Resolution 2024/2504 on forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience, what steps it is taking to ensure that no medical institutions, universities or personnel from Scotland are involved in organ transplantation practices in China, including indirect involvement.

The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the safety of the people in Scotland under threat of being victims of transplant-related offences, including when those offences take place in other countries. The Human Tissue (Supply of Information about Transplants) (Scotland) Regulations 2025, which came into force on 1 July 2025, place a duty on all clinicians in Scotland to report to the UK Human Tissue Authority (1) suspicions about transplant-related crimes, that arise in the course of the clinician’s profession; and (2) information about overseas transplants. The duty applies to doctors and nurses practising in transplant and non-transplant centres across Scotland to ensure that the duty applies to all clinicians who may come across these patients.

The Regulations, which are in line with the arrangements that are in place in the rest of the UK, give clarity to clinicians in Scotland around when, and to whom, they should report relevant suspected offences in the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 or the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015. Guidance has been issued to clinicians about the implementation of the Regulations. The Regulations have been brought to the attention of NHS Boards and others in Scotland. Any reports that the Human Tissue Authority receives will be considered and, where relevant, findings will be passed on to Police Scotland for further investigation.

Question reference: S6W-40506

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action is planned to respond to the waiting times for neurodiversity assessments in the NHS Forth Valley area.

I recognise that the significant increase in adults seeking ADHD and autism assessments across Scotland is creating challenges for services, while also acknowledging that a diagnosis can be important to people.

The Scottish Government is aware of a range of issues affecting the availability of adult neurodevelopmental assessments in the NHS Forth Valley area and that as a result NHS Forth valley is reviewing their approach. I expect this to be resolved at the earliest opportunity.

Officials continue to work with NHS Boards, including Forth Valley, and local Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) to improve services and support for neurodivergent people.

Earlier this year, officials wrote to all health boards, including Forth Valley, to seek clarification on what neurodevelopmental assessment and support they currently have in place for adults. We are currently reviewing responses received. Understanding current provision across Scotland will provide a starting point for improvement and underpin work going forward to develop a national approach.

Question reference: S6W-40674

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met (a) animal welfare and (b) dog training organisations to discuss the continued use of electric shock collars.