- Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration local authorities and planning authorities should give to the current School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967, and what impact its stated commitment to update these regulations could have on any plans for new schools that may be built under updated regulations.
Answer
We continue to expect local authorities to comply with the current School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967, wherever possible. Furthermore, we would expect new schools to comply with the prescribed requirements of the revised regulations, once they are introduced.
As previously committed to, the Scottish Government’s consultation on the updating of the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 will commence before the end of this year.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will specify the use of Scottish-grown and manufactured cross-laminated timber (CLT) in the building standards technical handbooks and supporting documents.
Answer
Decisions regarding the selection and specification of materials must be made by qualified design and construction professionals, based on the specific performance requirements of each individual project. This approach ensures that materials are chosen appropriately and responsibly, in alignment with the intended outcomes of the building standards.
The Scottish Government actively encourages innovation within the construction sector, including the use of home-grown and sustainable materials. However, it would be inappropriate for the Technical Handbooks to promote or endorse any single material, product or technology.
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to colleges in relation to financial sustainability.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40330 on 17 September 2025. 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.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish, for each year since 2020, school-level data showing the (a) number and (b) percentage of pupils attaining (i) SQA National Qualifications at SCQF Level 6 (Highers and equivalent) and (ii) other SCQF Level 6 awards, such as Foundation Apprenticeships and National Progression Awards.
Answer
The Scottish Government has published school-level information in the Schools Information Dashboard covering the percentage of pupils attaining qualifications at each SCQF level. This covers all SCQF qualifications including National Qualifications and vocational and technical qualifications and awards such as (but not limited to) Foundation Apprenticeships and National Progression Awards.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports collaborative research on brain tumours.
Answer
In March 2025 the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office and the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) announced a partnership to advance brain tumour treatment, care and research through Scotland's first dedicated neuro-oncology fellowships.
Two TJBCM fellowships have to date been funded via this collaboration: a neuro-oncology fellowship hosted jointly in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and a brain tumour neurology fellowship hosted in Glasgow.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the two-week deadline for urgent cancer referrals in cases involving hormone replacement therapy has been met in each of the last five years.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.
- Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will renew the Investing in Communities Fund after it ends in 2026.
Answer
Decisions concerning future Scottish Government funding programmes will be considered and addressed through the Scottish Budget and Scottish Spending Review processes.
- Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to extending the definition of positive destinations for school leavers to include self-employed in addition to higher education, further education, employment, training, personal skills development and voluntary work.
Answer
Self-employment is included under "employment" in the definition of positive destinations in the school leaver destination statistics published by the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what conditions are attached to any grant funding for equalities organisations to help ensure their (a) political neutrality, (b) value for money and (c) measurable outcomes.
Answer
Conditions attached to Scottish Government grant funding will vary based on the organisation and project being funded. Some organisations are given core funding to meet general costs while others receive funding strictly associated to a specific project. The specific details of these conditions are set out individually in grant offer letters for each piece of funding.
All grants are actively managed in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual: Grant and grant in aid - Scottish Public Finance Manual - gov.scot. In particular, grants have outcomes and objectives associated to them which mean that payments are only made when the grant manager is content that value for money is being achieved. Furthermore, all Scottish Government grant offer letters specify that funds are not to be used for party political purposes. Beyond the auspices of projects for which organisations have been given grant funding, organisations are free to campaign on any issues as we would expect in a democratic society. It is not for the Scottish Government to interfere with this freedom, to ensure that the third sector can have an independent voice.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government which measures in the Rural Support Plan will address the barriers highlighted in the study on Less Favoured Areas, including (a) small scales, (b) insecurity of tenancy agreements, (c) high investment cost and (d) inadequate advice.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40154 on 17 September 2025. 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.