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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: S6W-40129

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many bus stop bypasses, which are also known as "floating" bus stops, are being constructed or planned, broken down by local authority area.

The Scottish Government does not hold centralised data on the number of bus stop bypasses, also known as floating bus stops, currently under construction or planned across Scotland. Responsibility for the planning, design and delivery of bus and active travel infrastructure rests with individual local authorities. As such, detailed information on specific infrastructure projects, including bus stop bypasses, is held with the local authority. You may wish to contact the relevant local authority directly for the information on projects in their area.

Question reference: S6W-40133

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the views of people with sight loss are considered when reaching decisions regarding the design and approval of cycling infrastructure such as bus stop bypasses, which are also known as "floating" bus stops.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the opinions of disabled people, including those with sight loss, are fully considered in the design and approval of active travel infrastructure. The second National Transport Strategy sets out key priorities for the transport system in Scotland, including ‘reducing inequalities’ and ‘improving our health and wellbeing’ as two of its key priorities’, and places inclusive design at the heart of transport planning. When considering designs such as bus stop bypasses, delivery partners are required to ensure that funded projects have undertaken all statutory procedures, including but not limited to an Equality Impact Assessment. Through this process, the Scottish Government expects delivery bodies to undertake meaningful engagement with equality groups to ensure that lived experience, including that of people with sight loss, directly informs design choices. This helps to ensure that active travel infrastructure supports safe, independent and confident travel for everyone.

Question reference: S6W-40136

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39520 by Mairi Gougeon on 30 July 2025, whether it will provide a breakdown of the total amount that it has awarded from the Marine Fund Scotland to (a) aquaculture and fish farming, (b) trawling and (c) dredging, in each year since the fund started.

As set out in the answer to S6W-39520, a full breakdown of the awards made through the Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) since it was first launched in 2021-22 to the most recent awards made in 2024-25 is available at: www.gov.scot/publications/marine-fund-scotland-grants-awarded/

The MFS funds a range of projects to help deliver Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision, transform the way the marine environment is used and how Scotland’s ‘blue’ resources are managed. Funding of £14 million has also been made available in 2025-26 and the MFS team are currently assessing applications that can contribute to an innovative and sustainable marine economy, support coastal communities, and help Scotland reach net zero emissions.

In addition, the MFS has provided various support to the fishing sector across Scotland, through £1.8m funding the Independent Fisheries Science Support Scheme which provides data to support stock assessments; £650k Support to Seafish to provide safety training and £50k to Fishing into the Future supporting the Clyde Fisheries Resource Education Programme, aiming to improve fisheries management & sustainability.

In 2024-25, Blueshell Mussels were awarded £640k towards the £1.28m cost of installing innovative rope that improves mussel growth & yield, this will increase production by around £800k & create 4 new jobs. In 2024-25, Tiny Fish a new company was awarded £118k towards the £237k cost of processing equipment for small salmon, taking what was viewed as a waste product from aquaculture & turning it into an added value product.

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.

Question reference: S6W-40131

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to follow in Scotland, or take action in response to, the forthcoming guidance from Active Travel England on the accessibility of bus stop bypasses, which are also known as "floating" bus stops.

The current guidance for Scotland was published in 2021 in the ‘Cycling by Design’ document and includes recommendations for incorporating cycling facilities where these interact with bus stops.

The Scottish Government recognises the challenges that cycle infrastructure at bus stops, including bus stop bypasses and shared use bus boarders, can present for some people. It is also conscious of the benefits that connected, coherent and protected cycle networks can achieve. Recognising this complexity Transport Scotland commissioned independent research in 2021, which was jointly funded by Department for Transport, to investigate issues of inclusion where bus stop bypasses have been introduced. The study reported in 2023, with recommendations on developing the design guidance in Scotland to enhance bus stop accessibility.

The forthcoming updates to Scotland’s design guidance, supported by this research and ongoing engagement including with disabled people, are to focus largely on emphasising best practice messages. Transport Scotland will continue to engage directly with UK Department for Transport and review any updated guidance from Active Travel England, in relation to the UK Government Bus Services (No. 2) Bill.

Question reference: S6T-02665

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Royal College of Nursing’s reported concerns regarding the decline in the number of nursing students, in light of recent UCAS figures showing that the number of accepted places on nursing courses beginning this autumn in Scotland is 5% lower than last year.

Question reference: S6T-02667

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Nuclear Industry Association's reported view that Scotland will miss out on thousands of new jobs due to its stance on nuclear energy.

Question reference: S6F-04300

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to protect renters in the private sector from homelessness.

Question reference: S6F-04296

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will support town and city centres as retail destinations.

Question reference: S6F-04294

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04295

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.