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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: S6O-05186

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in discussing Scotland’s Draft Climate Change Plan: 2026–2040 with stakeholders and MSPs.

Question reference: S6O-05170

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its Budget for the improvement of road safety on the A77 trunk road.

Question reference: S6O-05168

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-41694

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has directly invested in its place-based investment programme (a) in each year since 2021 and (b) since April 2021, also broken down by how much has been attracted to the programme from private sources.

The Place Based Investment Programme as launched in 2021 includes funding allocated directly to local authorities, delivery of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and support for Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company (URC).

a) The total funding delivered is detailed in the following table:

Year	Total Investment
2021-22	£92,921,849
2022-23	£66,102,533
2023-24	£51,158,797
2024-25	£15,880,788
2025-26	£42,500,000
	£268,563,967

To note for 2025-26 the figure is the amount of funding approved to date.

b) Information on all of the investment attracted by the Place Based Investment Programme from private sources through local authorities, working in partnership with communities, and through Clyde Gateway URC, is not held centrally.

Question reference: S6W-41610

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met with the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) to discuss action to avert the proposed industrial action related to teacher workload.

The Scottish Government regularly meets with representatives of teacher trade unions, including the Educational Institute of Scotland.

In recent meetings, with teacher unions, we have discussed the Government’s ongoing commitment to deliver a 90-minute reduction in teacher class contact time, and our shared commitment to reduce teacher workload and improve working conditions.

We remain committed to working with COSLA and the teacher unions to make meaningful progress towards the implementation of the reduction as swiftly as possible.

While we respect union members’ right to withdraw their labour, we are disappointed that the teacher unions, including EIS, have announced they plan to take this action while these constructive discussions are ongoing.

Question reference: S6W-41283

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support Glasgow City Council and Glasgow's 59 housing associations to establish a Common Housing Register to improve the efficiency of housing stock allocation in the city.

The responsibility for the management of allocating housing in the social rented sector lies with local authorities and housing associations. It is for them to determine the most effective way to manage allocation policy to balance the housing needs of their communities and addresses the relative needs of individuals.

The Scottish Government continues to see Common Housing Registers as a potentially useful way of simplifying and maximising access to social housing. Where local authorities and housing associations have determined that this is the best way to manage allocations in their local circumstances, we support this through information provided at Common Housing Register (CHR) - building a register: a practitioner's guide - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-41626

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the (a) action that it has taken and (b) engagements that it has carried out in relation to improving road safety on the A77 ahead of winter.

We are committed to improving safety across our network. Since 2007, over £146 million has already been invested on the A77 to ensure its safe and efficient operation.

Each year Transport Scotland, through its Operating Companies, undertakes a review of collisions on the trunk road network to identify cluster sites, or routes with recorded collisions that may be worthwhile of further investigation. The screening process, together with a detailed understanding of collision trends around the network, results in a prioritised programme of sites that will be investigated further. This evidence-led approach ensures that resources can be targeted at locations where the greatest potential for casualty reduction is available. This approach has been successful in reducing casualties across Scotland’s trunk road network.

In 2022, a Vehicle Activated Sign with legend ‘VEHICLES TURNING’ was implemented at the A751 junction on the A77 to warn approaching southbound drivers of potential vehicle conflicts with construction of markings and road studs completed in September 2024 and signs completed in April 2025. In Girvan, a speed management scheme, which included carriageway narrowing to improve speed compliance and walking routes for pedestrians, was constructed in March 2024. In July 2025, signalisation was introduced at A77 Doonholm Road staggered junction to reduce vehicle conflicts and personal injury collisions at the junction.

Maintenance schemes programmed from November 2025 to March 2026 include resurfacing at: Drummuckloch to Ferry Terminal, Burnside and Kilantringan to Smyrton. Drainage improvements planned during this timeframe include: A77 DBFO boundary to North of Coodham Estate, Kirkoswald, Girvan and South of Ballantrae Bridge.

The Scottish Government has committed to implement 20 mph speed limits on those roads where it is appropriate to do so as set out in the Programme for Government by 31 March 2026, making our streets feel safer and encouraging active travel. In 2025-2026, on the A77 trunk road, 20 mph speed limits are programmed to be introduced in Stranraer, Cairnryan, Ballantrae, Girvan and Minishant.

Regarding engagements, on 29 October 2025, I attended the second South West Roads Focus Group meeting alongside members of the A77 Campaign Group to hear their views on prioritised maintenance schemes for the A77. My officials are committed to working alongside the campaign group to develop recommendations for targeted improvements on the A77.

To improve road safety on the A77 ahead of winter, our South-West Unit Operating Company (Amey) has submitted their Winter Service Plan for the 2025-26 season and also circulated to key operational partners. The Performance Audit Group (PAG), who provide audit and monitoring services for Transport Scotland, has completed pre-winter depot visits and preparedness audits across all Units, including the South-West Unit. Transport Scotland is facilitating a “Severe Weather Media Launch” on Wednesday 12 November at the Shettleston Rail Depot, which I will be attending. This will provide the opportunity to raise awareness of the level of preparedness and collaboration that go into keeping Scotland moving during severe weather 365 days a year across modes. Collaboration with our operational partners is key to the co-ordinated communications process. Our Transport Scotland communications colleagues are working with our trunk road maintenance contractors (Operating Companies & DBFOs), Traffic Scotland, and relevant partners in the Scottish Government to deliver shared messaging across all channels to keep traffic moving safely.

Question reference: S6W-41607

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a full timetable for meeting its 2021 election commitments on teacher workload reform.

The 2021 SNP manifesto included a commitment to give teachers more time out of the classroom to prepare lessons, undertake professional development and tackle the challenges of closing the attainment gap.

We remain committed to delivering a reduction in teacher class contact time of 90 minutes per week, which we believe will create the conditions to achieve these improvements.

That is why we are working with teacher unions and COSLA through the SNCT to make meaningful progress towards delivering the reduction.

Question reference: S6W-41609

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of teacher numbers in 2025 compared with 2021, in the context of its contact time reduction pledge.

Teacher numbers increased by 12 between 2021 (2020 census baseline) and 2024. Teacher numbers for 2025 will be published with the teacher census statistics in December 2025.

The Scottish Government commissioned the report: Pupil projections and implications for teacher resourcing needs: education workforce modelling and research, which was published on 7 May 2024. This independent research has informed our engagement with partners on the commitment to reduce class contact time for teachers.

Question reference: S6W-41611

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for the reported delay in implementing its pledge to increase teacher numbers and reduce class contact time.

We remain committed to sustained investment to strengthen provision of education in Scotland and we are providing local authorities with £185.5m in this year’s budget to maintain teacher numbers.

We remain committed to working with the teacher unions, and COSLA, through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, to agree our approach to delivering a reduction in class contact time. We are clear that reducing class contact time will help address critical concerns around teacher workload, thereby creating the space to drive improvement and reform in our schools and improve outcomes for pupils.