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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: S6W-40545

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to prevent the closure of Marionville Fire Station in Edinburgh, and to ensure the continued provision of fire and rescue services in the area served by the station.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has commissioned independent analysis of its public consultation concerning its Service Delivery Review (SDR) which closed on 17th September 2025. This analysis will inform considerations by the SFRS Board when it takes decisions on which of the 23 options for change to pursue at the December meeting of the Board.

The SFRS proposal impacting on Marionville fire station could see the appliance based there moving to the newly refurbished Newcraighall fire station. The level of resources to provide fire and rescue services in the east area of Edinburgh would therefore remain unchanged if SFRS take the decision to close Marionville fire station.

Question reference: S6W-40308

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any potential impact on the Scottish economy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government, and whether it will request that the relevant UK authorities initiate an immediate director disqualification investigation, in relation to GFG Alliance’s activities at Liberty Steel Dalzell and Clydebridge, in light of the Serious Fraud Office’s ongoing inquiry.

Question reference: S6W-40534

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39723 by Neil Gray on 21 August 2025, how many speciality training places have been funded in haematology in each year since 2014, and how many places were recommended by the Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group as part of expansion efforts.

Question reference: S6W-40554

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40215 by Neil Gray on 11 September 2025, how many of the newly qualified paramedics that have joined the Scottish Ambulance Service in the North Region since 2023 are (a) still employed and (b) have been signed off work due to stress.

Question reference: S6W-40458

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38195 by Fiona Hyslop on 13 June 2025, what its position is on the introduction of a potential traffic congestion charge by the City of Edinburgh Council.

The Scottish Government’s position on the introduction of a potential traffic congestion charge by the City of Edinburgh Council remains the same as the one referenced in my response to S6W-38195. Local authorities have existing discretionary powers to introduce local road user charging schemes under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001, which was brought into statute by a previous Parliament. Once the necessary regulations and guidance are in place, it will be a decision for local authorities, including City of Edinburgh council whether and how to implement schemes.

Question reference: S6W-40478

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has updated the drafting guidelines on bills since the United Nations Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 was passed to ensure that subsequent legislation is in the scope of the convention.

The Supreme Court judgment in the References on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill and the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill on section 28(7) of the Scotland Act 1998 resulted in adjustments to the compatibility duty in the UNCRC Act so that it does not apply to statutory provisions in an Act of the Westminster Parliament, even in devolved areas.

Scottish Government teams working on legislation have guidelines which ensure that, when they are developing new legislation, consideration is given to whether to draft new provisions in a way that means they fall within the scope of the compatibility duty in the UNCRC Act. Ensuring provisions are in scope for the compatibility duty would mean avoiding making amendments to UK Acts and instead making provisions in standalone Acts of the Scottish Parliament.

However, it is important to point out that application of the compatibility duty is only one of a number of factors to be considered in developing legislation which is effective, workable and clear. Given that existing statutory frameworks in some key policy areas are contained within pre-devolution UK Acts, in some instances avoiding amendment to existing UK Acts would prove complex, as it would be challenging to provide for a coherent change to the law in light of the existing provision. Each new legislative proposal therefore needs to be considered on its own merits.

Question reference: S6W-40479

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the findings of Scotland’s Childcare Guarantee, A Report on Childcare Modelling Scotland, by Pregnant Then Screwed Scotland, and the proposed policy of capping childcare costs at 5% of household income.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving our existing funded ELC offer and to delivering a childcare system that is both fair and affordable, giving children the best possible start in life and supporting parents and carers to work, train and take up education opportunities. I welcome any work that considers how we can further our goals of improving children’s outcomes, supporting family wellbeing and addressing the determinants of child poverty.

The Scottish Government continues to take a range of actions to ensure families have access to affordable, flexible, high-quality childcare, despite the challenging financial circumstances we are operating in. We have invested around £1 billion every year in funded early learning and childcare since 2021. This is fundamental to giving children the best start in life, and instrumental in working to eradicate child poverty, which is this Government’s national mission.

Question reference: S6W-40461

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the framework legislation on the matter, how it will enforce Sections 13 and 19 of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 to ensure that funds raised by a local authority through such a levy are reinvested in tourist infrastructure only.

Sections 13 and 19 of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 set out requirements for local authorities to consult prior to introducing a visitor levy scheme, and to use the net proceeds of any scheme to support facilities and services substantially for or used by visitors. Local authorities are required to publish details of their schemes and report annually on their operation, including how funds have been used.

Question reference: S6W-40402

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much public funding has been allocated to the Techscaler scheme since its inception.

Since its inception, the Scottish Government has provided approximately £23 million, exclusive of VAT, to the Techscaler programme. Techscaler supports a network of over 1,260 startups across Scotland, offering tailored support, education, mentoring, workspace and peer learning events. Since joining the programme, members have raised more than £195 million in investment, demonstrating the health of Scotland’s tech ecosystem and highlights Scotland’s growing reputation as a leading tech hub.

Question reference: S6W-40483

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which individuals and companies were the end recipients of the VisitScotland support for the DP World Tour Nexo Championship, which was held at the Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeenshire, in August 2025.