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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-40432

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 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many jobs in Scotland will be supported by the recently announced Type 26 frigate contract.

Question reference: S6W-40411

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on discussions that it has had with NHS Highland since 30 July 2025 regarding the request from the Caithness Health Action Team for an independent review of maternity services in Caithness.

Question reference: S6W-40415

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to recover the reported £36 million of benefit overpayments currently held by Social Security Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to recovering benefit overpayments wherever it is considered economic and reasonable to do so in line with the principles set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

The Scottish Government is actively exploring all available options to recover approximately £36 million in historical debt which has accrued under Agency Agreements between the Scottish Ministers and the Department for Work and Pensions since the transfer of executive competence.

Question reference: S6W-40440

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many welfare recipients are subject to active employment support requirements.

Question reference: S6W-40434

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 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many apprenticeships will be created as part of the recently announced Type 26 frigate contract.

Question reference: S6W-40168

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Public Health and Woman’s Health last met with the Chief (a) Executive of NHS Grampian and (b) Officer of Health and Social Care Moray.

Question reference: S6W-40166

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport last met with the Chief (a) Executive of NHS Grampian and (b) Officer of Health and Social Care Moray.

Question reference: S6W-40360

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its commitment on 26 June 2025 to engage with the recommendations in the Sarcoma UK report, Unique Among Cancers, what assessment it has made of the level of sarcoma care in NHS Scotland.

We continue to consider the findings of Sarcoma UK’s recent report and recognise the recommendations made within it.

We are working to improve access to timely and accurate diagnosis and on improving referral pathways to specialist care. We published the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Sarcoma on 6 August. These support primary care clinicians to identify those with symptoms suspicious of Sarcoma and identify those who require urgent assessment by a specialist.

Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services are a useful addition to how cancer can be diagnosed in Scotland. They provide primary care with access to a new fast-track diagnostic pathway for people with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer, such as weight loss and fatigue, important for those with Sarcoma. We introduced another RCDS this year, situated in NHS Forth Valley.

We are investing in research and clinical trials. The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) directly funds research projects and fellowships. All funding decisions are made based on an independent expert review process and we welcome applications for sarcoma-specific research.

The CSO also provides funding for NHS Research Scotland (NRS) whose role is to facilitate and develop the capacity of the NHS to support clinical research.

The Scottish Government is further committed to supporting patients to deal with the financial, emotional, and physical health effects of cancer.

We are currently working in partnership with Macmillan to improve the service we offer patients with cancer through the Transforming Cancer Care Programme (TCC).

This joint partnership with Macmillan is worth £27 million and is the first of its kind in the UK. The programme ensures that people affected by cancer in Scotland have access to a specialist key support worker, who can provide financial advice and emotional and practical support.

Question reference: S6W-40320

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to brain tumour patients.

We know that cancer, and its treatments, can have a significant impact on an individual’s physical health. Scottish Government recognises the impact that a cancer diagnosis can also have on individuals financially and emotionally and is committed to supporting them.

People with cancer can apply for financial support through Social Security Scotland, including for Disability Living Allowance.

Further to this, we are currently working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to improve the service we offer patients with cancer through the Transforming Cancer Care Programme (TCC). This partnership programme is worth £27 million and ensures that people affected by cancer in Scotland have access to a specialist key support worker, who can provide financial advice and emotional and practical support.

Question reference: S6O-04980

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many free personal care hours were assessed by local authorities to be needed, but were subsequently not delivered, in 2024-25.