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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-40135

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39522 by Gillian Martin on 6 August 2025, what consideration it has given to including blue carbon emissions from the marine environment in its (a) annual monitoring of the Climate Change Plan update and (b) next Climate Change Plan.

The Scottish Government intends to include blue carbon in the next Climate Change Plan, based on the best available scientific evidence.

However, there are still evidence gaps relating to blue carbon habitats that impact on a) how blue carbon habitats can be monitored with regard to the potential contribution to climate change mitigation and b) the way in which they can be included in the next Climate Change Plan.

At present, no blue carbon habitats are included in the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory. The Scottish Government supports inclusion of saltmarsh and seagrass in the inventory, as data collection methods are improved, and is working collaboratively with the UK Government and other Devolved Governments, through the UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership, towards their inclusion.

The Scottish Government is also supporting research to address evidence gaps across all blue carbon habitats, as set out in the Scottish Blue Carbon Action Plan (published 10 September). Addressing these evidence gaps will support progress towards inclusion of blue carbon habitats in the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory and will inform our approach to monitoring contributions to the net zero targets.

Question reference: S6T-02649

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Scottish local authorities spent over £100 million last year on bed and breakfast and hostel accommodation for homeless people.

Question reference: S6T-02658

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that the synthetic drug, spice, has been found in vapes that are being sold to school children.

Question reference: S6F-04291

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2025

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will review its policy on public sector settlement agreements, in light of reports that £4 million of public money was spent on public sector pay-offs in 2023-24.

Question reference: S6F-04287

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2025

To ask the First Minister what additional support the Scottish Government is giving to the Public Dental Service, in light of reports that there has been a 10% rise in spending over the last two years due to increased demand.

Question reference: S6F-04273

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04284

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2025

To ask the First Minister what urgent steps the Scottish Government is taking in response to reports that nursing and midwifery vacancies have risen by 60% in six months.

Question reference: S6F-04275

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04274

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-04281

Asked by: Ruth Maguire, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2025

To ask the First Minister, in light of reports of the rising rate of poverty for families with a baby under one and new evidence from Save the Children that increasing Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods payments could significantly reduce the child poverty rate for this priority group, whether the Scottish Government will consider increasing these payments.