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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-35120

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to co-ordinate a joint approach with the UK Government and COSLA to deal with asbestos in school buildings.

The Scottish Government takes the issue of asbestos within schools very seriously, and are engaging with COSLA, the Health and Safety Executive, local authorities and other interested parties to set up a working group on this matter.

However, local authorities have statutory responsibility for the control and management of asbestos within their schools. Furthermore, health and safety is not devolved to the Scottish Government, and the Health and Safety Executive has
UK-wide responsibility for enforcement of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

Question reference: S6F-03867

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2025

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will mark International Women’s Day, and its theme of "Accelerating Action" to reach gender equality.

Question reference: S6O-04392

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local authorities, such as West and East Dunbartonshire councils, that have to make PFI and PPP payments.

Question reference: S6O-04194

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support East and West Dunbartonshire councils, as part of the local government settlement for 2025-26.

Question reference: S6W-32422

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 December 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report of 20 May 2024.

The Infected Blood Inquiry’s report of 20 May 2024 set out a range of important recommendations that seek to protect patient safety and ensure a similar tragedy can never happen again. As the First Minister made clear in his statement to the Scottish Parliament on 21 May, the Scottish Government is committed to learning lessons from what went wrong and the terrible impact it has had on so many infected blood victims in Scotland and their families. The Scottish Government has established an Oversight and Assurance Group involving patient representatives and from the NHS in Scotland, to ensure progress in taking forward the Inquiry’s recommendations.

A UK Government report (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-infected-blood-inquiry/government-response-to-the-infected-blood-inquiry-html) provides an update on progress so far in implementing the recommendations. This includes updates on the approach being taken in Scotland, along with information on progress being made on recommendations being taken forward at UK level, such as on the provision of compensation to infected blood victims. In line with the Inquiry’s recommendation 12, the Scottish Government expects to provide a further detailed response to each of the Inquiry’s recommendations next year, within one year of the publication of the Inquiry’s final report.

In Scotland, a number of steps are already being taken and further work is being done in the coming months to ensure further progress. In particular:

The Scottish Government and the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme have ensured that additional interim compensation has been paid to infected hepatitis C and HIV victims in Scotland and that estates of many of those who sadly died are now able to claim interim payments of £100,000;
The Chief Medical Officer has asked all NHS Boards and GP practices to offer hepatitis C testing to anyone who has had a blood transfusion prior to 1996 if they have not already been tested. This is to ensure any individuals who may have been infected but not yet diagnosed can be offered treatment and support as quickly as possible;
The Scottish Government is working with campaigners and relevant local authorities to identify a suitable location for a memorial to infected blood victims.

Question reference: S6O-04125

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote the Scottish food industry.

Question reference: S6F-03615

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2024

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the reported concerns of not-for-profit social care providers regarding the impact of increased employer national insurance contributions on the sector in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-04017

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to protect older people from heightened health risks in colder weather.

Question reference: S6W-30210

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times for NHS audiology services, in particular for people requiring hearing aids.

The Scottish Government accepted, in principle, the recommendations set out by the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland and are fully committed to seeing improvement in Audiology services.

Audiology is now being considered as a clinical priority area, and work is being progressed through the National Planning and Delivery Board arrangements led by the Chief Operating Officer – NHS Scotland.

In order to support with long waits, our NHS Recovery Plan sets out our plans for health and social care over the course of this parliament. The plan will support an increase in inpatient, day case, and outpatient activity to address the backlogs of care, which will be supported by the implementation of sustainable improvements and new models of care.

Question reference: S6O-03800

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how its social security policies are mitigating any impact in Scotland of the UK Government’s so-called bedroom tax and benefit cap.