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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-40446

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, following the removal of ScotRail peak fares, whether it will review the proposed reduction in season ticket discounts to ensure that regular rail users are not financially disadvantaged.

Question reference: S6W-40445

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the permanent removal of ScotRail peak fares on season ticket holders, and whether regular commuters will receive proportionate financial benefits compared to occasional travellers.

An extra 20% discount was applied to the cost of all Season Tickets for 12 months from 27 September 2024 when the peak fares pilot ended. With peak fares gone for good season ticket pricing was reviewed to ensure frequent travellers benefit from the simplicity and ease of use a season ticket offers. From 28 September 2025, season ticket customers will save at least 5% versus the cost of five daily return tickets each week.

The pricing of Flexipass tickets have also been adjusted from 1 September, to ensure they continue to offer significant savings for those who travel less regularly.

Flexipasses, offer six return tickets with a 5% discount

ScotRail has a fare comparison tool on its website, to help passengers find the best ticket option for their travel needs — whether they’re travelling by train daily, or a few times a week.

ScotRail will continue to develop fare initiatives to attract more passengers while providing savings and additional value to existing rail users.

Question reference: S6W-40173

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 29 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure equitable access to Xonvea for all pregnant women across Scotland, in light of it being routinely available in parts of England, and the only medication licensed in the UK to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, including severe cases of hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition that has reportedly been linked to the tragic loss of pregnancies.

Following a full submission of doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride (Xonvea®), for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP), for women who do not respond to conservative management, the SMC | Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) published not recommended advice found here: doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride (Xonvea) in May 2019. The marketing authorisation holder did not present a sufficiently robust clinical or economic analysis to gain acceptance by the SMC. The SMC would welcome a resubmission at any time.

Where licensed medicines, such as Xonvea®, are not routinely available on the NHS in Scotland, doctors can use the PACS Tier Two system to request access on a case-by-case basis. The cost of the medicine is not a decision-making criterion.

Question reference: S6O-04968

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how the Glasgow City Region Deal can support improvements to transport and connectivity across the region.

Question reference: S6W-40444

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 17 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the development of Coul Links, and in light of the reported over 700 formal objections submitted, including from conservation bodies, scientists and residents, how it is ensuring that community and expert voices are being heard as well as those of private commercial interests.

Any planning application is required to be determined in accordance with the development plan unless there are material planning considerations that justify a departure from the development plan. In reaching a decision, full regard will be had to all material planning considerations, including the views of consultees as well as any representations submitted. The independent reporters held hearing sessions to gather evidence from the local community and expert witnesses (including those for the applicant, NatureScot and environmental charities) on the proposal’s potential impacts on protected sites, wildlife, and plants, as well as its anticipated socio-economic effects.

Question reference: S6W-40443

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 17 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is proceeding with the proposed development of Coul Links, in light of the reported assessment by NatureScot that it might cause irreversible damage to a nationally important dune ecosystem and concerns that the project could undermine its commitments to halt biodiversity loss.

The Scottish Ministers are following the statutory planning process in considering the application. Any planning application is required to be determined in accordance with the development plan unless there are material planning considerations that justify a departure from the development plan. In reaching a decision, full regard will be had to all material planning considerations, including the views of consultees as well as any representations submitted.

Question reference: S6W-40283

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed draft regulations to add the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, how it will determine its (a) budget and (b) timetable for implementing the change at (i) Police Scotland and (ii) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and in relation to (A) any system upgrades, (B) the delivery of training and (C) the introduction of any statutory guidance.

A Business and Regulatory Impact Assessments (BRIA) will be published when the final SSI is laid in Parliament and will set out the estimated costs associated with the addition of the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 (“the 2021 Act”). This will be informed by discussions with Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and other justice sector bodies about the costs that may arise.

With regards to the timetable for implementation, the final SSI will include a date on which it takes effect. This commencement date will be agreed following consultation with Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal, Police Scotland, the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and others with an interest, so as to ensure that there is sufficient time for them to carry out necessary training and changes to IT systems and guidance.

There is no power within the 2021 Act for the Scottish Ministers to publish statutory guidance on the Act.

Question reference: S6W-40285

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed draft regulations to add the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, what evaluation process will be used to assess whether embedding the characteristic of sex in hate crime law is effective in tackling gendered violence patterns, and how it will ensure that any feedback from frontline practitioners, victims and experts directly shapes any iterative updates in the future.

Implementation of Sections 14 and 15 of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 enable ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the legislation by ensuring systematic data collection and public reporting. If the draft SSI is approved by Parliament when it is laid following the current consultation period, these reporting requirements will enable a deepening of the understanding of the impact of implementing the sex characteristic legislation, while also supporting meaningful engagement with communities to assess how commencement will affect them.

Further, we will continue to monitor our wider activity to tackle hate crime as set out in the terms of reference for the Hate Crime Strategic Partnership Group which is chaired by the Minister for Victims and Community Safety.

Question reference: S6W-40282

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its decision not to proceed with the introduction of the Misogyny Bill, and instead to consult on draft regulations to add the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, how it will ensure that it captures the specific experiences of women and girls, particularly by engaging local survivors’ groups, women’s aid services and intersectional advocacy organisations, and what formal mechanisms will help to ensure that their input shapes any statutory guidance.

The draft Scottish Statutory Instrument which seeks to add sex as a characteristic to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 ("the 2021 Act") is subject to super affirmative process and is therefore subject to consultation. Stakeholders, including women’s aid services and intersectional advocacy organisations, were notified of the publication of the draft SSI and the launch of the consultation. They were encouraged to both actively participate in the consultation process and to disseminate the details of the draft SSI and consultation within their wider networks to broaden the scope of outreach.

We will utilise the feedback received via responses to the consultation to inform the final policy of the SSI. Similarly, if the final SSI is passed by Parliament, we will engage with all organisations with on matters relating to implementation prior to the SSI coming into effect.

There is no power contained in the 2021 Act for the Scottish Ministers to publish statutory guidance.

Question reference: S6W-40339

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent older people from becoming victims of phishing scams, including in relation to social security payments.

Social Security Scotland has delivered a range of communications activity warning older people about phishing scams, including fraudulent text messages that claim to be from government departments. The activity includes regular content across multiple social media platforms, the organisation’s website and coverage in newspapers to help keep people informed.

The agency’s Chief Executive David Wallace took part in an interview with the BBC interview that was broadcast across its channels, to raise awareness of these scams and make it clear that Social Security Scotland will never ask for personal or financial information by text. Social Security Scotland will continue to work closely with Police Scotland and the media to ensure public awareness remains high and that people know how to protect themselves.

Since April 2025, Consumer Scotland has taken on a strategic leadership role in scam prevention, supported by £175,000 in funding. The Scottish Government also funds Advice Direct Scotland to operate the national consumer helpline, which is available at consumeradvice.scot or by calling 0808 164 6000. Members of the public should report suspicious activity to Advice Direct Scotland or to Police Scotland by calling 101.