Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 328 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6O-04519

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether its policy position in relation to an independent Scotland seeking to rejoin the EU includes rejoining the Common Fisheries Policy.

Question reference: S6F-03970

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2025

To ask the First Minister, in light of reports of an escalation in gang-related violence in Edinburgh, with recent shootings in Niddrie and West Pilton, what immediate action can be taken to support the emergency services in ensuring the safety and reassurance of communities in the Edinburgh Eastern constituency.

Question reference: S6W-34986

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what each NHS boards’ policy is regarding compliance with the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which mandate that employers provide adequate and appropriate welfare facilities for staff, including suitable changing rooms where employees are required to change into special work clothing, and whether each board ensures that separate facilities are provided for men and women, or that shared facilities are used by only one sex at a time.

Question reference: S6W-34991

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is responsible for ensuring that clear, legally robust definitions are consistently applied across all public bodies and publicly funded organisations, particularly in relation to the fundamental definitions of “woman” and “child”, and whether it will make adherence to such definitions a condition of public funding to prevent any unnecessary costs to the public purse and any erosion of public trust as a result of potential safeguarding failures being exposed through whistleblower-led legal challenges.

Public bodies and organisations operating in Scotland can be affected by a wide range of law in both devolved and reserved areas, with differing statutory mechanisms for enforcement. The Scottish Ministers may, in some cases, be subject to statutory duties to issue guidance to affected organisations and groups. However, other public bodies will have a statutory roles in regulating enforcement and issuing guidance about areas of law, including those reserved to the UK Parliament.

For payments made by the Scottish Government to public bodies and publicly funded organisations in Scotland, the Scottish Government expects those bodies to comply with the full range of legal obligations imposed on them by all relevant legislation. This includes duties under the Equality Act 2010, where key provisions on matters such as discrimination and the various protected characteristics, including sex, are reserved, or under health and safety workplace regulations, which are also reserved.

Question reference: S6W-34992

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 14 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its policy on gender self-identification not being law in Scotland, what measures it has taken to ensure that all policies implemented by public bodies and third-party organisations receiving public funds are legally sound and compliant with existing legislation such as the Equality Act 2010 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, as a condition of public funding.

The Scottish Government expects all organisations to comply with all relevant legislation, including the Equality Act 2010 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

As part of their funding agreements, organisations funded by the Scottish Government must ensure that their policies and practices are legally compliant and uphold their statutory duties, including those related to equality, safety, and workplace protections. Public bodies are responsible for ensuring that their policies align with the legal framework in Scotland, and they must conduct appropriate due diligence when implementing policies.

Question reference: S6O-04449

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out in 2024-25 to further the case for Scottish independence.

Question reference: S6W-34537

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to find out what the reasons were for its national care service proposal not going ahead, and what lessons have been learned from this.

The Scottish Government is committed to bringing forward a National Care Service and will deliver vital reform through legislative and non-legislative means, and those with lived experience at the heart of our work.

We have reflected on feedback from people with lived experience, stakeholders and political parties to put forward revised proposals. We have worked to find balance and practical solutions to ensure we can deliver social care reform for the people of Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-04341

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the social justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how it can improve financial literacy levels among children, in light of reports that it is a key driver of inequality, which affects attainment and perpetuates the cycle of generational poverty.

Question reference: S6O-04310

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding Ineos proceeding with the closure of Scotland's only refinery at Grangemouth, in light of the UK Government's reported £600 million loan to the company for a project in Belgium.

Question reference: S6O-04190

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what strategy it plans to implement to grow the Scottish economy at a level that is in line with countries with similarly sized populations, such as Norway.