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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-42572

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address recent reports that 90% of people with disabilities do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity.

Question reference: S6W-42575

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any benefit of physical activity for disabled people.

Question reference: S6W-42576

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to develop the role of enhanced or Tier Two dental practitioners within NHS Scotland, and whether it will set out for such practitioners (a) a process for recruitment and training, (b) a national model or system to support their clinical operation, (c) how it will identify areas of greatest population need for their deployment, and (d) clinical guidance defining the scope of treatment they will undertake and what patients will be referred onward to specialist services.

Question reference: S6W-42580

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to bringing forward a national pathway for interstitial lung disease.

Question reference: S6W-42574

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address reported inequality in sports participation for children living in a household with a disabled parent.

Question reference: S6W-42581

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the workforce required to deliver lung function testing and scanning.

Question reference: S6W-42570

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the addition of preventative education on nicotine pouches as part of the Childsmile programme.

Question reference: S6O-05302

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the role of the third sector in ensuring the sustainability of the NHS.

Question reference: S6W-42199

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 10 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the increase in inflammatory bowel disease cases, in light of reported estimates that 25,000 people in the UK will be diagnosed in 2025 with Crohn's disease and colitis, and that Scotland has the highest prevalence in the UK, with one in 103 people affected.

The Scottish Government welcomes IBD UK’s report Crohn’s and Colitis Care in Scotland: A Vision for Change and values its contribution to improving care for people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

We are committed to ensuring that people living in Scotland with long term conditions like IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and person-centred.

Actions which the Scottish Government is taking include:

An Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan The Recovery and Renewal Plan - Endoscopy and urology diagnostic: recovery and renewal plan - gov.scot backed by £70 million. The plan focuses on key areas such as: Balancing Demand and Capacity; Workforce Training and Development; Infrastructure; and Innovation and Redesign.
Funding the Modernising Patient Pathways Programme (MPPP) with a specific workstream continuing to promote improvements in IBD care which is being taken forward through the MPPP’s National Gastroenterology Speciality Delivery Group (SDG). They have developed a national IBD pathway for NHS Scotland which was published in January 2025: inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd-pathway.pdf. The SDG is also developing a lower gastrointestinal pathway which will provide primary care guidance about testing and diagnosis for people with IBD in Scotland.
Developing a new Long Term Conditions Framework to better recognise that many people living with long term conditions share similar needs and may benefit from the same types of support and care, regardless of their condition.

We will continue to work with clinicians, patients, and third sector partners to improve services and outcomes for those living with IBD.

Question reference: S6W-42200

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 10 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to improve public-facing information on the specific symptoms of Crohn’s disease and colitis to support earlier diagnosis, including through the NHS 24 Online app and other tools.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of improving public awareness of the symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis to support earlier diagnosis and reduce stigma.

We have worked with Crohn’s & Colitis UK and clinicians to update information and guidance on gastrointestinal conditions and symptoms such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This is widely available to the public via the NHS inform website: Scottish health information you can trust | NHS inform.

Crohn's & Colitis UK - Symptom checker also provides an online tool designed to help people recognise potential symptoms and seek timely medical advice.

We are exploring opportunities to enhance digital tools to provide symptom guidance and signposting to reliable resources through NHS inform. This work will complement our ongoing efforts through the Modernising Patient Pathways Programme and the National Gastroenterology Speciality Delivery Group to improve early diagnosis and care for people with inflammatory bowel disease.