Chamber and committees

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

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 693 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-44021

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Scottish Veterans Commissioner to discuss matters relating to veterans' housing, and what the outcome of that meeting was.

I last met with the Scottish Veterans Commissioner (SVC) on 4 December 2025 to discuss matters relating to veterans housing.

At that meeting, several actions were agreed, which are now being taken forward by Scottish Government officials. These include, updating the housing guide for service leavers on the Scottish Government website and working with the Scottish Veterans Housing Group on the top priorities for the veterans’ homelessness prevention pathway.

Question reference: S6W-44022

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on developing a method to capture and measure the activity of veterans’ start-up businesses.

The Scottish Government does not currently gather data specifically relating to the activity of veterans’ start-up businesses, however we know from Scotland’s Census in 2022 that around 10,000 veterans identified as self-employed.

With a new UK wide Veterans’ Strategy published in November 2025 and a Scottish Government commitment to refresh the 2022 Action Plan this year, the range of information gathered in relation to veterans in Scotland will be considered. We will, in formulating our Action Plan, be considering whether we need data to either assess whether there is any disadvantage faced by veterans in establishing businesses or in order to pinpoint success worth celebrating.

Question reference: S6W-44344

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42091 by Richard Lochhead on 9 December 2025, when in Spring 2026 it expects the outcome of the procurement process for Lot 6 (Scotland) of the Project Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-44184

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions are planned with the residents of Fair Isle regarding (a) (i) the repair of and (ii) funding for the existing energy grid on the island and (b) a sustainable replacement for the current system to ensure the long-term viability of the community.

Question reference: S6W-44018

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the forthcoming publication of its Alcohol and Drugs Plan, what steps it has taken to ensure that the plan’s objectives and funding commitments will be sustained beyond the end of the current parliamentary session in 2026.

The Scottish Government is committed to sustaining the objectives of the Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan (the Plan) and associated funding commitments beyond 2026. The Plan sets out our long-term strategic direction for alcohol and drugs policy through to 2035.

The Plan is a key component of our broader health and social care reform frameworks including the Service Renewal Framework (SRF) and Population Health Framework (PHF), both of which also run until 2035.

Funding for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships is already provided on a multiyear basis to ensure long term delivery. Budget requirements to deliver on the commitments contained in the Plan have been considered in the Scottish Spending Review covering the period 2026-2029.

To ensure delivery and continuity across parliamentary sessions, governance and oversight – as set out in the Plan – will be aligned with the SRF and PHF.

Question reference: S6W-44042

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the average waiting time for an endometriosis diagnosis is now 10 years and two months.

We are disappointed to see the results of the Endometriosis UK survey and are clear action is needed to address endometriosis diagnosis times. That is why we have invested £13 million in additional funding to Health Boards this year to target long waits for gynaecology.

Reducing diagnosis times for endometriosis continues to be one of the key aims of the Women’s Health Plan. Phase Two of our Women’s Health Plan, launched this January, sets out the action we will take to respond to the concerns of women across Scotland. This includes a commitment to transform gynaecology services, ensuring the timely provision of high-quality gynaecological care. Phase Two also includes a set of actions which contribute to our overarching aim to reduce diagnosis times for all menstrual health conditions, including endometriosis.

Question reference: S6W-44041

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for access to endometriosis services.

Reducing endometriosis diagnosis times continues to be a priority for the Scottish Government.

This year we have invested £13 million in additional funding to Health Boards to target long waits for gynaecology.

We are beginning to see the impact of that investment, with waits coming down. Gynaecology waits of more than a year were down 44.6% for new outpatients and down 21.8% for inpatient and day-case procedures between July 2025 and January 2026.

We have also funded free endometriosis training resources for healthcare professionals.

Phase Two of our Women’s Health Plan, launched this January, sets out the action we will take to respond to the concerns of women across Scotland. This includes a commitment to transform gynaecology services, ensuring the timely provision of high-quality gynaecological care. Phase Two also includes a set of actions which contribute to our overarching aim to reduce diagnosis times for all menstrual health conditions, including endometriosis.

Question reference: S6W-44020

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to permitting alcohol and drug partnerships to carry forward underspends between financial years.

The Scottish Government provides Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) funding on an annual basis in line with standard public finance arrangements. Any underspends are managed in accordance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual and local year-end financial processes, which provide an established mechanism for the treatment of funding across financial years.

Under these arrangements there are mechanisms for ADPs to carry forward underspends under specific circumstances where funding has been earmarked or legally committed for activity planned in future financial years.

Decisions on carry-forward rests with Integration Authorities, subject to the agreed governance and financial controls in place locally.

The Government continues to engage regularly with ADPs, Integration Authorities and finance leads to ensure that funding arrangements remain clear and support flexible delivery of Alcohol and Drug Services.

Question reference: S6W-44019

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the forthcoming publication of its Alcohol and Drugs Plan, whether it has reviewed the current formulas for funding allocation for alcohol and drug services to establish if they adequately reflect the additional challenges of delivering services in remote, rural and island communities.

The Scottish Government keeps funding approaches for alcohol and drug services under regular review to ensure they are informed by evidence and local need. Work for the forthcoming Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan has included consideration of the challenges faced by remote, rural and island areas, drawing on engagement with local Alcohol and Drug Partnerships and service providers. We will continue to use this learning to support fair and effective distribution of resources across Scotland.

ADP funding is one of several means for investing and delivering services in remote, rural and island communities. National funding for third sector organisations and wider investment linked to the new Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan will continue to be available to support the activities being undertaken by local areas.

Question reference: S6W-44115

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 06 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that electric vehicles are guaranteed passage in the next Northern Isles Ferry Services contract.