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.

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Question reference: S7W-03573

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to housing associations whose properties have been subject to vandalism, deliberate damage or other criminal activity that can result in the loss of much-needed social housing.

It is unacceptable for any home to be subject to vandalism, deliberate damage or other criminal activity. As well as affecting communities, vandalism and other criminal damage can result in homes being unavailable for occupation at a time when demand for social housing remains high.

All social landlords are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their properties and for ensuring that homes meet the required standards before they are let to tenants. Decisions about repairs, reinstatement works and the management of affected properties are therefore matters for the individual landlord, reflecting their responsibility for the condition and safety of their housing stock.

In 2024-25 and 2025-26, a total of 620 void social housing properties were supported back into use through targeted use of £120m Affordable Housing Supply Programme grant for acquisitions and voids.

Question reference: S7W-03293

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reported calls from the Scottish Retail Consortium and Scottish Tourism Alliance for the UK Government to restore tax-free shopping for overseas visitors in its upcoming budget, as a means of supporting Scotland’s retail, tourism and hospitality sectors.

The Scottish Government understands calls from the retail and tourism sectors for the restoration of tax-free shopping for overseas visitors. Scotland’s retailers have highlighted that many international competitors continue to offer tax-free shopping schemes and have argued that the UK's current approach may place Scotland at a competitive disadvantage in attracting high-spending international tourists.

VAT is currently reserved, therefore any decision on tax-free shopping is a matter for the UK Government. However we would continue to call on the UK Government to engage with industry on this matter and keep the current arrangements under review.

Question reference: S7W-03703

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 26 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Independent Commission on the Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex will take to ensure that it consults with groups that represent those currently selling sex.

Question reference: S7W-03704

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 26 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to address concerns raised by the self-catering sector regarding the interaction between short-term let licensing and planning requirements, including the application of planning requirements to established operators both within and outwith short-term let control areas, and the reported risk that otherwise viable self-catering businesses may be forced to cease trading as a result.

Question reference: S7W-03702

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 26 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Minister for Victims and Community Safety have met with any sex worker-led organisations since the beginning of the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S7W-03202

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that a move to two mainland NHS boards, as announced in the Programme for Government, will help accelerate the delivery of its commitment to deliver a 24/7 national thrombectomy service.

The Programme for Government, published on 1 September, sets out the Scottish Government’s intention to move from 14 territorial boards to two strategic territorial NHS Boards covering the East and West of Scotland.

These new Boards will be responsible fort he planning and delivery of NHS services across their respective regions, helping to ensure services are planned on a population basis while continuing to reflect local needs. We expect these arrangements to support more effective planning and delivery of Thrombectomy service expansion across Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-03117

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering undertaking an annual collection of data on children’s use of nicotine pouches that is robust and representative of children living across the spectrum of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD).

Since 2024, the Scottish Government has commissioned an annual boost to the Scottish sample in the ASH Smoke Free GB Youth survey. Each year, around 750 Scottish adolescents aged 11 to 17 are asked questions about their behaviours and attitudes towards tobacco, vaping and other nicotine products, including nicotine pouches.

The latest report was published in August 2026 (https://www.gov.scot/publications/vaping-smoking-scottish-adolescents-results-ash-smokefree-gb-youth-survey-2026/pages/3/), with results from the 2024 and 2025 survey also available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/vaping-smoking-scottish-adolescents/pages/1/;https://www.gov.scot/publications/vaping-smoking-scottish-adolescents-results-ash-smokefree-gb-youth-survey-2025/. The next wave of data collection is expected to take place in March 2027.

Data are collected on social grade and the Office for National Statistics Indices of Multiple Deprivation (ONS IMD), which are not directly comparable with the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). The sample is skewed towards higher social grades and less deprived areas and is therefore unlikely to be representative by deprivation. This limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings.

The Scottish Government continues to keep its evidence needs under review, including how best to monitor the use of nicotine pouches and other emerging nicotine products among children and young people, while balancing analytical value, cost and timeliness.

Question reference: S7O-00311

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest annual homelessness statistics.

Question reference: S7W-03193

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 23 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to prioritise investment in the timely development of Local Area Coordination.

The Scottish Government recognises the potential contribution that Local Area Coordination (LAC) can make in helping people, families and communities build resilience, improve wellbeing and access support at an early stage. The principles underpinning LAC align with our Getting It Right For Everyone (GIRFE) approach, which promotes co-ordinated, person-centred support through a ‘team around the person’ model.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to establish a dedicated national funding programme for Local Area Coordination, as decisions on the development and funding of local services are primarily for local authorities and Integration Joint Boards, reflecting local needs and priorities.

However, we remain committed to preventative, community-based and person-centred approaches that support people to live independent, connected and fulfilling lives. These priorities are reflected in our wider ambitions for health and social care reform and renewal, as set out in the Programme for Government, Service Renewal Framework and Population Health Framework.

Question reference: S7W-03054

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the Independent Commission on the Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex will commence its work, and by what date all its members will be appointed.

Work on the Commission continues to progress well. This includes agreement between the Chair, Fiona Taylor, and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, of the Commission’s Remit and Terms of Reference. These were published on 26 August 2026 and are available at Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex in Scotland: Independent Commission - terms of reference - gov.scot

Work is actively underway for the consideration and appointment of expert panel members to the Commission. The Commission’s substantive work and first meeting will take place once members have been appointed. Updates will be provided to the Commission’s website in due course.

The Commission will undertake its work independently of government.