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-02754

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware that no Local Government Pension Scheme administering authority reportedly publishes data on the proportion of its fund invested in Scotland and, if so, what estimate it has of current such pension scheme investment nationally, and what evidence informed its decision to include this as an indicator in the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026.

The Scottish Government is aware that administering authorities of the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme do not currently report on the level of investment in Scotland. This is a complex matter, and officials are already engaging with the administering authorities about standardising reporting.

Inclusion of this indicator for voluntary use by local authority led Community Wealth Building (CWB) partnerships was agreed by parliament following scrutiny of the legislation by the lead Committee.

Question reference: S7W-02759

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alyn Smith on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review Foundation Apprenticeship commissioning arrangements to allow additional suitably experienced and quality-assured specialist training providers to competitively tender to deliver relevant Foundation Apprenticeships to school pupils.

The Scottish Government is currently considering the future development of foundation apprenticeships within the wider context of work-based learning and qualifications reform. The Scottish Funding Council(SFC) will take on responsibility for securing and funding the delivery of foundation apprenticeships under current arrangements on 1 April 2027, ensuring continuity for learners. Any changes to commissioning arrangements will be considered with the SFC and partners taking into account the evidence and learning from the delivery of foundation apprenticeships to date.

Question reference: S7W-02757

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alyn Smith on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that training providers receive sufficient SDS Modern Apprenticeship contract volume and value to recruit a new annual Level 6 cohort while simultaneously progressing successful apprentices from Level 6 to 7.

Question reference: S7W-02750

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when Vessel Monitoring Systems will be rolled out to the under-12-metre inshore nephrops creel fleet.

Question reference: S7W-02760

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a coordinated Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) recruitment pathway that connects school-based vocational learning and meaningful workplace experience with employment, the Level 6 Modern Apprenticeship and subsequent progression to Level 7.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of attracting and supporting new entrants into the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) workforce and ensuring clear progression pathways into employment and professional development.

We are working with Skills Development Scotland, training providers, local authorities and ELC sector representatives to promote careers in ELC and to strengthen workforce pathways. This includes supporting school-based vocational learning opportunities, Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships, and work-based learning that helps young people gain relevant experience and progress into employment.

The sector does not currently operate a single nationally mandated recruitment pathway. Rather, multiple routes exist to reflect the diverse nature of the workforce and differing employer needs.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with partners to consider how pathways into the sector can be further strengthened and better connected, helping to ensure that learners can progress from school-based learning and workplace experience into employment and subsequent qualification pathways that meet the workforce needs of the sector.

Question reference: S7W-02751

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the “ask and act” homelessness prevention pilot programme.

The ask and act homelessness prevention pilot programme, which awarded funding in November 2025 to fifteen consortia made up of a range of named relevant bodies across sectors including health and justice, runs until end December 2026. We have commissioned external research on the outcomes of the pilots, which will report in the summer next year. Advice Direct Scotland, the organisation that manages the pilots, publishes quarterly progress reports on its website: Advice Direct Scotland - User Portal - Quarterly Reports. The latest report, published on 1 September, notes that most pilots are now routinely embedding prevention approaches in their work.

Question reference: S7W-02762

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angela Constance on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to publish a Health and Care Improving Flow Plan within the first 100 days of the current parliamentary session.

The Scottish Government is today publishing the Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026-2031, delivering our commitment to publish a National Flow Plan within the first 100 days of this administration.

The Plan sets out our ambition for one connected system, simple routes to care, ensuring every person receives the most appropriate response as quickly as possible. It outlines action to improve navigation into care, expand home and community-based services, strengthen discharge arrangements, improve acute hospital flow, and tackle overcrowding and corridor care.

The Plan has been developed jointly with Scotland East and Scotland West Sub-National Planning Committees and informed through engagement with NHS Boards, Health and Social Care Partnerships, clinicians, national agencies, care providers and other partners. Detailed operational implementation arrangements an collaboration with partners will continue to be developed following publication.

The Plan can be accessed here: Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026-2031.

Through delivery of this Plan we will improve access to care, support more care closer to home, reduce delays and improve outcomes for people across Scotland.

Question reference: S7O-00138

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reform abortion law in 2026-27.

Question reference: S7W-02058

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 21 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to ensure that families raising disabled children, including those with complex additional support needs, will fully benefit from the planned expansion of childcare provision across Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02061

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 21 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve access to flexible childcare for parent carers of disabled children who work outside standard school and nursery hours.

Under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004, education authorities are responsible for identifying and meeting the additional support needs of children in early learning and childcare (ELC) settings. In line with the National Standard, we expect local authorities and settings to work together to support children with additional support needs to access their funded ELC hours. The Funding Follows the Child approach enables families to access provision in the public, private or third sectors.