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: S7F-00056

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 October 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7W-03188

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government to the Convener of the Finance and Public Administration Committee on 24 June 2026, in which the cabinet secretary stated "I recognise the importance of ensuring that Parliament has timely and relevant information to support pre-Budget scrutiny. To support this, I intend to deliver a fiscal statement to Parliament in September, aligned with the Programme for Government, setting out the current fiscal context and the key issues and choices facing the Scottish Budget", whether it will confirm by what date this statement will be delivered.

The Scottish Government has been very clear about the significant challenges we face as a Government and a country ahead of the next Scottish Budget on 3 December 2026. Our immediate focus at the start of the Parliamentary session has been on setting out its Programme for the next five years. These are the priorities that we need public funding to deliver.

The fiscal update published by the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) at the end of August provides a detailed assessment of the economic and fiscal outlook facing Scotland. From all of this, Parliament will be well aware that the Scottish Government is entering the 2027-28 Budget process facing a combination of pressures and challenges that will need difficult decisions.

I recognise your interest in ensuring that Parliament has the information it needs for its pre-Budget scrutiny. As noted in my letter to the Convener of the Finance and Public Administration Committee on 29 September, I will engage on the fiscal challenges and key issues facing the Scottish Budget as part of my appearance at the Finance and Public Administration Committee on 30 September, and a parliamentary debate on the asks of the UK Government Budget on 1 October. Since I wrote to the Convener at the end of June, a new UK Prime Minister and Chancellor have taken office, creating the prospect of changes to UK fiscal policy this autumn. The debate on 1 October will provide an opportunity for Parliament to consider the implications for Scotland and to discuss the priorities we wish to see reflected in the UK Budget. I will continue to keep the Committee and Parliament updated on key developments ahead of Budget.

Question reference: S7W-02572

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01240 by Màiri McAllan on 10 July 2026, in which it stated that the consultation on legislative approach to restrictions on mobile phones in schools would be launched within its first 100 days, for what reason the consultation has not yet been launched and when it expects it to open.

Question reference: S7W-01799

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the minimum standards set for the operating life of hearing aid batteries within the current national hearing aid battery contract, and how compliance with those standards is monitored.

Question reference: S7W-01801

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact that hearing aid batteries with a shorter-than-expected operating life may have on patient care.

Question reference: S7W-01800

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Tayside regarding the quality and lifespan of hearing aid batteries currently being distributed, in light of reported concerns raised by patients and audiology staff.

Question reference: S7W-01798

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the criteria used in the procurement of hearing aid batteries under the current contract, and how those criteria differ from those used in previous procurement exercises.

Question reference: S7W-01797

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reported concerns regarding the quality and lifespan of hearing aid batteries currently provided to NHS patients.

Question reference: S7W-01796

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the contractual remedies available to NHS boards where hearing aid batteries supplied through the national procurement framework do not meet the required standards, and whether it holds information on any such remedies having been exercised since the commencement of the current contract.

Question reference: S7W-01678

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 20 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to ensure that patients can access diagnosis or treatment where no NHS board is able to accept a referral to the required specialist service due to capacity or workforce pressures.

As set out in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011, where a Health Board is unable to meet the Treatment Time Guarantee within its own area, it must take all reasonably practicable steps to arrange for the provision of the agreed treatment by—

(a) another Health Board;

(b) the National Health Service in England, Wales or Northern Ireland;

(d) another suitable alternative provider in the United Kingdom.

When pursuing the above options, a Health Board must have regard to the importance of securing the effective and efficient use of the health service organisation and resources.

Health Boards also have the option to agree national or regional provision for diagnostic and specialist services.