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-03402

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the planned reform of NHS boards and the existing delays to the implementation of the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Pathway, when it expects the pathway to be delivered.

The Scottish Government intends to launch the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Pathway on a phased basis from October 2026. This approach is intended to minimise disruption to services and service users, and to support the effective implementation of the pathway across Scotland. Existing provision in the NHS Board areas which currently offer Veterans First Point (V1P) services will continue until the end of this financial year (2026-27).

To support delivery of the Pathway, a full governance structure is being established to provide appropriate oversight, coordination and stakeholder engagement across national and local partners during the implementation phase. These arrangements will help ensure that any impacts arising from planned NHS reform are identified and managed appropriately, enabling progress towards delivery of the Pathway's key aims and outcomes.

This comprehensive governance – with the voice of veterans at its heart – will ensure that the Pathway is implemented in a sustainable manner, with full regard to the needs of veterans and service providers.

Question reference: S7W-03180

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) permanent staff and (b) contractors are employed by (i) NatureScot, (ii) SEPA and (iii) Zero Waste Scotland.

As at 15 September 2026, NatureScot employed 777 permanent staff and 74 staff on fixed-term contracts. SEPA employed 1,173 permanent staff and 57 staff on fixed-term contracts. Zero Waste Scotland employed 163 permanent staff and 7 staff on fixed-term contracts.

As organisations record and report workforce data differently, figures reported for "contractors" are based on staff employed on fixed-term contracts where applicable.

Question reference: S7O-00295

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether, with respect to the standards applied by the Parliament's Allowances Office for MSP constituency offices, it will establish technical standards for fire detection, ventilation, heating, lighting and other safety and wellbeing factors that are recognised by surveyors and solicitors across the Scottish property sector.

Question reference: S7O-00257

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to change the legislation governing short-term lets to ensure that properties operating as short-term lets in Edinburgh Central cannot do so without planning permission.

Question reference: S7O-00200

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce legislation to grant the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman own-initiative investigation powers to identify systemic public service failures and improve outcomes for service users.

Question reference: S7W-02396

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government’s update to the National Transport Strategy, Better Connected, which included a commitment to update the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, whether it will consider issuing guidance to allow Scottish local authorities to install ‘paint only’ side road zebra crossings to improve safety of walking and wheeling, following the example of guidance issued by the Welsh Government in April 2026.

Transport Scotland officials are engaging with UK Department for Transport regarding potential amendments to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, including the introduction of simple ‘paint only’ side road zebra crossings. These crossings have been subject to associated trials on their effectiveness and safety. Transport Scotland will consider the published trial findings when available.

Should it be established that side road zebra crossings are appropriate for use in Scotland, their incorporation in Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 as it applies in Scotland is intended. In this case, it is anticipated that Transport Scotland would also direct roads authorities and designers to suitable guidance on their use.

Question reference: S7W-02397

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government in light of the UK Government’s response to Wendy Chamberlain UIN 469 tabled on 13 May 2026, whether (a) it intends to bring forward amendments to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, and (b), if so, what amendments it is considering

Transport Scotland officials are engaging with UK Department for Transport regarding its proposed amendments to the UK Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, including side road zebra crossings as noted in the UK Government’s response to Wendy Chamberlain MP, UIN 469.

Should it be established that side road zebra crossings are appropriate for use in Scotland, their incorporation in Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 as it applies in Scotland is intended. Scottish Ministers are yet to determine what other amendments will be progressed. Any amendments would be subject to consultation.

Question reference: S7W-01521

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 28 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to introduce legislation to (a) modernise Compulsory Purchase Orders and (b) implement Compulsory Sales Orders and Compulsory Lease Orders, to give local authorities more powers to deal with empty homes.

The Scottish Government’s legislative programme will be agreed by Ministers and announced to Parliament in due course in the usual way.

The Scottish Government will shortly publish a summary of responses to the compulsory purchase reform consultation, and associated analysis of the questions on compulsory sale and compulsory lease orders, and will provide an update on next steps in line with our commitment for the first 100 days of government.

Question reference: S7W-01155

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 29 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Registers of Scotland missing its 2024 target to have 100% of land registered and the reported impacts of an incomplete land register on the delivery of public services, including delays to progress on housing and infrastructure projects, increased legal and administrative costs, difficulty in progressing community ownership schemes and data quality issues affecting policy and planning, whether it considers that completing the register as soon as possible would reduce costs and improve service delivery.

Registers of Scotland is a non-Ministerial Public Body answerable to the Scottish Parliament.

In May 2014, Ministers invited the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland to take forward completion of the Land Register by 2024. With activity in the property market, targeted use of Keeper Induced Registration, a discounted Voluntary Registration fee and innovative use of data from the General Register of Sasines, the position, as of May 2026, is

Coverage	At May 2026
Land Register (completed)	61.0%
Land Register (pending)	3.6%
Indicative Sasines	31.5%
Total Land Coverage	96.1%

Full completion of the Land Register remains an important objective requiring the input of the Registers of Scotland and, critically, those who own land which is still in the General Register of Sasines. The Scottish Government will continue to support that work as well as taking forward work in other areas which contribute to the points raised.

Question reference: S7W-01160

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether Historic Environment Scotland has obtained a direction under section 11 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 from the City of Edinburgh Council to exempt the Radical Road in Holyrood Park from access rights, and, if not, on what legal basis access to the road has been restricted for an extended period.