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-03198

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce gender-neutral designation options for both parents when registering births and stillbirths.

Question reference: S7W-03164

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to provide support to Palestinian students who have been offered places at universities in Scotland, ahead of the implementation of the Scottish Gaza Scholarship Programme.

The Scottish Government remains deeply concerned about the devastating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the impact it continues to have on civilians, including students whose education and future prospects have been profoundly affected by conflict and displacement.

Power over immigration is reserved to the UK Government and this includes decisions regarding safe and humanitarian routes to the UK for students in conflict settings. We welcomed the introduction in 2025 of the scheme enabling students from Gaza to travel to Scotland for study. The initiative supported 27 students on fully funded scholarships to take up places at Scottish universities during academic year 2025-26.

Scottish Ministers pushed the UK Government to continue these arrangements and it is welcome that they have resumed for academic year 2026-27.

We are urgently working with the UK Government and Scottish universities to make sure as many students as possible who meet eligibility criteria can begin their scholarships in Scotland.

Scottish universities, including Universities of Sanctuary, remain committed to supporting students affected by conflict and displacement. Together, we are providing humanitarian support to the people of Palestine and have already committed to explore how we can further support students from Gaza, including through the development of a new postgraduate Scottish Gaza Scholarship Programme.

Question reference: S7W-03167

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding witnesses who are deemed to be vulnerable under the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004, what plans it has to (a) provide all such witnesses with the same presumption that their evidence may be taken by a commissioner, (b) expand the scope of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019 so that in cases involving any form of assault they are afforded the same presumption that their evidence may be taken by a commissioner, and (c) ensure that those whose vulnerability arises from a mental disorder are provided with the same protections and special measures as those afforded under the 2019 Act.

The published Implementation Plan for the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019, which has been agreed in discussion with justice partners, sets out our current plans to extend the presumption in favour of pre-recorded evidence to child witnesses aged 16 and 17 in the most serious sheriff and jury cases and all deemed vulnerable adult witnesses in the most serious cases in the High Court. In addition, through the provisions within the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, we will extend the presumption in favour of pre-recorded evidence to all vulnerable complainers and child witnesses in the Sexual Offences Court when that is operational.

We all recognise that the expansion of taking evidence by commissioner is a significant reform for the justice system and will bring with it several practical and operational challenges. That is why it needs to be introduced in a controlled and achievable way, targeting first the youngest witnesses in the most serious cases. It is also important that any extension of the presumption is appropriately evaluated so that vital lessons can be learned before progressing further. It is essential that in all respects that we do what we can to ensure that any new intervention does not inadvertently overwhelm the system to the detriment of victims and witnesses.

While we do not currently have any plans to expand eligibility for a presumption in favour of pre-recorded evidence beyond what I have outlined, the court can approve applications for the use of pre-recorded evidence as a special measure in their individual cases. A deemed vulnerable adult witness is a victim of a serious intimate or sexual offence, such as sexual offences, human trafficking, domestic abuse or stalking; a vulnerable witness is someone who may, for example, suffer from fear or distress in giving their evidence, or who may have more difficulty in giving their evidence due to a learning disability. Vulnerable adult witnesses are also able to access pre-recorded evidence as a special measure upon application.

Question reference: S7W-03166

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are in place for terminally ill victims of assault who are deemed to be vulnerable witnesses but are unable to testify at trial.

Guidance on the assistance available to victims and witnesses to help give evidence is available om the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service website - Vulnerable victims and witnesses (special measures) | COPFS.

In the circumstance where a terminally ill victim is deemed to be a vulnerable witness, then they would be entitled to give their evidence by special measures. The special measures that can be authorised could include the taking evidence by a commissioner; the use of a live television link; the use of a screen; the use of a supporter, the giving evidence in chief in the form of a prior statement and excluding the public during the taking of evidence, or a combination of these measures. Where a victim is unable to come to court to give evidence in any competent manner because they are unfit or unable to do so because of a mental or physical condition their statement may be admitted in evidence.

Question reference: S7O-00297

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, 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, regarding its proposed facial authentication security access system, when is it due to be introduced and whether MSPs and parliamentary staff will be permitted to opt out of its use.

Question reference: S7W-02841

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has considered to support the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) in addressing the reported backlog of cases, and what its position is on whether the requirement for property factors to hold formal qualifications would prevent some cases from reaching this stage.

Question reference: S7W-02839

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken to implement the recommendations in the Competition and Market Authority's 2024 market study into housebuilding and maintenance.

Scottish Ministers welcomed the Competition and Market Authority's 2024 house building market study and considered its recommendations.

Actions to accelerate housebuilding and address planning barriers are included in the Planning and the Housing Emergency: Delivery Plan and in the Housing Emergency Action Plan. Activity is progressing through the work to establish More Homes Scotland, which will play a role in addressing market failure.

Question reference: S7W-02840

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to amend the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 to require property factors to receive formal qualifications in order to bring them in line with letting agents.

There are currently no plans to require property factors to hold formal qualifications. However, the Scottish Government has committed to reviewing the property factor framework during this Parliamentary term and will consider, in light of evidence and stakeholder views, whether changes to the current regulatory arrangements are needed to ensure the framework continues to meet the needs of homeowners and supports the effective delivery of factoring services.

Question reference: S7O-00174

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its apology on the matter, what its position is on the recommendation of the Scottish Human Rights Commission to provide compensation to victims and families affected by forced assimilation, displacement and other historic wrongs perpetrated by the state in connection with the “Tinker experiment”, which sought to assimilate Scotland's Gypsy/Traveller communities.

Question reference: S7W-02566

Asked by: Kate Nevens, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the safety of sex workers who are deterred from reporting abuse because they are required to disclose their identity.