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-03148

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing measures to enable owners of properties with looped gas service connections to install gas central heating, where they are unable to obtain the consent of neighbours.

The ownership and operation of gas distribution infrastructure are the responsibility of gas network operators, subject to the relevant regulatory framework.

Through our Heat in Buildings programme, with £1.3 billion of funding over the spending review period, we are providing extensive support for households to improve their insulation and install clean heating systems.

Householders affected by issues relating to gas service connections should contact their gas network operator to discuss the options available in their particular circumstances.

Question reference: S7W-03150

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of withdrawn Warmer Homes Scotland grants relates to properties with looped service connections.

Question reference: S7W-03158

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its answer to questions S7W-01777 and S7W-01778 by Tom Arthur on 5 August 2026, when it last made an assessment of the levels of economic inactivity amongst young people aged between 16 and 24, which is an age group not captured by the Annual Participation Measure, and what the findings of that assessment were.

Information on the economic status of those aged 16 to 24 is available from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Population Survey. The latest data on the economic inactivity rates for 16 to 24 year olds was published in the latest Scotland’s Labour Market Insights publication. This shows that an estimated 37.7% of 16 to 24 year olds in Scotland were economically inactive in April 2025 to March 2026. This equates to around 210,800 young people aged 16 to 24.

The ONS Annual Population Survey also indicates that an estimated 74.0% of economically inactive 16 to 24 year olds were classed as students in April 2025 to March 2026.

The latest Scotland’s Labour Market Insights report can be accessed on the Scottish Government website:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-labour-market-insights-july-2026/

Question reference: S7W-03157

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its answer to questions S7W-01777 and S7W-01778 by Tom Arthur on 5 August 2026, what action it is taking to monitor levels of economic inactivity amongst young adults aged between 20 and 24 that are not captured by the Annual Participation Measure.

Information on the economic status of those aged 20 to 24 is available from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Population Survey. These estimates have greater volatility compared to those for 16 to 24 year olds estimates due to smaller sample sizes for this age group. The latest data indicates that an estimated 27.3% of 20 to 24 year olds in Scotland were economically inactive in April 2025 to March 2026. This was similar to the inactivity rate in April 2024 to March 2025 (27.4%).

The Skills Development Scotland (SDS) 16+ Participation Portal holds up-to-date participation information on 16 to 24-year-olds that can be shared securely between partners for service delivery purposes, including Local Authorities, Colleges, the Scottish Funding Council, the Student Awards Agency Scotland and the Department for Work and Pensions. The information is used for operational purposes to monitor and support young people aged 16 to 24, and allows key partners to coordinate services targeting young people who are at risk of disengaging from education, training or the labour market.

Question reference: S7W-03156

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the current levels of inactivity amongst young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment education or training (NEETs).

The Scottish Government is committed to reducing the number of young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) by helping them access the opportunities and support they need to achieve positive and sustainable outcomes.

Our Programme for Government commits to funding 150,000 apprenticeships over this parliament, expanding work-based learning, reviewing employability services all of which will be of benefit to our Young People.

Question reference: S7W-03206

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of passenger journeys that will be made under the £2 bus fare cap in the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport area during the financial year 2026-27.

Question reference: S7W-03208

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the payments it will make to private bus operators in the Highlands and Islands in the financial year 2026-27 under the £2 bus fare cap.

Question reference: S7W-03210

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the £2 bus fare cap in the Highlands and Islands, how it has calculated the estimated number of passenger journeys, including any assumptions about passenger demand and the number of eligible journeys.

Question reference: S7W-03204

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the £2 bus fare cap in the Highlands and Islands, how much it has paid to private bus operators and how many passenger journeys have been made, to date.

Question reference: S7W-03209

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of passenger journeys that will be made under the £2 bus fare cap in the Highlands and Islands during the financial year 2026-27.