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: S6O-05715

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking through its fuel poverty programmes to support low-income rural and off-grid households that are unable to heat their homes due to the recent increase in heating oil prices.

Question reference: S6W-44152

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the pilot for free rail travel for companions accompanying blind National Entitlement Cardholders (NEC+1), which was launched in April 2025.

I am pleased to announce that following a positive evaluation from Transport Scotland, I have agreed that free rail travel for companions accompanying blind NEC + 1 cardholders can be made permanent from 1 April 2026.

The evaluation found that a significant majority of surveyed cardholders who used the free companion offer, increased their number of journeys on rail, experienced a range of benefits from increased activity and indicated they are less likely to require dedicated staff assistance as a result of travelling with a companion. The final evaluation report can be found at Transport Scotland’s website at;

https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/blind-companion-free-rail-travel-pilot-evaluation-report/

Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans have received overwhelmingly positive feedback to the free companion rail travel pilot scheme. Cardholders and their companions have consistently highlighted the profound impact it has had on their independence, confidence and quality of life.

NEC + 1 cardholders and their companion will continue to have the convenience of being waved onto rail services by displaying their card. Free travel is available on all ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper services at stations within Scotland and to Carlisle or Berwick Upon Tweed.

The 8,000 NEC + 1 cardholders and their companion can now travel free on bus, ferry and rail services across Scotland, this concession is only available in Scotland and not replicated in other parts of Britain, reflecting the choices we can make through public ownership of our own railway.

Question reference: S6O-05567

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards the establishment of a pathway for free dyslexia assessments at the point of contact for adults.

Question reference: S6W-43580

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its recent Fairer Funding pilot, what next steps it will take to strengthen work with the third sector across Scotland.

The Scottish Government will work with third sector partners to deliver Scotland’s first ever “Third Sector Partnership” which will further strengthen the role and place of the sector in Scotland. This new Partnership creates a unique and valuable opportunity for government to work more effectively with the sector and build on progress made through our Fairer Funding pilot.

The principles underpinning the partnership, in line with those set out by SCVO, will include alignment with Fairer Funding principles, protection of the sector’s independence, outcomes-focussed to reflect shared goals, ensuring accountability and alignment with relevant legislation and strategies. We will work closely with a diverse range of third sector partners to co-design the partnership.

We already recognise the essential role played by the third sector in delivering for communities across Scotland everyday. We recently announced a £20 million investment for third sector partners in the draft Budget to deliver the support that people need in their communities, underlining the importance of the government and third sector organisations working to tackle the challenges of the day together. This is in addition to delivering on our Fairer Funding pilot that provides multi-year funding worth £130 million over 2025-2027, prioritising those that deliver frontline services and tackle child poverty.

Question reference: S6O-05509

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that the Adult Disability Payment application process is fully accessible to people with aphasia.

Question reference: S6F-04650

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 February 2026

To ask the First Minister how the new measures that the Scottish Government has announced to tackle long-term unemployment will support its work to grow Scotland’s economy.

Question reference: S6O-05457

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the immediate economic outcomes were for Scotland's exporters of its recent trade mission to the United Arab Emirates.

Question reference: S6O-05429

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the current occupancy levels and total operational capacity across the Women’s Community Custody Unit estate.

Question reference: S6O-05398

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how the work of the recently announced ADHD and Autism Taskforce will affect integrated care for residents in Strathkelvin and Bearsden, and for people across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-42651

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Graeme Dey on 18 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will launch its consultation on the extension of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to private and third sector providers of care home and "care at home" services.

The consultation will be published on 5 January 2026 and will help to inform a detailed assessment of whether and when providers of care home and 'care at home' services can be understood to be delivering public functions. Subject to the outcome of that assessment, it will also inform decisions on whether, and in what fashion, Ministers might exercise their power under section 5 of FOISA to extend the legislation to private and third sector organisations delivering these services.