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-02574

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to review maternity pay arrangements for teachers, specifically the point at which occupational maternity pay is reduced to statutory maternity pay.

Question reference: S7W-02246

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support and increase horticulture training and education provision in the west of Scotland and Greater Glasgow areas.

The Scottish Government recognises the wide range of careers available in the horticultural sector, and the importance of effective training and educational pathways to deliver a workforce equipped with the skills and expertise demanded by the sector.

In 2026-27 the Scottish Government is investing over £2.4 bn in our post-school education and skills system, supporting the delivery of horticulture provision at education providers across the west of Scotland, including Ayrshire College, Glasgow Clyde College, New College Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire College. While colleges and universities operate independently of Government, with responsibility for their own course provision, we recognise and support collaborative work between those sectors and industry to address horticulture skills needs.

The Scottish Government also funds the 2026-27 Lantra workplan, which supports diverse and rewarding career development in the land-based sectors, including horticulture across Scotland, the UK and Ireland. Scottish Government officials continue to attend regular Horticulture Skills Group meetings, which provide an opportunity for further and higher education institutions to connect with employers, local authorities and other organisations.

While the Scottish Government does not currently offer regional specific support for horticulture education provision, we have supported and endorsed the development of Regional Economic Partnerships (REPs). These partnerships will seek to unlock new powers, and design delivery models tailored to local priorities. This could include powers in areas such as skills, further education, economic development and planning.

Question reference: S7W-02569

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the upcoming mandatory fortification of certain wheat products with folic acid, how it will monitor potential adverse effects for members of vulnerable groups for whom exposure to folic acid may have negative health effects, such as those on certain cancer treatments.

Question reference: S7W-02571

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the upcoming mandatory fortification of certain wheat products with folic acid, what steps it will take to ensure clear product labelling and the provision of affordable, accessible, unfortified alternatives.

Question reference: S7W-02570

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the upcoming mandatory fortification of certain wheat products with folic acid, what plans it has to protect members of vulnerable groups for whom exposure to folic acid may have negative health effects, such as those on certain cancer treatments.

Question reference: S7W-01802

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 17 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish an equivalent to the UK Government's Local News Fund for England and Wales.

The Scottish Government recognises the role that journalism plays in supporting democratic participation, informing communities and holding public bodies and institutions to account.

That is why in 2021, the Scottish Government established the Public Interest Journalism Working Group to consider the long-term sustainability of public interest journalism in Scotland.

Following this, a Steering Group was established with the aim of transitioning into a Scottish Public Interest Journalism Initiative, with a remit to support and grow the sector. The Initiative has now been registered at Companies House, enabling it to commission research, develop partnerships and explore potential funding opportunities. The Group's membership comprises representatives from across the public interest news sector and is supported by a Scottish Government secretariat.

While there are currently no plans to establish a Scottish equivalent of the UK Government's Local News Fund, the Scottish Government remains committed to supporting a diverse, sustainable and representative media landscape and will continue to engage with the sector on opportunities to strengthen and support public interest journalism in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-01951

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out a feasibility study or any other work on the potential introduction of a demolition levy and, if so, what the outcome was.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a feasibility study for a Demolition Levy. The Scottish Government currently has no plans to introduce a Demolition Levy and while the Scottish Government share concerns around carbon emissions from demolition and the preservation of the built environment, the Scottish Government believes the most straight forward response would be for the UK Government to address any VAT imbalances which disincentivise reuse, retrofitting and refurbishment.

Question reference: S7W-02245

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01870 by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2026, what assessment it has made of any impact that the removal of the Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) pay supplement could have on the recruitment and retention of civil servants within the DDAT profession, in light of the reported challenges in attracting staff with the relevant expertise due to higher salaries offered in the private sector.

The Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) pay supplement was replaced following a review with a new Government Digital and Data (GDD) pay supplement aligned to the UK Civil Service profession framework. Pay supplements are temporary measures, subject to regular review, and are retained, amended or withdrawn based on evidence of recruitment and retention pressures. The review concluded that pay supplements should continue to be applied where there is evidence of recruitment and retention challenges linked to market conditions. As a result, roles where higher external salaries create difficulties in attracting and retaining suitably skilled staff continue to attract a pay supplement at an appropriate market rate.

Question reference: S7W-02346

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish an analysis of its public consultation on the future of council tax in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02347

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to question S6W-43333, answered by Shona Robison on 29 January 2026, when it will begin the review of council tax arrears for victims of domestic abuse, as required by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025.