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-02377

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase hospital capacity to accommodate patients with mesothelioma.

Service delivery, including managing hospital capacity, is a local responsibility for territorial health boards.

The Scottish Government continues to fund the NHS Scotland Cancer Collaborative to host the National Scottish Mesothelioma Network. This network is comprised of clinicians from across Scotland working to share best practice and to provide for high quality clinical care, information and support to all patients wherever they live in the country and ensure all patients have equitable and efficient access to care.

Question reference: S7W-02263

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an annual breakdown of the allocation of funding to each theme of the Strategic Research Programme 2022-27.

The following table sets out the Environment and Forestry Directorate, Strategic Research Funding provided by Scottish Government to our Main Research Providers, The James Hutton Institute, Moredun Research Institute, Scotlands Rural College and The Rowett Institute by theme for the period 2022-27:

Theme	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26	2026-27	Totals
A - Plant and animal health	5,332,988	5,142,796	4,813,671	4,838,938	4,442,673	24,571,066
B - Sustainable food system and supply	12,119,586	10,698,686	9,756,685	9,388,815	8,552,983	50,516,755
C - Human impacts on the environment	3,050,000	3,419,700	3,751,000	4,049,998	3,860,000	18,130,698
D - Natural resources	7,086,217	6,809,663	7,091,299	6,910,741	6,507,156	34,405,076
E - Rural futures	1,432,510	1,475,251	1,531,512	1,633,509	1,549,884	7,622,666
F – Vision and Impact and Biomathematics and Statistics (BioSS)	1,949,449	1,714,819	1,743,471	1,797,710	1,763,987	8,969,436
Totals	30,970,750	29,260,915	28,687,638	28,619,711	26,676,683	144,215,697

The Biomathematics and Statistics Institute (BioSS) provides data analysis, statistics, mathematical modelling and bioinformatics support to the Strategic Research Programme.

Question reference: S7W-02266

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent annually on the Strategic Research Programme 2016-22.

Question reference: S7W-02265

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it expects to deliver annually to the Strategic Research Programme in 2027-32

The proposed allocation under the 2027-2032 Strategic Research Programme is set out in the following table:

Strategic Research Funding 2027-32 (£)

PROPOSED (subject to annual budgeting decisions)	2027-28	2028-29	2029-30	2030-31	2031-32
TOTAL	44,404,000	45,414,600	46,424,286	47,330,000	48,151,000

Further information regarding the Scottish Governments Strategic Research Programmes can be found here: Environment, natural resources and agriculture: strategic research programme

Question reference: S7W-02024

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government (a) what progress it has made on exploring the development of a fixed links construction programme for island communities, and (b) when it expects to make further announcements on the progress of this work.

The Scottish Government recognises the benefits that fixed links can bring to island and rural communities. As set out in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review Recommendation 41, the next stage is to undertake further business case development to assess the viability of potential fixed links across the Sounds of Harris and Barra, and between Mull and the Scottish mainland. This work will include the assessment of the potential costs, benefits, funding options and impacts on existing ferry services.

This work is vital to ensure that the proposed projects remain value for money as set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual and before it moves to the more detailed, design development stage of any one of these three proposed fixed links.

Scoping for this business case work is expected to commence in 2026, and the work would be progressed in close collaboration with local authorities, stakeholders and local communities.

Future announcements on the progress of this work will made at appropriate points in the business case development.

The Scottish Government is also aware that Shetland Island Council is developing its Inter-Island Transport Connectivity Strategy, which includes fixed links (tunnels) as a potential alternative to the current local ferry services.

Question reference: S7W-01995

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods scheme, including its (a) social, (b) economic and (c) health impacts.

The Scottish Government published an initial evaluation of Best Start Grant in December 2020 and Best Start Foods in July 2022, and a further assessment of both policies as part of the Five Family Payments evaluation in September 2025. Findings were based mostly on survey and interview research with recipients. They clearly show the benefits have positively impacted recipients’ finances and helped to reduce material deprivation for low income households. In turn, they are having a range of social and health impacts. For example:

Most recipients said Best Start Grant helps their children participate in social and educational activities. Examples included family trips to the zoo and annual passes to activity centres.
Most recipients said Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods improve their own mental wellbeing. Parents described how the payments reduced stress about affording essential items for their children, such as food and one-off larger purchases like prams and furniture.
Most recipients said Best Start Foods helps their children to eat more healthy foods, and that the payments have meant they do not need to use food banks. Some parents said they would have to cut back on healthy foods without this assistance.

The findings also indicate the benefits have increased economic activity by facilitating additional spend. Some of the further potential economic impacts that were identified would accrue in the longer-term. For example, the benefits could contribute to positive health outcomes for children in later life, thereby lowering the costs of health services.

Question reference: S7W-02007

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) assessment it has made of how successful Food Standards Scotland has been in its work to promote healthy eating, and (b) actions it plans to undertake to support the organisation to improve outcomes in this area.

Food Standards Scotland plays an important role in supporting healthier diets across Scotland through the provision of scientific evidence, dietary surveillance and expert advice. This evidence informs Scottish Government policies aimed at improving dietary health and creating food environments that make healthier options easier.

Food Standards Scotland are a non-ministerial agency and are directly accountable to the Scottish Parliament. Their Board provides independent strategic direction and governance to the agency.

The Food Standards Scotland framework document sets out the objectives in relation to improving diet and nutrition in Scotland. This is achieved in collaboration with the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with Food Standards Scotland to ensure that action to improve dietary health is informed by robust evidence and expert advice.

Question reference: S7W-02084

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the operation of the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme (CAGS), including (a) for what reason approvals for processed applications are reportedly paused, (b) how many applications are currently awaiting approval, (c) when approvals are expected to recommence and (d) what assessment it has made of any impact of the delays on crofters seeking to undertake essential agricultural improvements.

As a result of the pre and post-election period, we were not able to issue decisions to the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme (CAGS) but the processing of applications have since recommenced, and letters to applicants who had been awaiting decisions are being issued.

In total, as of 5 August 2026, there were 281 applications awaiting approval and these are being prioritised by officials.

We are not aware of any delays in making payments in respect of submitted claims.

Question reference: S7W-02584

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met its commitment to support 2,000 households through the First Homes Fund within the first 100 days of the current parliamentary session and, if so, how many households have been supported at the 100-day point.

Question reference: S7W-02590

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Home Office estimating that AI triage of 101 calls could save police forces £8.5 million per year by redirecting non-police enquiries, whether it has had any discussions with Police Scotland on these possibilities, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of AI call-triage technology on Police Scotland’s 101 waiting times and call-handling capacity, and whether it has asked Police Scotland to assess any potential financial savings and any risks arising from introducing similar technology in Scotland.

2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22
45,242,688	43,830,713	45,250,050	42,304,158	42,850,078	42,771,809