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

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Question reference: S6W-37612

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it or its relevant agencies have the power to prescribe or restrict the type of vehicular traffic that can use a particular road.

Roads Authorities in Scotland, such as local authorities and Transport Scotland can, under existing legislation, restrict the type of vehicular traffic that can be used on roads within their remit.

The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 allows for the making of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) for specific reasons and these can have various types of restrictions such as access restrictions, time-limited restrictions or vehicle class based restrictions.

It is for each Road Authority to ensure their TROs are appropriate and fit for purpose.

Question reference: S6W-37338

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote the use of online booking systems in GP surgeries.

Question reference: S6W-37398

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the enhanced council tax on second homes, whether it plans to review any impact of the introduction of this uplift by local authorities on the group of properties that fall into the 25-day category, but which are unable to be let or sold for main dwelling purposes due to planning constraints attached to consent, which prohibit use or sale as a main dwelling.

Since 1 April 2024 local authorities have had discretionary powers to apply a Council Tax premium of up to 100% on second homes.

Council Tax is a local tax, and it is for individual councils to determine the appropriate balance of housing in their areas based on local needs. The Regulations give Councils greater fiscal empowerment, in the spirit of the Verity House Agreement. They enable Councils the discretion to charge Second Homes anywhere between a 50% discount, and up to a 100% premium. It is for Councils to take decisions about the tax treatment of second homes, including where exclusions may apply.

The Scottish Government is committed to monitoring the impact of the premium and will consider their effects as more data becomes available. The first set of data reflecting the implementation of the premium was collected in September 2024. This data indicated a 10% decrease (2,455 properties) in the number of second homes compared to the previous year. This decline may be related to the introduction of the 100% Council Tax premium on second homes. The Scottish Government will continue to monitor the impact of the Council Tax premium.

I would also note that the Council Tax system includes exemptions for certain circumstances. This includes an exemption for properties that are difficult to let, which applies specifically to properties that are inherently hard to let due to their physical relationship with another dwelling. Further, there is an exemption for properties that cannot legally be lived in because it is prohibited by law. It is for the local authority to assess whether the conditions are met for these exemptions to apply.

Question reference: S6W-37335

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on (a) Glasgow, (b) the NHS and (c) emergency services of the reported proposed industrial action by staff at the Clyde Tunnel.

Question reference: S6W-37583

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the current time charter of the MV Alfred for CalMac Ferries expires.

Question reference: S6W-37399

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 20 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) University of Edinburgh and (b) Scottish Funding Council about additional support.

Universities are autonomous institutions with responsibility for their own strategic and operational decision making. The Scottish Government regularly engages with the Scottish Funding Council on a range of matters, including on the funding of institutions, and has engaged with the University of Edinburgh directly in recent weeks. There has been no ask of the Scottish Government or Scottish Funding Council regarding additional financial support from the University.

The Scottish Government fully appreciates the financial sustainability challenges being faced by many universities due to a range of factors, including inflation, the impact of UK Government immigration policies on international student recruitment, and the increase to employers’ National Insurance Contributions.

Question reference: S6W-37734

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times for the commencement of social care services following assessment, and what the current expected waiting time is compared with the targets, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S6W-37738

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing any regional disparities in waiting times for assessed social care packages, and whether it will provide a breakdown of what efforts are being made by each NHS board to reduce waiting times.

Question reference: S6W-37720

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients waited longer than the recommended time for palliative care services to begin in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S6W-37735

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been on a waiting list for a social care assessment in each year since 2018, also broken down by NHS board.

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