Paul McLennan

20 Jan 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on improving accommodation standards in relation to legislation that currently exists in Scotland for seasonal agricultural workers.

14 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with the UK Government to ensure that the consultation on combinable crops will deliver for Scotland's arable farmers.

5 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding transport solutions to support the current and future development of Blindwells, East Lothian.

8 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland on its proposal, The future of provision for neurodevelopmental conditions.

1 Dec 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the Scottish Government's latest engagement with the UK Government regarding any impact on poverty levels in Scotland of the freeze to Local Housing Allowance.

19 Nov 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will lay the proposal for the first Children’s Rights Scheme before the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: I am pleased to announce that today, World Children’s Day, I have laid before Parliament, Scotland’s first ever Children’s Rights Scheme. The proposal for the Scheme is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/proposal-first-childrens…

23 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline its plans for ensuring that island biosecurity, which is a commitment under the National Islands Plan and Goal 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, continues to be addressed throughout the island network when the current Biosecurity for Scotland proje…

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Biosecurity for Scotland project is currently leading a series of co-design workshops to develop a plan for a long-term biosecurity programme and discussions are taking place around securing funding for this work beyond March 2026. The project has receive…

23 Mar 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) decarbonisation seabed leasing round, and what the next steps are for INTOG.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Crown Estate Scotland will announce today (24 March 2022) the outcomes their evaluation of applications to the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas decarbonisation (INTOG) offshore wind leasing round. In total 13 projects were successful and will be offered e…

16 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been advised by the UK Government of any Barnett consequential funding regarding the announcement in the Spring Budget of a one-year fund made up of £40 million to make swimming pools more energy efficient in the long term and £23 million in grants to leisure centres with …

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government have been advised by HM Treasury that Barnett consequentials will be passed to the Scottish Government as a result of the £63m swimming pool support package announced by the UK Government. As you will be aware any Barnett consequentia…

15 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to celebrate and mark St Andrew's Day 2023.

11 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that any bids that it receives for National Park status cover contiguous or overlapping areas, whether the Scottish Ministers will be able to consider combining those bids into one larger National Park.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government has committed to designating at least one new National Park in Scotland during this parliamentary session provided relevant legal conditions can be met. In the Spring we will publish a draft evaluation framework with proposed selection…

9 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it engages with the Ministry of Defence regarding objections to wind farm projects within the 50km safeguarding zone at Eskdalemuir.

Answer · Michael Matheson: If the Ministry of Defence objects to an application for consent for a wind farm which impacts on the Eskdalemuir seismic array, then the Scottish Government would not proceed to consent the application unless that objection is withdrawn. In cases where furt…

15 Feb 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Hydrogen Action Plan, including regarding the role that local authorities can play in defining demand.

1 Feb 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of the Local Governance Review.

31 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much funding has been allocated for the construction of Changing Places toilets in the current parliamentary session, and by what date it expects this will be made available.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to investing in Changing Places Toilets over this parliamentary term, in order to increase the number of these facilities across the country and to support mobile Changing Places Toilets to allow people easier access to ev…

25 Jan 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any benefits to the structure of legal aid payments of the agreement on Scottish court legal aid fees between the Scottish Government, Scottish Solicitors Bar Association and the Law Society.

18 Jan 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the expected status of the provisions within Part 1 of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 for the period after 31 March 2023, in light of the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights' statement to t…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 is a key part of the Scottish Government’s help for tenants facing the impact of the cost crisis. The Act introduced a temporary rent cap and moratorium on the enforcement of evictions, along with inc…

9 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12681 by Màiri McAllan on 13 December 2022, whether detailed marine spatial plans, as opposed to broad spatial areas, will be provisionally set in the new National Marine Plan (NMP2), in line with section 11(2)(a)(ii) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 20…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12759 on 15 December 2022. The purpose of Scotland’s National Marine Plan is to set out the strategic policies for the sustainable development of our marine resources. Regional marine plans are currently being…

6 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much is allocated in the proposed Scottish Budget 2023-24 to (a) Warmer Homes Scotland, (b) its Area Based Schemes, (c) Home Energy Scotland loans and (d) the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund and "fabric first" projects, and how each of these compares with the allocations in (i) 202…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The figures requested are set out in the following table:  2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 Warmer Homes Scotland £50m £55m £55m Area Based Schemes £64m £64m £64m Home Energy Scotland Grants & Loans £21m £42m £42m Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund £20…

5 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact in Scotland of the UK Government’s decision to extend the freeze on alcohol duty rates until 1 August 2023.

Answer · John Swinney: Alcohol duty is a reserved tax which is set and administered by the UK Government. We are not aware of the UK Government having made any assessment of the impact of the extended six-month freeze on alcohol duty on Devolved Administrations, nor did they consul…

5 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is, regarding any impact in Scotland, on the role that increases in alcohol duty play as a public health measure to reduce alcohol-related harms.

Answer · Maree Todd: Alcohol duty is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government would strongly recommend that the UK Government considers public health as part of any review to alcohol duty. The Scottish Government believes that the stronger the beverage, the higher…

5 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on alcohol-related harms and other public health impacts in Scotland of alcohol duty freezes.

Answer · Maree Todd: Alcohol duty is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government would strongly recommend that the UK Government considers public health as part of any review to alcohol duty. We have made no assessment of the impact of the six-month freeze on alcohol…

21 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the timetable for submission of funding applications for regional climate action hubs will be announced, and what the anticipated duration of funding support will be for the hubs.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Government published budget proposals in December. Subject to parliamentary approval, that will determine the levels and duration of funding available. Until this is finalised officials are not in a position to publish the application form and eligibilit…

19 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the savings will be in 2023-24 as a result of the decision to freeze the headline business rate, broken down by industry sector.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The decision to freeze the non-domestic poundage rate at 49.8p is expected to save ratepayers £308 million in 2023-24, compared to uprating the poundage in line with September’s measure of CPI which would have resulted in a poundage rate of 54.8p in 2023-24. …

19 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the savings will be in 2023-24 as a result of the decision to increase the starting threshold for the higher property rate, broken down by industry sector.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Table 1 presents the estimated gross savings to ratepayers due to the increase in the rateable value threshold for the Higher Property Rate (HPR) to £100,000. This table does not take into account any reliefs, including Transitional Relief. This is broken dow…

5 Dec 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on the roll-out of the Child Disability Payment.

30 Nov 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards the National Strategy for Economic Transformation commitment to establish an investor panel, chaired by the First Minister.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The First Minister will chair the Investor Panel and has appointed Angus Macpherson, CEO, Noble & Co as co-Chair. Ministers and officials have been working closely with Mr Macpherson to identify suitable Panel members with the knowledge, experience and expert…

27 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the next National Marine Plan will include detailed marine spatial plans for mobile and static fishing gears.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The purpose of the National Marine Plan is to set out the strategic policies for the sustainable development of our marine resources. The current National Marine Plan reflects broad spatial areas for certain types of activities (for example through policies s…

27 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on addressing any socioeconomic impacts on marine industries affected by the need for a just transition to a low-impact fishing industry.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to working to deliver a just transition to climate resilience and net zero for Scotland. Scotland’s Future Fisheries Management Strategy sets out our approach to managing sea fisheries in Scotland in partnership with our s…

13 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to (a) launching an inquiry to assess the potential value of retrofit over demolition and (b) the introduction of a demolition levy, in light of the Chartered Institute of Building’s report, Levelling the playing field, not Scotland’s built environment: …

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of retrofitting existing buildings, as noted in our Town Centre Action Plan review and Housing to 2040 Strategy. We are aware that current VAT rules may incentivise demolition over retrofitting. However, VAT p…