Meghan Gallacher

10 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for the full rollout of universal primary school free meals.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00942 on 24 June 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/…

10 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the workforce expansion required to deliver childcare from nine-months old to the end of a child's primary school education.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: We recognise that workforce capacity is fundamental to the successful delivery of our funded childcare expansion, just as it was fundamental to our successful delivery of 1140 hours of funded early learning and childcare. Our approach to expansion will involv…

10 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Apprenticeship Accelerator Grant scheme will open for applications.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Information about how the Apprenticeship Accelerator Grant scheme will operate will be set out in due course.

10 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to enact legislation designed to address violence against women and girls that has already been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament to tackle violence against women and girls.We are working closely with stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the Female Genital Mutilation…

10 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Equality and Human Rights Commission's updated Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations, which is currently laid before the UK Parliament, what its position is on any implications for Scottish public bodies.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: While the subject matter of the Equality Act 2010 is reserved to the UK Government, we are undertaking a detailed analysis of the Code to fully understand its implications and to ensure our approach remains aligned with the law.Responsibility for interpreting…

10 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what renewed action it will take to address violence against women and girls in the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Simita Kumar: We are continuing to deliver Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls (VAWG), through a comprehensive and coordinated approach across prevention, protection and justice.A new Equally Safe Delivery…

10 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made to ensure that all public sector bodies are adhering to the judgement of the Supreme Court in the For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers case.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Public bodies in Scotland, as both employers and service providers, are required to comply with all relevant legal obligations, including the Equality Act 2010. The Scottish Government expects all public bodies to ensure that its policies and practices are le…

10 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that public bodies understand and comply with their obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Answer · Simita Kumar: The Scottish Government expects all public bodies subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) to comply with their obligations as set out under the Equality Act 2010. The PSED should be factored into the exercise of all duty bearers’ functions, in…

9 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many biologically male prisoners are currently held in the female prison estate.

Answer · Neil Gray: I have asked Linda Pollock, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS publishes prison numbers on a quarterly basis via the Prisoner Information Page (PIP), the most recent of which can be found here: Pub…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the new railway station at Winchburgh will be completed.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: It is the project promoters, Winchburgh Developments Limited and West Lothian Council, who are currently responsible for setting the project delivery timeline for a new station at Winchburgh.The funding application for capital construction costs submitted to …

19 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to reassure communities and armed forces groups that the preservation and protection of war memorials remains a ministerial priority.

Answer · Kirsten Oswald: Protecting and preserving war memorials remains a priority demonstrated through ongoing support, including funding from Historic Environment Scotland to the War Memorials Trust, and through the ability for sites to be considered for listing or designation. Mo…

19 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to working in the current session to bring forward or support legislative amendments to strengthen protections for nationally and locally significant war memorials.

Answer · Kirsten Oswald: Ministers will always seek to engage openly and positively with all parties interested in strengthening the protection, preservation and maintenance of Scotland’s war memorials, including Members. Ministers will consider their position on the protection…

19 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the potential establishment of a statutory framework to co-ordinate protections and responsibilities relating to war memorials.

Answer · Kirsten Oswald: No representations have been received suggesting that a new statutory framework to co-ordinate protections and responsibilities relating to war memorials in Scotland is required. However, Ministers are considering their position on the protection afforded to …

19 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the Constitution,Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee's proposal in its Stage 1 reporton the Desecration of War Memorials (Scotland) Bill to legislate to create astatutory aggravation in relation to the protection and maintenance of warmemoria…

Answer · Kirsten Oswald: Ministers recognise the importance of Scotland’s war memorials and the significant personal, cultural and community value they hold, as well as the deeply felt impact that damage to them can cause. Following the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs an…

17 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting first-time buyers.

10 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent further job losses in the oil and gas supply chain as a result of the energy transition.

3 Mar 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it was first informed of water and mould ingress at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

29 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its inquiry into Skye House.

Answer · Tom Arthur: In February 2025 the Scottish Government commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) to undertake independent joint inspections and visits of all Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) inpatient unit…

14 Jan 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the increase in the international development fund that was announced in the draft 2026-27 Scottish Budget will be spent.

17 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve pupil attendance in schools.

3 Dec 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on increasing the number of overnight beds for parents in neonatal wards.

4 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent convictions of a grooming gang for sexual exploitation in Dundee, what steps it is taking to prevent similar cases across Scotland, including through the establishment of a national inquiry into grooming gangs.

21 Oct 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on businesses and the economy, what steps it is taking to ensure that business and regulatory impact assessments properly reflect the real-world impact of new policies on small and medium-sized enterprises.

16 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the costs associated with remediating the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, what its position is on whether all future hospitals and other potentially high-risk buildings, such as schools, should only be constructed with non-combustible façade materials.

Answer · Neil Gray: Any new schools or hospitals must comply with current building standards, which include a requirement for non-combustible cladding material at a storey height of over 11m. High risk MAC-PE cladding material is banned on buildings of all height. It is the stat…

16 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussion it, or any of its agencies, including the Building Standards Division, has had with local authorities across Scotland regarding the use of the BS 8414 cladding system test, to ensure notification is given if the test is used to demonstrate compliance for external wall cla…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government’s Building Standards Division (BSD) requires local authority verifiers to notify BSD under Section 34 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 when certain methods are used to demonstrate compliance with mandatory building standards. …

16 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, what its position is on whether it is appropriate for the BS 8414 cladding system test to reportedly still form part of Scotland’s building standards technical handbooks for demonstrating compliance for external wall cladding…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Public safety remains a foremost priority for the Scottish Government. To strengthen fire safety standards following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, an independent panel of fire safety experts was convened to assess the risks associated with combustible cladding …

1 Oct 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its role in proposing the scheduling of parliamentary business, how it can help ensure that parliamentary time is used constructively for the remainder of this parliamentary session.

24 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what long-term action it will take to support farmers growing malting barley.

9 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any steps it is taking to expand the availability of training and apprenticeships in the construction sector, in light of reported industry concerns about a growing skills gap.

19 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a full list of heating methods that will be permitted as part of its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Our proposed Heat in Buildings Bill will create a target for decarbonising heating systems by 2045. We recognise that reaching this target is likely to require a range of technologies, and so our intention is that the Bill will enable and support flexibility.…