Paul Sweeney

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the operational status of the Dalzell Steelworks in Motherwell. 

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with management at the Dalzell steelworks. We have been advised that the restart of operations is in progress and that they have confidence that the contract with Navantia to provide steel for the Fleet Solid Supp…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the operational status of the Clydebridge Steelworks in Cambuslang.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Clydebridge Steelworks site has been non-operational since 2022. At the meeting of the Public Audit Committee on 25 February 2026 Jeffrey Kabel, Chief Transformation Officer at the Liberty Steel Group, advised that options were being explored for the futu…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a limited overnight express train service between the Glasgow and Edinburgh terminals.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The complexity of rail network management and maintenance would not currently allow night-time ScotRail operations on Scotland’s railway network, including between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when an all-day four-trains-per-hour express service between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street will be reinstated.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30385 on 25 October 2024. 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-committe…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to equip ScotRail passenger trains with satellite wi-fi.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The Member may wish to contact ScotRail directly for this information.

25 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reform rolling stock companies (ROSCOs) as part of the broader nationalisation of the railway network.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: This is a matter for the UK Government.

23 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will fully fund the £6.5 million that Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) reportedly estimates it requires to undertake a Franchise Framework Assessment (FFA) for bus franchising in Greater Glasgow, in addition to the £4 million that has already been alloca…

Answer · Stephen Flynn: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is still at an early stage in developing its franchising framework and assessment. It is important that their business case for improving bus services through franchising is made robustly and in an evidenced based w…

22 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much public money the Scottish Prison Service has spent on commissioning Montagu Evans in relation to its appeal against the designation of historic buildings at HMP Barlinnie as Category A listed by Historic Environment Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00406 on 2 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/w…

22 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Scottish Prison Service is appealing against the decision by Historic Environment Scotland to designate historic buildings at HMP Barlinnie as Category A listed, in light of reported high public and democratic support for the designation.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00406 on 2 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/w…

22 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce prohibitive construction costs that may exceed the value of a development when completed.

Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The Scottish Government’s Client Guide to Construction Projects provides guidance to the public sector on the conduct of construction projects. This includes guidance on how to ensure value for money through the planning, design, procurement and managem…

22 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland will take over responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the Clyde Tunnel from Glasgow City Council.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: Transport Scotland has yet to commence discussions with Glasgow City Council regarding the Clyde Tunnel.These discussions will help inform the development of a range of options on how the manifesto offer to “take on responsibility for the maintenance of…

21 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what extra resources have been earmarked to support the work of community councils if, as it envisages in its report,  Democracy Matters: Route Map to Reform, they were to become the initiators of the development of updated local areas led plans.

Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The Democracy Matters Route Map (Published jointly with COSLA in May 2026) outlined the direction of travel to further empower communities and enhance local communities.Options for how the components of the Route Map are delivered are currently being consider…

21 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of its report, Single Authority Models: Publication on Progress, what action the Public Sector Reform Directorate next plans to take regarding the usage of single authority models. 

Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: Single Authority Models are a key component within the Scottish Government’s Public Service Reform Strategy, and the joint statement with COSLA on the Local Governance Review published in March 2026, confirmed our ongoing commitment to this foundational…

18 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available to people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD).

Answer · Maree Todd: Through Scotland’s Rare Disease Action Plan, we are taking forward actions to improve support for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and related conditions, including hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). This includes work to support earlier d…

18 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to develop a national care pathway for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD).

Answer · Maree Todd: There is currently no fully established national clinical pathway for Ehlers–Danlos Syndromes (EDS) or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) specifically commissioned by NHS Scotland.The development and implementation of clinical pathways is led by NHS…

18 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to improve education on, and general awareness of, Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD).

Answer · Maree Todd: Through Scotland’s Rare Disease Action Plan, we are taking forward actions to improve support for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and related conditions, including hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). This includes work to support earlier d…

16 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) what funding it will allocate and (b) what the timescale is for the complete restoration and reopening of the People’s Palace Museum and Winter Gardens in Glasgow.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is committed to providing support to the City of Glasgow to complete the refurbishment of the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens to see them reopened to the public. We are currently awaiting an update regarding the restoration pr…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to bring forward legislation during the first year of the current parliamentary session to provide for further regulation of (a) vape products and (b) the storage of lithium-ion batteries.

Answer · Maree Todd: (a) As noted in our 100-day commitment, we will launch a public consultation on a display ban of vapes and nicotine pouches as part of our on-going implementation of the 2026 Tobacco and Vapes Act (the Act). We also continue to work with the 4-nations on poli…

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has undertaken of any impact of clinical radiologist staffing levels on the timely reporting of CT and MRI scans.

Answer · Neil Gray: As noted in my response to question S6W-43974 on 5 March 2026, the National Radiology Lead from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery meets regularly with Health Boards to discuss imaging performance, staffing levels and scanner stock. NHS Boards have been aske…

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the cost to NHS boards of outsourcing (a) radiology image acquisition and (b) radiology reporting, in each of the last five years.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government works with Health Boards through planning to make best use of existing NHS resources and capacity, it is for Health Boards locally to determine how they use the private sector and to agree any contractual arrangements. The Scottish Gov…

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of current trends, when it anticipates that the target for 95% of people referred to radiology services to be seen within six weeks will be reached.

Answer · Neil Gray: Throughout 2025-26, all Boards were expected to incrementally ramp-up activity as the capacity provided by the £22 million additional funding operationalised, with some high volume initiatives commencing in the latter part of the year.All Boards are mak…

11 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to support lung health in Scotland. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people with respiratory conditions receive the best possible care and treatment to enable them to live longer, healthier, and more independent lives. Through our Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland, …

11 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent reports that firms operating in Scotland are actively working with Russian oil firms.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has made clear that it stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian government and its people and resolutely condemns Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.Putting real pressure on Russia relies on the effectiveness of the internationa…

11 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on the mechanism that will be used to allocate funding to regional transport partnerships to support the implementation of bus franchising.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am pleased that we will invest £4 million in 2026-27 to support Local Transport Authorities to build business cases for local bus improvements through franchising, using powers created in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.Work to develop appropriate g…

11 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government Government what progress it has made towards delivering the recommendations of the Diagnostic Imaging Workforce Plan for NHS Scotland, which was published in May 2023, and whether it plans to make a statement on the matter.

Answer · Neil Gray: Since publication of the Diagnostic Imaging Workforce Plan in May 2023, the Scottish Government has continued to support education and training pathways for clinical radiologists. Over the past five years, 164 Clinical Radiology training posts have been adver…

11 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many MRI and CT scanners are used in NHS boards across Scotland, and how many of those are more that 10 years old.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-43500 on 12 February 2026 and S6W-35994 28 March 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parli…

11 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the Scottish print industry and what, if any, government support it has assessed it needs.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government monitors wider trends across all sectors, including the print industry, through Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).As our national skills body, SDS has operational responsibility for managing appre…

11 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to encourage more apprentices into the print industry.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Skills Development Scotland (SDS) provide an all-age career service in every local authority, with SDS Careers Advisers in secondary schools and SDS centres and community locations nationwide. Careers advisers highlight the career options available across all…

11 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Print Scotland reportedly stating that Scotland "risks a skills cliff edge" due to the funding disparities in training contributions between Scotland and England.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: I am aware of Print Scotland’s concerns over the funding differences in training contributions between England and Scotland. Print Scotland have written to Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and will meet to discuss this further.Apprenticeship funding in…

11 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-44015 by Jenni Minto on 10 March 2026, in light of the minister’s comment that any decisions are expected to “be taken in consultation with people who use services”, what action it will take following Glasgow City Health and Social…

Answer · Jenni Minto: As outlined in my response to question S6W-44015, audit recommendations regarding this decision will be implemented by Glasgow City Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP) officers, who are accountable to the Glasgow City Integration Joint Board (IJB) Fin…