Parliamentary questions
Paul Sweeney
1,340 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Glasgow (a) City Council and (b) Life regarding the provision of capital funding for the restoration of the People’s Palace and its adjoining Winter Gardens.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government were approached by Glasgow Life for £4.5m funding towards the refurbishment. The request was flexible and could be split across multiple financial years with the majority of funding coming in 2027-28. The culture capital allocati…
7 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Procurement Act 2023 allowing contracting authorities to disregard bids from non-treaty state suppliers with which the UK does not have a trade agreement, such as China, what options this legislative provision provides for purchasers of buses under Phase 3 of the Scottis…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotZEB3 is a capital grant subsidy scheme rather than a procurement exercise. As such, the Procurement Act 2023 does not apply. The Scottish Government does not directly procure buses; vehicle procurement is carried out by bus operators.Awards made under Sco…
7 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) engagement it has carried out and (b) incentives it has provided to bus operators to procure Scottish-manufactured buses under Phase 3 of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB).
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government announced its intention to launch ScotZEB on 17 November 2025 with the scheme opening to bids on 5 December 2025. Officials met with interested stakeholders on request, and responded to all queries regarding eligibility, scheme guidanc…
4 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) consultation it has had and (b) support it has provided to Glasgow City Council to develop, agree and implement a new pay and grading structure, based on the results of job evaluation, to replace the current Workforce Pay and Benefits Review scheme.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government respects the independence of Local Government and the position of each council, including Glasgow City Council, as an independent employer with responsibility for their own budgets, workforce planning and job evaluation processes. The …
3 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet with stakeholders to discuss school provision and safe travel routes in Robroyston.
3 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the International Olympic Committee removing the requirement that host cities be elected seven years before the Games and revising its criteria to allow joint bids from multiple cities, regions or countries, what its position is on engaging with the “Great North”…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scotland is the perfect stage for events and has an enviable record in hosting mega events including this summer’s Commonwealth Games. We work closely with partners to attract events to Scotland and have an outstanding pipeline of events in the coming y…
2 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action will be taken in response of the findings of an internal audit of Glasgow City Integration Joint Board into its decision to withdraw funding from the Scottish Huntington’s Association for the provision of specialist support for families affected by Huntington’s, i…
Answer · Jenni Minto: I am aware of the concerns raised by the Scottish Huntington’s Association regarding the running of Huntington’s services, and I met with the charity last year to discuss this.While budgets are the responsibility of Health and Social Care Partners…
26 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the likelihood of meeting the March 2026 diagnostic waiting times target for radiology, in light of the most recent Public Health Scotland data.
Answer · Neil Gray: The latest statistics show that as at 31 December 2025, of those waiting for Radiology tests, 62% had been waiting six weeks or less; higher than 30 September 2025 (58%) and December 2024 (57%). The radiology list size also decreased by 18.1% compared to last…
26 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve timely access to CT and MRI scans, and how the impact of initiatives such as seven-day services and mobile scanning units are being evaluated.
Answer · Neil Gray: In 2025-26 we allocated more than £22 million additional funding to Health Boards to help tackle the longest waits for Radiology. The latest data shows that the Radiology list size decreased by 18.1% compared to last quarter. We are determined to contin…
26 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the existing CT and MRI scanner stock across NHS boards is sufficient to meet (a) present and (b) future demand.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer 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 …
26 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has undertaken of how radiographer and clinical radiologist staffing levels impact timely access to CT and MRI scans.
Answer · Neil Gray: We have increased Radiography staff from 2,248.2 WTE to 2,773.0 WTE a 23.3% increase (Dec 2015 – Dec 2025). This includes:24.1% increase in Diagnostic Radiographers (from 1,978.8 WTE as at Dec 2015 to 2,455.9 WTE as at Dec 2025).17.7% increase in Therap…
26 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Transport Scotland undertakes additional modelling of the local and regional bypass traffic impacts of replacing the M8 Woodside Viaducts with an urban six-lane surface-level boulevard with at-grade junctions as part of its options appraisal for the potential…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: At the Strategic Outline Case stage of a project it is important to consider a range of alternative approaches so that the benefits and disbenefits of each approach are considered in terms of fit with strategic policy considerations. For this project, the str…
25 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support registered social landlords with the costs of retrofitting the building fabric of social homes to make them energy efficient and fit for the future.
21 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of ScotRail tickets are currently (a) purchased using its app and (b) still paper-based.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The Member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.
21 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing in conjunction with administrator FRP Advisory to ensure that Orbex and its work to develop a sovereign space launch capability in Scotland is maintained as a going concern.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has been engaging with FRP Advisory, as the appointed administrators of Orbex, to understand both the position of the company, its workforce and its infrastructure and assets to explore any measures that could support continuity of ope…
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many mental health workers are currently employed in general practice, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Neil Gray: Mental Health Workers working in General Practice can be employed by either Health Boards or by GP practices.Data on the whole-time equivalent (WTE) Mental Health Workers, who are employed as part of Primary Care Improvement Plans associated with delivery of …
18 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the finance available for commercial shipbuilding projects at Scottish shipyards, including how the competitiveness of this compares with that of other European nations with commercial shipbuilding industries. R
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to local authorities to support their work to address habitual fly-tipping.
Answer · Gillian Martin: No additional direct funding has been provided to local councils for the implementation of the National Litter and Fly tipping Strategy. However, we have funded Keep Scotland Beautiful to deliver targeted interventions working with councils and communities, a…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any studies into any mental health impacts on residents living near areas that are affected by habitual fly-tipping.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has not conducted any specific research into mental health impacts on residents living near areas that are affected by habitual fly tipping. Keep Scotland Beautiful publish an annual Scottish Litter Survey which help us understand publ…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to address habitual industrial fly-tipping.
Answer · Gillian Martin: As set out in the Duty of Care: Code of Practice for Managing Controlled Waste, every organisation and individual has a duty to ensure that, when they dispose of waste, they do so using a registered waste carrier. SEPA provides a public register of waste carr…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions for fly-tipping there were in each year from 2019 to 2025.
Answer · Angela Constance: People convicted of a main charge of fly-tipping in Scottish courts, by financial year, were: eight in 2018-19, two in 2019-20, none in 2020-21, five in 2021-22, 12 in 2022-23 and four in 2023-24. Data for 2024-25 will be published later in 2026.
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fixed penalty fines for fly-tipping have been issued by Scotland's national parks since 1 April 2025.
Answer · Angela Constance: This information is not centrally held.
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what statutory powers are available to local authorities to tackle habitual fly-tippers.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Fly tipping is a criminal offence in Scotland under Section 33(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 with maximum penalties on summary conviction of a fine of up to £40,000, or a custodial sentence not exceeding six months or both and on convictio…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions are currently being taken to tackle fly-tipping.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The 2023 National Litter and Fly tipping Strategy sets out a six-year framework to take action on littering and fly tipping, with a focus on behaviour change, infrastructure and services, and enforcement.The Strategy is delivered in partnership with Zero Wast…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work has taken place on littering and fly-tipping since the publication of the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The 2023 National Litter and Fly tipping Strategy, is a six-year programme focused on behaviour change, infrastructure and services and enforcement. The Strategy is delivered in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful(KSB)and the Scottis…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken a review of the effectiveness of the measures in the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 to tackle habitual fly-tipping.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 provides a range of powers to tackle fly tipping in Scotland. These include a number of additional powers which were added to the legislation during the Parliamentary process, which will be implemented in due course.As…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fixed penalty fines for fly-tipping were issued in each year from 2019 to 2025.
Answer · Angela Constance: This data is not centrally held.
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what regulations have been created for the enforcement of measures, including destruction, in relation to vehicles linked to fly-tipping, since the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 came into force.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 strengthens the legislative framework for tackling flytipping. The current position on the relevant Sections of the Act are set out below:Section 11 (fixed penalty notices for flytipping): this provision enabling Scott…
10 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43316 by Angus Robertson on 3 February 2026, regarding the safeguard of the collection and support for future conservation projects, whether Historic Environment Scotland is working with the National Heritage Memorial Fund to purchase the enti…
Answer · Angus Robertson: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including queries relating to any opportunities for partnership working with the National Heritage Memorial Fund, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.…
3 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of how the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to the maritime sector will impact on the competitiveness of Scottish ports that currently attract cruise ship calls.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will expand into domestic maritime emissions for vessels of 5000 gross tonnage and above under the provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 curren…