Paul Sweeney

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask NHS boards to release a detailed breakdown of their spending on mental health services, and whether it considers that there is a need for greater standardisation of how finances are accounted for across boards.

Answer · Tom Arthur: NHS Scotland expenditure on mental health is published annually in arrears in the Scottish Health Service Costs book by Public Health Scotland. The Cost Book is publicly accessible and offers a consistent framework for financial data across NHS Boards. The mo…

11 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will lead the preparation of a plan and investment case for the development of Scotland's steel manufacturing, including the commissioning of a Direct Reduced Iron facility and Electric Arc Furnace to leverage part of the £2.5 billion allocated to the green steel fund fr…

Answer · Kate Forbes: We are engaging with the UK Government regularly on the development of their Strategy for Steel. I understand that the Minister for Public Finance has written recently to the UK Government Ministers on this matter. We await details of the proposed £2.5 …

11 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the NHS Scotland budget has been spent on pharmaceuticals in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The following data is extracted from the Public Health Scotland (PHS) Costs Books reports. The most recent published data is from the financial year 2023-24.YearDrug Expenditure (£000)Total Expenditure (£000)Percentage (%)2023-242,200,97815,076,77…

11 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the planned sale of the Clydebridge Steelworks in Cambuslang by GFG Alliance.

Answer · Ivan McKee: GFG is considering its strategic options for the site and this is a commercial matter for the company.

10 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to improve the rehabilitation of people who are subject to short prison sentences.

9 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on Scotland's economy, whether it will engage with the UK Government and Serco regarding the reported award of the Defence Maritime Service Next Generation Vessel Replacement Project to the Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Group and ask for consideratio…

Answer · Kate Forbes: Scottish Government engage regularly with the National Shipbuilding Office on matters including proposed procurement exercises, and we are aware that Damen have been awarded work to deliver tug vessels for the Royal Navy under a contract won by Serco. The del…

8 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason a stroke thrombectomy service is not currently available in Glasgow on a 24/7 basis.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service. We have invested over £51 million to date on expanding access to thrombectomy. While we continue to face significant financial challenges,…

8 Sep 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what additional support the Scottish Government is giving to the Public Dental Service, in light of reports that there has been a 10% rise in spending over the last two years due to increased demand.  

3 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that paid-for visits at private health clinics in the first quarter of the year were at the highest level recorded in a single quarter.

2 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes a higher birth rate, in light of reports that the number of births in Scotland in 2024 dropped to its lowest number in 169 years.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: Falling birth rates are a trend across many high-income countries, with significant implications for our economies, communities and public services. It is not for government to dictate or influence whether an individual should have children, which is rightly …

1 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the next round of the Investing in Communities Fund (ICF) will be announced.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Decisions concerning future Scottish Government funding programmes will be considered and addressed through the Scottish Budget and Scottish Spending Review processes.

28 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to expedite the legislation and guidance that Glasgow City Council requires to proceed with the establishment of an e-scooter hire scheme.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Electric scooters are covered by the same UK-wide laws and regulations that apply to all motor vehicles. As such, e-scooters need to meet the legal requirements of the 1988 Act – including valid motor insurance; technical standards; payment of vehicle t…

28 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the Homeless Persons (Suspension of Referrals between Local Authorities) (Scotland) Order 2022, in light of the reported increased pressure on homelessness services in Glasgow that has arisen since the order was commenced.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The rules on local connection were changed in November 2022 to give homeless households – like other households – choice and control about where they settle. The SSI in November 2022 stopped referrals of homeless households between Scottish local …

28 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that an estimated 27% of state pensionage people in Glasgow are not aware of Pension Credit and an estimated£30,263,573 goes unclaimed annually by 13,377 pensioners, what measures it cantake to communicate directly with state pension age people to encourage max…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The DWP is ultimately responsible for increasing take-up of Pension Credit. Despite this, through our Benefit Take-Up Strategy, of which there is no UK Government equivalent, we continue to tackle barriers to take-up and explore opportunities to raise awarene…

25 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing with drone (a) manufacturing and (b) operating firms in Scotland to develop perimeter defence systems for (i) prisons and (ii) other sensitive secure sites.

Answer · Angela Constance: In relation to prisons, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and the Scottish Government are aware of the negative impact of drones being used to introduce illicit items into the prison estate and the threat that has for the operational stability of prisons acro…

21 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will specify the use of Scottish-grown and manufactured cross-laminated timber (CLT) in the building standards technical handbooks and supporting documents.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Decisions regarding the selection and specification of materials must be made by qualified design and construction professionals, based on the specific performance requirements of each individual project. This approach ensures that materials are chosen approp…

19 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR) will publish a list of all the ownerless property that it currently holds within the Glasgow City Council area by virtue of (a) ultimus haeres (estates of people who died without heirs or a will) and (b) bona vacanti…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR) has an administrative function only and he does not hold or own property which has fallen to him as bona vacantia or ultimus haeres.The KLTR already publishes a list of properties which have fall…

19 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its policy to not use public money to support the manufacture of munitions or weapons, what its position is on whether an SSN submarine is a weapon in itself, as opposed to a naval vessel that may be used as a platform to carry conventional non-nuclear weapons or munitions.

Answer · Kate Forbes: As of 3 September 2025, the Scottish Government no longer has a policy prohibiting the use of public funds to support the manufacture of munitions.

19 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will engage with partners on the proposed AMIDS South transport links project in Paisley to promote the integration of a Very Light Rail (VLR) shuttle line between the Glasgow Airport terminal building and Paisley Gilmour Street railway station, in light of the proof of concep…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As recommended in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), Transport Scotland continues to work with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), Glasgow City Council and other regional partners in the development of Clyde Metro. Transport Scot…

18 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the recent Strategic Defence Review, particularly those contained in chapter 6 (Home Defence and Resilience: A Whole-of-Society Approach) and chapter 7.2 (Maritime Domain), whether it will consider the potential designation of future vessels procured b…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government approach to vessel funding and procurement is progressed in line with relevant policy and legislation, including the Subsidy Control Act 2022. The direct award of any publicly funded contract and application of potential exemptions fro…

18 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39238 by Richard Lochhead on 18 August 2025, whether it will seek consent from firms to publish the name of their businesses in future publications and rankings, such as Businesses in Scotland, to improve the quality of analysis, in a similar manner…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR), the source of the Businesses in Scotland publication, is not a public register. The IDBR is a statistical register, built from a range of survey return data, administrative data and estimated data.The IDBR data…

17 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take in response to reported concerns that low-level fraud has effectively been decriminalised, with there being no one to report it to and the platforms that enable it not taking any action to stop it.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is working with law enforcement partners such as Police Scotland, the National Cyber Security Centre as well as the financial industry in combatting fraud.Police Scotland has established a cyber and fraud specialist division to enhance…

8 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to prevent the permanent closure of Ballantine Castings Ltd, in light of reports that it is Scotland's last architectural ironworks.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Whilst the Scottish Government are aware that Ballantine Casting Ltd is going through liquidation, we were not notified in advance of commercial decisions to appoint the liquidation. The business is not account managed by Scottish Enterprise. The individuals …

7 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support Bruntwood SciTech investment to alternative sites in Glasgow, in light of the withdrawal from its Met Tower city centre innovation hub and laboratory development in 2024. 

Answer · Kate Forbes: As our national economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise has engaged extensively with Bruntwood SciTech over a number of years, both in relation to the Met Tower development and, most recently, to explore alternative proposals and investments in Glasg…

7 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on its National Strategy for Economic Transformation, what its response is to reported comments by tech entrepreneur, financier and co-founder of Arm, Hermann Hauser, that there are three litmus tests for tech takeovers, whether control of the technology is still in…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We recognise Dr Hermann Hauser’s long-standing role in shaping UK innovation policy and his warning about the risks of over-dependence on global technology giants. His comments underline the importance of ensuring that Scotland retains secure and reliab…

5 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38881 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 July 2025, what actions Social Security Scotland (SSS) is exploring to strengthen its support for veterans and service members, and whether these will include the establishment of a network of armed forces and …

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland is committed to delivering services with dignity, fairness and respect for all people, including veterans and service members. This includes activities to advance its equality outcome to improve the service and experiences of diverse …

5 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that SEPA's indicative pay offer does not meet the Scottish Government minimum increase policy of 3%, and by what date SEPA will confirm its proposed pay increase for 2025.

Answer · Gillian Martin: We are aware that SEPA pay negotiations with Unison, continue with regular, engagement and dialogue.SEPA’s initial informal offer was for a split pay offer of 2% for 9 months and 3% for 3 months for 2025-26. With further years to be determined once the …

4 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to ensure that any intellectual property created in Scotland is exploited in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As the latest Programme for Government makes clear, the commercialisation of Scottish research and intellectual property (IP) is a significant economic opportunity. The Scottish Government and its agencies are working in partnership with universities and inve…

4 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of recent reported medical breakthroughs, including the new Aberdeen-designed Field Cycling Imaging brain scan, whether it will work with partners in the medical equipment industry to create a dedicated medical equipment manufacturing site in Scotland to ensure that any in…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is supportive of innovations developed in Scotland being commercialised in Scotland.Through Scottish Enterprise we have established the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre(MDMC) which is a pan-Scotland collaboration with five universit…

3 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent Kaldor's growth laws are considered in its policies for economic growth and industrial development.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Kaldor’s growth laws align with the Scottish Government’s economic and industrial strategies through emphasis on sectoral growth as a driver for overall economic progress. The National Strategy for Economic Transformation outlines a ten-year plan …