Maggie Chapman

21 Jan 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to sustain the projects aiming to tackle poverty and social exclusion in the North East Scotland region, that are currently supported by the Investing in Communities Fund, beyond March 2026.

20 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Ending Homelessness Together Fund will be monitored to ensure that it delivers systemic change, including targeted resourcing to lay any essential groundwork for the "ask and act" duties with non-housing services.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The largest part of the ending homelessness together fund goes to local authorities to support the transition to rapid rehousing, including the roll out of housing first. The Scottish Government carries out monitoring to understand from local authorities how …

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a robust, audited, single public dataset covering the use of site-level veterinary-medicines, with a quarterly publication and a clear timetable for implementation, by Scotland’s salmon industry across the freshwater and marine stages.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Regulation of veterinary medicines is a reserved matter for the UK Government. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is responsible for enforcing Veterinary Medicines Regulations and undertaking appropriate monitoring in fulfilment of their regulatory duties. …

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Scotland’s salmon industry understated its 2024 antibiotic use by 66% before revising the figure, what sanctions are available where inaccurate or incomplete veterinary-medicines returns required under licence conditions are made to regulators, and what in…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Regulation of veterinary medicines is a reserved matter for the UK Government. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for market authorisation of antibiotics, including publication of antibiotic sales and sectorial usage statistics, and sur…

14 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that relevant law in Scotland is brought into line with that in England and Wales regarding sexually inappropriate AI-generated images.

Answer · Angela Constance: As set out during the debate in Parliament on Motion S6M-19504 on Non-fatal Strangulation Laws and Intimate Partner Homicides on 8 January 2026, the Scottish Government will shortly publish a consultation to seek views on a number of issues relating to how th…

14 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to help tackle the use of sexually inappropriate AI-generated images.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Our Equally Safe strategy recognises that, just as violence against women and girls takes place in all communities and places, the same applies to all online spaces. Action is therefore required across Government, the wider public, third sector, industry, and…

14 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the requirement to provide evidence of the qualifying benefit award that is dated within the last 18 months, regardless of the length of the award, is a barrier to applying and renewing a disabled person’s bus pass.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Older and Disabled Persons’ National Concessionary Travel Scheme is administered locally by Local Authorities and the National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO) on behalf of Transport Scotland.As part of the verification process, applicants …

14 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to Adult Disability Payment determinations and redeterminations that have been appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security Chamber), for what reason it has had its decision overturned 2,545 times (53% of all appeals), and what it is doing to meet its …

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland is committed to making the right decision first time by ensuring it has the information needed to make robust, person-centred decisions, based on a thorough understanding of how an individual’s disability or long-term health con…

14 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Resolution Foundation's analysis of Adult Disability Payment and Personal Independence Payment official statistics that successful application rates for Adult Disability Payment are now lower compared with the equivalent Personal Independence Payment in England…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: While Adult Disability Payment and Personal Independence Payment are both benefits which provide money to help disabled people, they are underpinned by different principles and approaches. Direct comparisons should be treated with caution.The more person-cent…

14 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the successful application rate for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) has reportedly fallen in each fiscal year that ADP has operated, from 57% in 2022-23, to 51% in 2023-24, to 42% in 2024-25, and to 34% in 2025-26 to date.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland is committed to ensuring eligible people receive the financial help they are entitled to.Independent analysis by the Institute of Fiscal Studies and the Resolution Foundation shows a surge in application numbers following Adult Disabi…

17 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support young people to engage with the consultation on updating the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967.

3 Dec 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to address the reported legal aid crisis, to ensure that people in the North East Scotland region are able to access support.

26 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on adult English (ESOL) classes that are held on school premises of the reported far-right protests that have taken place outside the schools in opposition to these.

18 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to expand the use of FibroScan across NHS Scotland, with the aim of improving the early detection of liver disease.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is currently assessing the potential to expand the use of Fibroscans across NHS Scotland through its Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) which is finalising a Strategic Case paper (rapid assessment) on Intelligent Liver Testing to p…

12 Nov 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support tenants and owner-occupiers affected by RAAC in the North East Scotland region.

27 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the most recent data from SEPA's Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory, which reportedly shows rising levels of toxic pollution, including mercury, from Scotland's incinerators.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The 2022 independent review of the role of incineration in Scotland states that in the short-term, incineration will have a role to play in managing our waste as we transition to a circular economy.As we continue to increase our reuse and recycling rates, we …

27 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the latest reported data from SEPA, which shows that Scotland's five biggest incinerators produced more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2024, what its position is on the reported record levels of carbon emissions from incinerators.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Energy from waste emissions were expected to rise in the short-term as a result of preparations for the upcoming ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste. As part of these preparations, a portion of currently landfilled waste is diverted to incinerati…

27 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported shutdown and reopening of the NESS incinerator in Aberdeen, what discussions it has had with SEPA and any affected local authorities, and whether any impact of disrupted waste management services on local people was discussed.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Waste collection and recycling services are a matter for individual local authorities and which strategy they adopt is entirely up to them. Local authorities are independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities, separate from the Scotti…

22 Oct 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will allocate in its forthcoming Budget to support older people to live independently in their local communities.

17 Sep 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions that it has had with Police Scotland about the policing of protests outside hotels and other accommodation for people seeking asylum.

15 Sep 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to protect renters in the private sector from homelessness.

10 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service about role expansion for firefighters.

27 Aug 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to local authorities to help ensure that all residents across the north east can access local council services, including help when things go wrong, in person as well as online.

26 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it reportedly did not contribute to the UK progress update to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee on 29 May 2025.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee issued Decision VII/8s in October 2021, which found that Scotland and the UK are not compliant with the requirements of the Aarhus Convention in relation to access to justice. The UK was required by the Compliance Co…

25 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Scottish Civil Justice Council (SCJC) remains a competent body to review the rules governing legal expenses for Aarhus cases, in light of reports of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) granting admissibility to a complaint submitted by th…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) has indicated that communication ACCC/C/2025/216, which alleges a failure on the part of the Scottish Civil Justice Council to publicly consult on amendments to the rules governing Protective Expenses Orders c…

29 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-37095 by Alasdair Allan on 8 May 2025, when it will publish the results of the SCO2T Connect project feasibility study.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government committed in July 2024 to provide £2 million of support for the National Gas Transmission SCO2T Connect project feasibility study, which successfully concluded in March 2025. The conclusions are commercially sensitive and will no…

28 May 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently published report by the Just Transition Commission, A Just Transition for Aberdeen and the North East.

22 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to each of the key messages identified in the Just Transition Commission's report, Just Transition for Aberdeen and the North East, and whether it will provide a timeline for initiating a planning process for regions that sets out the (a) scope, (b) core objectives, …

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government set out its response to the Just Transition Commission Report A Just Transition for Aberdeen and the North East in a statement to parliament on 3 June. This confirmed that we accept the headline recommendations in principle and will ta…

14 May 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the reported findings from a survey by the Fire Brigades Union that there is support and a need for 52 weeks of full pay for firefighters on maternity leave.

7 May 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the NHS and local authorities to support disabled people and carers in the North East Scotland region.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting disabled people and carers across Scotland.This is demonstrated by our record investment of £21.7 billion in health and social care in 2025-26 which includes almost £2.2 billion for social care an…