Maggie Chapman

23 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Aberdeenshire Council regarding the reported financial pressures that it is experiencing.

17 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the feasibility study for the transport of carbon dioxide by pipeline to St Fergus in the north east of Scotland, and if the study has not concluded, when it is expected to do so.

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.

15 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its international development work is supporting the humanitarian response in Palestine.

31 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Shelter Scotland report, In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, what steps it is taking to encourage (a) social and (b) private landlords to explore all options before a household with children faces evict…

Answer · Paul McLennan: There are robust measures in place in Scotland to help all social and private sector tenants in rent arrears, including those with children, to sustain their tenancy. Pre-action requirements/protocols for tenants facing eviction for rent arrears are in place …

31 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Shelter Scotland report, In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation, what steps it is taking to prevent the eviction of households with children due to rent arrears.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Scotland has some of the strongest legal protections from eviction in the UK. Pre-action requirements/protocols for tenants facing eviction for rent arrears are in place in both the social and private rented sectors. This ensures that social landlords have ex…

12 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported claims that policing of pro-Palestinian rallies and demonstrations has been disproportionate and heavy-handed.

5 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding what support can be provided to migrant workers in the agricultural sector in Scotland.   

19 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its work on international development and support for humanitarian aid is being used to ensure the safety and security of those who are fleeing war and persecution.

28 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on how many people with no recourse to public funds have received Best Start Foods payments.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland routinely publishes information on Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods applications and payments. Information on the number of awards made to people with no recourse to public funds is not held within the system used to process appl…

22 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its draft Budget 2025-26 will help enable individuals and communities to access justice.  

15 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its draft Budget 2025-26 will contribute towards promoting anti-racism campaigns and initiatives.

8 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its draft Budget 2025-26 will support local authorities to better serve rural communities, such as those in Aberdeenshire and Angus council areas in the North East Scotland region.      

6 Jan 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the effectiveness of the National Planning Framework 4 principles in creating sustainable places across Scotland that enhance human and environmental wellbeing.

4 Dec 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to enhance thesustainability of cultural facilities in the North East Scotland region,including to prevent job losses in the sector and improve support for culturaleducation.

26 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the University of Dundee, in light of recent reports regarding its financial situation, senior management resignations and its failure to recruit enough Scottish students.  

13 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent its economic development activities and infrastructure project decisions in the North East Scotland region are aligned with the regional economic strategy.

11 Nov 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reported concerns that its proposed formula for calculating rent controls in the Housing (Scotland) Bill will require above-inflation rent rises for hundreds of thousands of renters, thus not tackling unaffordable rents.

6 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what conversations it has had with its international development partners regarding building resilience to increasing humanitarian crises.

7 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported comment by the Fire Brigades Union Scotland that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is in a “deadly cycle of decline”.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government believes the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) continues to deliver the high standard of services required to keep Scotland safe. Firefighters play a crucial role in keeping communities safe and preventing fires remains a priorit…

2 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by Audit Scotland on Scotland’s colleges, which states that “colleges need more clarity from the Scottish Government on the aspects of their role to prioritise,” and that colleges are “making fundamental decisions about th…

1 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has produced an action plan on achieving compliance with Article 9(4) of the UN Aarhus Convention to ensure that access to justice is "fair, timely, equitable, and not prohibitively expensive".

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government will be contributing to a UK wide report on compliance to the Aarhus Compliance Committee very shortly. The report will detail significant progress towards addressing concerns previously raised by the Compliance Committee.Our “Vi…

17 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the Fair Work Convention’s inquiry into Fair Work in the Hospitality Industry.

17 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of the Scottish Civil Justice Council’s review of court rules, and, to comply with the access to justice requirements of the Aarhus Convention, how it will ensure that any reforms will be enacted before the deadline of 1 October 2024.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Civil Justice Council's review of access to justice in environmental cases has resulted in new rules being made. The new rules are contained within the Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 Amendment) (Protective Expenses Orders) 20…

18 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is undertaking to tackle racism in justice and community safety-related public bodies.

5 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its recently published public sector pay policy will support public sector workers to cope with the cost of living.

29 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions that it has had with universities across Scotland about how public money is used, including in relation to any activities that may impact the ongoing conflict in Palestine.

21 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to tackle wildlife crime.

23 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on work undertaken to resolve any public sector equal pay disputes.

17 Apr 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether public sector bodies should support pregnant workers and new parents with 52 weeks of maternity leave at full pay.

Answer · Tom Arthur: As an employer, the Scottish Government is fully committed to providing support and flexibility to parents. This includes providing full pay for 27 weeks followed by statutory maternity pay up to 39 weeks which far exceeds statutory entitlements. It is for i…

21 Mar 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on what action the Scottish Government is taking to deliver the New Deal for Tenants.