Carol Mochan

15 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential economic impact on Scotland and the UK's ongoing trade negotiations with the EU, what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding retaining the UK's ability to set import controls on animal welfare grounds, for example to ban fur imports and …

15 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide financial support to indoor pig farmers to incentivise the early adoption of cage-free farrowing pens.

15 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish Law Commission project, Consolidation: Nature Conservation, whether it has requested that opportunities to strengthen or harmonise protections for different species be considered as part of that project.

8 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the 2026 report by Carers Week, Building Carer Friendly Communities, which found that 38% of respondents in Scotland have provided unpaid care at some point, how it plans to recognise and support unpaid carers throughout the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Angela Constance: We continue to invest over £88 million a year in local carer support through the Carers (Scotland) Act, enabling local authorities and their partners to deliver local services and community-based support. In addition to this, we increased voluntary sect…

8 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is working with local authorities to ensure that unpaid carers are supported and involved in their communities.

Answer · Angela Constance: We recognise the immense contribution unpaid carers make to communities across Scotland, and we are continuing to work closely with local authorities and partners to ensure carers are supported, recognised and involved in decisions that affect them.Through th…

8 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent report by Carers Week, Building Carer Friendly Communities, which found that 45% of people currently caring in Scotland do not feel that their role as an unpaid carer is understood or valued by their community, what action it plans to take to encourage communities…

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government invests over £88 million per year in local carer support through the Carers (Scotland) Act, enabling local authorities and their partners to deliver local carer strategies, information and advice services, and community-based sup…

8 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent report by Carers Week, Building Carer Friendly Communities, which found that schools were seen as the least carer-friendly organisation/service in Scotland, what action it plans to take to improve the support available for carers in schools.

Answer · Angela Constance: We recognise the importance of young carers being identified in schools so that they can be supported in achieving their educational and wider goals. This is why we fund an Education Officer at Carers Trust Scotland, who works with Education Scotland, the Gen…

5 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the disposal of sharps bins for injectable medicines purchased privately, including GLP-1 medicines, and what action it is taking to ensure that these medicines are being disposed of safely.

Answer · Maree Todd: Disposal of privately-prescribed medicines are outside Health Boards’ remit, therefore Scottish Government would not enter discussions with Boards on this topic. Safe disposal of waste associated with privately-prescribed medicines, including sharps, is…

5 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support has been provided to bowling clubs and local authority bowling greens to encourage greater participation among young people in lawn bowling.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government supports bowling clubs and local authority bowling greens through sportscotland by providing access to a range of funding streams, national programmes, and investment in the sport’s governing body, all of which help to increase p…

5 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the £20 million investment in the 2026 Summer of Sport programme has been allocated to support young people’s access to bowling.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Summer of Sport programme is designed to give children and young people opportunities to get active within their local communities through events and activities delivered by schools, clubs, sporting bodies and local authorities. At this stage, no specific…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to recent findings from the HMP Kilmarnock inspection report, which found that 223 cells designed for single occupancy had been converted to double occupancy due to overcrowding, and on 22 May 2025, 38 of these cells were being shared by convicted and…

Answer · Neil Gray: I welcome the report on HMP Kilmarnock from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS), in particular their acknowledgement of good practice and that the transfer from private into public ownership was done in a safe and controlled manne…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent inspection report of HMP Kilmarnock, the first inspection of a prison in Scotland transferred from private to public sector operation, which found that standards at the prison have declined since the previous inspection.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government welcomes the His Majesty’s Inspector of Prisons Scotland (HMIPS) report on HMP Kilmarnock and the important work by HMIPS to assess the treatment and care of those in custody.We note the report’s recognition of the positive…

20 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the aerospace firm, Aeralis Ltd, and/or its representatives following the company entering administration, including what impact this might have on promised investment and jobs at Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government has not had any direct engagement with Aeralis Ltd, or its representatives, following the company entering administration.Scotland has a significant defence manufacturing base. Delays to the UK Defence Investment Plan continue to contr…

23 Mar 2026 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent findings by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service that 29 babies have died as a result of co-sleeping in Scotland in the last two years.

16 Mar 2026 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that one in five adults in Scotland are unable to access dental care.

11 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how its Budget 2026-27 delivers fair funding for health and social care services across the country, including in South Scotland.

5 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) is aware of health, wellbeing and safety concerns regarding HGV transport through Girvan and (b) what consideration it has given to the development of a Girvan bypass.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is aware of the potential impacts that Heavy Goods Vehicles are having on key routes in the South West, including on various communities such as Girvan.In response, Transport Scotland, working closely with key local partners, has asses…

5 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring is in place to assess the air quality in Girvan.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Scotland enjoys good air quality compared with the rest of the UK and Europe. Under the Environment Act and associated regulations, all Scottish local authorities are required to regularly review air quality in their areas against objectives for several pollu…

4 Mar 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the financial sustainability of NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

24 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which the UK Government currently has only confirmed until March 2026, or whether it plans to introduce another scheme to replace it.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government was not informed of the decision to close the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme prior to the announcement from UK Government, and is disappointed with the decision that future funding will apply to England only.The Scottish Governm…

18 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following Orbex entering administration, what the likelihood is of the public purse receiving a return on the money invested in the company by the Scottish National Investment Bank.

4 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the UK Government's Animal Welfare Strategy for England, what engagement it has had with the UK Government on the development of the section titled "The fur trade".

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government was not involved in the development of the UK Government Animal Welfare Strategy for England. We will carefully consider the proposals in the Strategy, and where it is possible, and pragmatic, to work jointly and improve the welfare of…

4 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment by the UK Government in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England to conduct a review of traps for which welfare concerns have been raised, whether it will commit to reviewing any welfare implications of spring traps, mole traps and live capture corvid…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government does not intend to conduct a review of traps, but will bring in licensing for relevant spring traps and live bird capture traps as set out in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Scotland Act 2024 in due course.We will also consider th…

4 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment by the UK Government in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England to work with the industry to phase out the use of farrowing crates, whether it plans to work with the UK Government to jointly phase out the use of these crates.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the welfare of all animals in Scotland. We have a PfG commitment to consult on the use of farrowing crates and will continue to work closely with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations on how…

4 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the UK Government's Animal Welfare Strategy for England, and whether it plans to review Scotland's priorities to improve animal welfare in line with the proposals set out in the strategy.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government is fully committed to improving and protecting the welfare of all animals in Scotland and has delivered, or continues to deliver, a number of welfare commitments both independently and in conjunction with the UK Government. We welcome …

3 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent reports that the number of women travelling from Scotland to England to access later-stage abortion care has increased.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government completely understands concerns around women travelling to England to access abortion services and has been working urgently to establish an abortion service to the legal limit in Scotland. A task and finish group produced a Target Ope…

20 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Women’s Health Plan: Phase 2 (2026-2029), by what date it will publish the Action Plan for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, and what the timeline is for its implementation.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government intends to publish the Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan in spring 2026.In the meantime, progress is already under way towards our goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040. This includes the upcoming launch of a cervical scree…

20 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Women’s Health Plan: Phase 2 (2026-2029), by what date it will publish the National Plan for Gynaecology, and what the timeline is for its implementation.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The development of this plan is in the very early stages; therefore, there has not yet been a decision around publication or timescales.We continue to focus on reducing long waits for all patients including those awaiting gynaecology appointments and treatmen…

20 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government where the location will be for the first roll-out of self-sampling for cervical screening, which is expected to take place in spring 2026.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The first phase of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling pilot within the cervical screening programme will begin in some of Scotland’s most deprived areas within the Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Lothian health …

20 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Women’s Health Plan: Phase 2 (2026-2029), when it will (a) launch and (b) issue the national survey on women and girls health in Scotland.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan was published on 20 January 2026.As part of the next steps for the delivery of Phase Two, a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework is being developed. Part of the work of the Framework will be to set out timelines for t…