Parliamentary questions
Pauline McNeill
2,364 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with UK Government on its proposals to introduce a licensing scheme for the sale of knives, and what assessment it has made of any implications of this scheme for Scotland.
21 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce the necessary regulations to implement the age restrictions on the online sale of knives, as set out in the Crime and Policing Act 2026.
21 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its licensing regulations for the sale of non-domestic knives are applied to online sales.
8 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals held on remand and in custody, who were subsequently either found not guilty or received a non-custodial sentence, have not gone on to receive a prison sentence, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Neil Gray: The information requested is not held centrally.The data held by Scottish Government (SG) on individuals held on remand is taken from the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) Prisoner Records System. SG do publish information on the number of departures from the rem…
23 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42445 by Angela Constance on 9 December 2025, whether, in addition to the original 2005 investigation, the Terms of Reference for the Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry will allow for an examination of any investigations pursued by Police Scotland and the…
Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in the answer to question S6W-42445, the Terms of Reference for the Emma Caldwell Inquiry were developed following consultation with the Chair and discussions with relevant parties. The Terms of Reference remain firmly focused on the original inves…
17 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers Police Scotland has to issue warnings and fines for the dangerous use of e-bikes and e-scooters in pedestrian and residential areas.
Answer · Kirsten Oswald: An e-scooter, or an e-bike that does not meet the requirements for an electrically assisted pedal cycle, are treated as motor vehicles, and in relation to these Police Scotland can issue a fixed penalty notice for using the vehicle without insurance or withou…
16 Jun 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to renew its strategy on preventing knife crime, particularly among young people.
10 Jun 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason people on the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde waiting list for ADHD assessments are reportedly being informed that their expected waiting times have been extended beyond those previously communicated.
3 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the £200,000 fund for Social Impact Partners as outlined in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto, whether it has now established it, and, if not, when it will do so and what outcomes it expects that it will achieve.
Answer · Kirsten Oswald: Officials are engaging with potential partners to develop a programme of work that seeks to increase investment that supports the growth and development of outcomes based commissioning through the use of Social Impact Partnerships to support interventions tha…
3 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it considers is a successful enough outcome from the £200,000 fund for Social Impact Partners for it to decide to establish a new £10 million Social Impact Investment Fund, as outlined in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto.
Answer · Kirsten Oswald: Outcomes and outcomes frameworks will be scoped out as part of a programme of work that seeks to increase investment that supports the growth and development of outcomes based commissioning through the use of Social Impact Partnerships to support intervention…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in 2026 to reduce the number of hours that police officers spend in court.
Answer · Neil Gray: Justice partners including Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS) will continue to build on the significant progress made in reducing officer time spent in court.The introduction…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it measures the effectiveness of Bairns' Hoose models across Scotland and whether all iterations are achieving the same results.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: At this early stage, we are not undertaking formal measurement of effectiveness. We are taking a phased approach to create a system that works nationally and to ensure that vital knowledge on how to deliver the transformative and complex change to multi-agenc…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many bleed kits it has distributed across Scotland to date, and how many more it plans to distribute over the next 12 months.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government’s public health approach to violence has prevention at its core and our focus is aimed at preventing and reducing harm for people in Scotland’s communities.My heartfelt condolences go to Lisa Petrie for the heartbreaking lo…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment outlined in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto, when it will commence work on a public health campaign on the safe use of social media for young people.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00409 on 9 June 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/w…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many children have (a) accessed Bairns' Hoose programmes and (b) been through the court system without accessing support from a Bairns' Hoose, since 2021 to date.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Data on the number of children accessing Bairns’ Hoose services is not currently collected by the Scottish Government. This reflects the current phase of the Bairns’ Hoose programme and the different stages that partnerships are at in their journe…
28 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to adopt a public financing model for the purchase of new trains, similar to that proposed in the report commissioned by ASLEF and written by Glasgow University academics, A Public Vision for Financing Scotland’s Railways.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: Train ownership and operational costs over the asset’s lifespan constitute a substantially greater share of total expenditure than the initial purchase price. It is therefore essential to explore a range of financing and procurement options to ensure be…
28 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the 2024 report by ASLEF, Dignity for Drivers, how it plans to improve access to toilet facilities for train drivers.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31539 on 6 December 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committe…
28 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement any of the remaining recommendations listed in the report by ASLEF, A Vision for Scotland’s Railways, and, if so, which ones.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The continued public investment in Scotland’s Railway, more than £1.6 billion this financial year alone, has enabled our industry partners to continue to deliver many of the aspirations shared with the rail unions. This includes the successful mov…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is adequate monitoring of the ongoing costs of the roadworks on the M8 viaduct.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: Transport Scotland have a number of measures in place to ensure adequate monitoring of the ongoing costs of the works.Amey is ultimately responsible for undertaking the viaduct propping works, acting as both Principal Designer and Contractor, under the Networ…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of planners serving local authorities.
Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: It is vital that planning authorities have sufficient capacity to support economic growth. We have already invested £850,000 to reverse the decline of planners and boost public sector capacity. This has secured a path into planning for 48 new student pl…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on the wider West of Scotland economy of the road works on the viaduct section of the M8.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The M8 Woodside viaducts occupy a prominent position on the trunk road network and carry up to 150,000 vehicles per day.No formal economic impact assessment was carried out in advance of lane restrictions being imposed, due to the emergency nature of the work…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to halt any proposed fire service closures resulting from the Delivery of Service consultation.
Answer · Neil Gray: Decisions on the location and configuration of fire stations are a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Board and Chief Officer. SFRS conducted a full public consultation on the 23 options for change contained in its Service Delivery Review …
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met Transport Scotland in relation to the plan for the M8 viaduct roadworks.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government engages regularly with Transport Scotland, which is responsible for taking forward the M8 Woodside Viaducts Permanent Works project. Work is in progress to develop the Strategic Outline Case for the project, including consideration of …
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for ADHD assessments in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Answer · Maree Todd: We are continuing to work with NHS Boards, local authorities, COSLA, the third sector and other delivery partners to improve access to neurodevelopmental support for children, young people and adults.For children and young people, this includes continuing our…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is concerned about delays in completion of the M8 viaduct roadworks.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The M8 Woodside Viaducts project is complex, which involves constructing temporary propping in a constrained urban environment to remove traffic loading from the deteriorated half-joints which support the motorway. Transport Scotland and their contractor, Ame…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the minimum establishment number of police officers required is.
Answer · Neil Gray: As the recruitment and deployment of police officers are matters for the Chief Constable, it for her to determine the minimum establishment number of police officers. The Chief Constable has indicated that the current establishment model is based around 16,50…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there has been adequate monitoring of the M8 viaduct in relation to the reported delays and the reason for them.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: Amey is ultimately responsible for undertaking the viaduct propping works, acting as both Principal Designer and Contractor, under the Network Maintenance Contract (NMC) with Transport Scotland.Transport Scotland’s Project Team manage Amey’s perfo…
23 Mar 2026 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland report indicating that staff shortages mean young prisoners at HMP & YOI Polmont lack enough opportunities for work, education or recreation and spend “far too long locked in their cells".
5 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is consulting with users of the M74 regarding the implications of option 3 in the Transport Scotland consultation on a permanent solution for the M8 Woodside viaducts.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland is undertaking consultation and engagement on the strategic approaches for the M8 Woodside Viaducts Permanent Solution project through the current public exhibition process, which runs until 25 March. This consultation is open to all stakeh…
5 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Transport Scotland regarding options available for a permanent solution for the M8 Woodside viaducts.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government engages regularly with Transport Scotland, which is responsible for taking forward the M8 Woodside Viaducts Permanent Solution project. Work is in progress to develop the Strategic Outline Case for the project, including consideration …