Dr Alasdair Allan

16 Mar 2026 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the steps being taken to support families with the cost of living, in light of the conflict in the Middle East and its impact on heating oil prices.

23 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus project, including the preparation of the Outline Business Case, and what can be done to share this information more proactively with community organisations in those islands. 

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government remains fully committed to the delivery of the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus project.Scottish Government officials have written to the Chief Executives of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and NHS Western Isles requesting an updated cost…

12 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on its support for wave energy projects, in light of reported concerns in the Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency regarding future funding for the local company, Wave Energy Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has invested over £70 million in Wave Energy Scotland (WES) since its inception in 2014 demonstrating a clear commitment to developing wave energy technologies in Scotland. However, as the sector moves into the next phase, the ma…

10 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Care Inspectorate and Scottish Childminding Association regarding the improvement of access to childcare across the Western Isles, both for children under three and three- to five-year-olds.

6 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a public dental service adhering to minimum NHS guidelines regarding the frequency of routine dental appointments is available to residents in Uist and Barra, where there is reportedly no access to a general dental service.

Answer · Jenni Minto: NHS guidelines advise an average minimum frequency for routine dental appointments however Health Boards are not statutorily obligated to provide General Dental Services to patients directly.NHS Western Isles is actively working towards accessible dental care…

3 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with NHS Western Isles regarding dental provision across the islands.

12 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting dental practices in island communities to provide sufficient levels of service to ensure that islanders can access the dental care that they are entitled to.

12 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many students from Scotland have received free university tuition since 2007-08.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Analysis of data from the Student Awards Agency Scotland, otherwise known as SAAS, shows that approximately 740,000 students from Scotland — that is nearly three quarters of a million — have benefited from free tuition fees on higher education cou…

12 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of school leavers in each local authority area have gone on to a positive destination in each year since 2007.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: This information is available in table L2.1 of the supplementary tables accompanying the Summary Statistics for Attainment and Initial Leaver Destinations (SSAILD) publication which is available on our website.Supporting documents - Summary Statistics for Att…

18 Dec 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support Scotland’s pelagic processing factories, following significant mackerel and herring quota cuts and the reduced volume of product available to them next year.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I recognise the serious challenges that quota reductions pose for Scotland’s pelagic sector in 2026.Following a period of intensive engagement and consultation with key stakeholders across the pelagic supply chain, I have, after careful consideration, d…

16 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to ensure that rural and island communities have access to legal aid.

12 Dec 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in setting out how it will restore 400,000 hectares of degraded peatland by 2040.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government is committed to protecting, managing and restoring Scotland’s degraded peatlands, as a vital part of mitigating and adapting to the climate and nature emergencies. That is why today we are publishing the first in a series of roll…

28 Oct 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ban on biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill after 31 December 2025.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) is a crucial part of delivering Scotland’s net zero ambitions and in line with Committee for Climate Change advice. It will come into force on 31 December this year.Significant efforts and inves…

11 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve local access to medical treatments within island communities.

4 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently published data from Scotland’s Census on the number of people with Gaelic language skills.

13 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it can make to Loganair to ensure that constituents in Na h-Eileanan an Iar are not disadvantaged as a result of recent changes to flight timetables.

30 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the NHS supports the health of rural and islands communities through regular visits from consultants.

29 Apr 2024 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on implementing the Border Target Operating Model.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Despite voting to stay in the EU, Scotland was forced to leave with the UK. That means putting in place trade barriers for both exports and imports that create costs for businesses and consumers. After delays lasting several years, the UK Government has now …

16 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its approach alongside Bòrd na Gàidhlig to secure the long-term future of the Gaelic Officers Scheme.

25 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what estimated works will be necessary at Lochmaddy pier, in light of the expected arrival of newer CalMac vessels. 

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The main construction works at Lochmaddy to accommodate the new Little Minch vessels are complete. Some minor port interface items have still to be progressed, for example changes to navigational aids. The vessels are expected to be delivered in June and Octo…

28 Feb 2024 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the next paper in the Building a New Scotland series will be published.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government continues to deliver on its commitment to build the case for an independent Scotland in the EU, giving people the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, as set out in the Programme for Government. I’m plea…

28 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what factors are assessed when determining vessel deployment decisions for Western Isles ferry routes.

15 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it can make on behalf of any small businesses in the Western Isles that are reportedly facing increases of thousands of pounds per week in delivery expenses as a result of a local haulage company being taken over by the multinational company, DFDS.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government recognises that the cost of living and doing business on islands can be higher compared to other parts of Scotland. Our Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund has distributed £2.4 million to island local authorities since December 2022, g…

15 Feb 2024 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to publish an Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, as committed to in the First Minister’s policy prospectus and in the Programme for Government 2023-24.

Answer · Emma Roddick: Today, the Scottish Government publishes its new Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, which sets out our approach to the issue of population decline affecting some communities in Scotland. The Plan builds on the work of the Ministerial Population Taskforce in…

13 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the most recent figures published by the Crofting Commission showing an increase in the number of new entrants between March 2022 and March 2023.

31 Jan 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support will be put in place to assist local authorities in establishing "areas of linguistic significance", as set out in the Scottish Languages Bill.   The Member has provided the following Gaelic translation:   Gus faighneachd do Riaghaltas na h-Alba de an taic a bhios ann do…

30 Jan 2024 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of the Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach Paper and the Vessels and Ports Plan. 

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am pleased to announce that the Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach paper and the Vessel and Ports Plan were published today alongside a public consultation. These documents and the consultation questions are available at the following link: Isla…

23 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local authorities to provide appropriate levels of special educational needs staff for secondary schools to ensure a safe and encouraging learning environment for all pupils.

19 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, whether any of its future publications on independence will cover any constitutional lessons that can be learned from structures used in Parliaments elsewhere that include unelected members.

19 Dec 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the outcome of the recent summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in Dublin.

Answer · Angus Robertson: On 24 November 2023, the First Minister represented the Scottish Government at the Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council hosted by the Government of Ireland and chaired by the Taoiseach – Leo Varadkar. The meeting was attended by Ministers from six of t…