Stuart McMillan

26 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that housing associations cooperate with telecommunications providers in agreeing wayleaves, in order to enable the timely roll-out of full-fibre broadband to tenants and residents.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Due to the reserved nature of telecoms legislation the Scottish Government is unable to intervene in negotiations between housing associations and network operators. Where it is not possible to reach an agreement, operators can seek to have an agreement impos…

25 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any progress that is being made to replace Greenock Police Station and increase police officer numbers in Inverclyde.

19 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to update the Building Standards technical handbooks to phase-out the installation of low-level letterbox doors in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government recognise that the matter of low-level letterboxes has been a long-standing issue for members of the Communication Workers Union. As noted in earlier answers, Officials have been in the process of assessing options for amendment to bui…

18 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with registered social landlords in the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency regarding the lack of new social homes being built.

28 Oct 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its consultation on proposals to introduce new licensing regulations covering a range of animal-related activities, what discussions it has had with Police Scotland and Trading Standards Scotland.

24 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Greenock and Inverclyde constituents currently receive Social Security Scotland benefits.

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recommendations it has received from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding a replacement for Port Glasgow Health Centre.

Answer · Neil Gray: We are currently working with all NHS Health Boards to identify investment priorities across Scotland, that includes NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.Historic real terms cuts to our block grant from the UK Government have put pressure on our capital budget and w…

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on its capital funding budget of the funding decisions taken by (a) the current and (b) any previous UK administration.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The funding decisions taken by the UK Government flow into UK Spending Reviews and budgets, which also set out the Scottish Government’s overall capital funding. The capital budget as laid out in the UK spending review on 11 June 2025 delivers a real te…

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding any further investment in the Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Answer · Neil Gray: We are currently working with all NHS Health Boards to identify investment priorities across Scotland, that includes NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.Historic real terms cuts to our block grant from the UK Government have put pressure on our capital budget and w…

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recommendations it has received from NHS GreaterGlasgow and Clyde regarding any further investment in the Inverclyde RoyalHospital.

Answer · Neil Gray: We are currently working with all NHS Health Boards to identify investment priorities across Scotland, that includes NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.Historic real terms cuts to our block grant from the UK Government have put pressure on our capital budget and w…

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding a replacement for Port Glasgow Health Centre.

Answer · Neil Gray: We are currently working with all NHS Health Boards to identify investment priorities across Scotland, that includes NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.Historic real terms cuts to our block grant from the UK Government have put pressure on our capital budget and w…

17 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the next UK Budget, which will be delivered on 26 November.

15 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Integration Joint Boards are able to reverse budget decisions.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Arrangements for IJB decision-making, including the reversal of decisions, may be set out in their local Standing Orders. Statutory finance guidance sets out what IJBs should do, to include making provision in their integration scheme, as regards in-year budg…

10 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Empire, Slavery and Scotland's Museums Steering Group and its work to consider Scotland’s involvement in empire, colonialism and historic slavery and how this can be addressed using museum collections and museum spaces, including the potenti…

3 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to extending the definition of positive destinations for school leavers to include self-employed in addition to higher education, further education, employment, training, personal skills development and voluntary work. 

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Self-employment is included under "employment" in the definition of positive destinations in the school leaver destination statistics published by the Scottish Government.

2 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Inverclyde Council, private developers and registered social landlords operating in Inverclyde regarding housing development activity planned for the current financial year and for 2026-27.

27 Aug 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the energy secretary has had with the UK Government regarding how Scotland's energy policy and natural resources could support the establishment of new data centres in the country.

24 Jun 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the public consultation on the further regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The consultation on licensing and regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures ran from 20 December 2024 to 14 February 2025. We received over 2,200 responses from a variety of individuals and organisations, which along with further engagement with stakehol…

16 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, what discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the Prime Minister’s reported comments that he does not believe that there will be another independence referendum during his administration and tha…

3 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding multi-year funding settlements.

23 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan, which was published on 31 March 2025, what assessment it has made of whether the increased planned activity through the National Treatment Centre network in 2026-26 should include the offering of combined cataract and trabecular…

Answer · Neil Gray: In the year 2025/26 all procedures at National Treatment Centres (NTCs) will be cataract surgery. NTCs will not provide glaucoma such as trabecular bypasses. The treatment centres are focusing on delivering higher volume surgery in cataract only lists due to …

23 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan, which was published on 31 March 2025, what proportion of the increased planned activity delivered through the National Treatment Centre network in 2025-26 will be in ophthalmic procedures, and how many additional cataract operat…

Answer · Neil Gray: Our Operational Improvement Plan is clear that the Scottish Government will support an additional 10,000 National Treatment Centre (NTC) procedures in 2025-26.In 2024-25 cataracts represented 36.5% of the total NTC capacity allocated. This year, this has incr…

23 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister's speech on improving public services and NHS renewal, which was published on 27 January 2025, what proportion of the additional 10,000 procedures planned across the National Treatment Centres will be in ophthalmology, and how this compares with previous y…

Answer · Neil Gray: In total over 16,000 cataract procedures at National Treatment Centres (NTCs) have been allocated to health boards across Scotland in 2025-2026 (44.9% of the total NTC allocation). This is compared to over 13,500 cataract cases allotted to NTCs in 2024-2025 w…

20 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions its Population Taskforce had with the UK Government regarding the proposals in the white paper on immigration, in advance of its publication.

13 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional funding Inverclyde Council has received since 2016, over and above its annual funding allocations. 

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding reducing the VAT rate that public electric vehicle chargers are subject to, in light of reports that this is one of the reasons why charging on rapid chargers can cost over 75p per kWh.  

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The current VAT rate for public electric vehicle (EV) charging stands at 20% versus 5% for a domestic energy supply. A higher VAT rate is one of the reasons why charging via a rapid charger can cost over 75p per kWh. This can be a barrier to switching to an E…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is (a) promoting the (i) purchase and (ii) use of electric vehicles and (b) working with (i) car dealerships and (ii) manufacturers to make electric vehicles more affordable, in light of reports that the cost and lack of access to charging points is prohibitive for many.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland is currently the only part of the UK offering financial support to consumers, small businesses and the third sector to purchase electric vehicles. Since 2011 we have provided over £230 million in interest free loans to support the purchase over…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting electric vehicle users, who live in properties without a private driveway, to charge their vehicles.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the transition to electric vehicles by ensuring that charging infrastructure is comprehensive, convenient, and accessible to all. We understand the importance of enabling those without access to off street pa…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting people to become electric vehicle charger (a) installers and (b) maintenance staff.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland is supporting colleges across Scotland to build capability and capacity to train people in the skills required for EV charge point installation, repair and maintenance. This has involved training college lecturers to deliver qualifications …

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to increase the availability of electric vehicle chargers in (a) Scotland and (b) the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since 2011, the Scottish Government has provided over £65 million to support the development of public EV charging across Scotland. As a direct result of this funding, and increasing private sector investment, Scotland now has over 6,800 public charge p…