Parliamentary questions
Douglas Ross
343 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Mar 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments by the Scottish Information Commissioner who stated, in relation to the Government's handling of information concerning the Salmond files, "I can no longer trust the government to handle this information unsupervised and will explore more intrusive option…
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister or his civil servants or special advisers have been updated on any action connected to Operation Branchform by the Lord Advocate or the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in addition to the notes provided to him by the Lord Advocate on 20 March 2025 and…
Answer · Graeme Dey: As clearly set out in the Lord Advocate’s letter to the Presiding Officer of 24 February 2026, the Lord Advocate was advised on two occasions that it was appropriate to provide limited factual information to the government in relation to the case agains…
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the First Minister's responses during First Minister's Questions on 19 February 2026 in relation to the briefing that he had received from the Lord Advocate about Operation Branchform, for what reason he failed to mention that he had also been briefed by the Lord Advocate on t…
Answer · Graeme Dey: It would not have been appropriate for the First Minister to give details of any briefings without understanding the impact on proceedings should information be released. The Lord Advocate has now provided members with a wide range of examples to demonstrate …
11 Mar 2026 · SPCB Oral Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will initiate a review of how the scheduling of parliamentary business during the current session has impacted on parliamentary resources, particularly in light of the large volume of stage 3 proceedings in the final weeks.
10 Mar 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Lord Advocate briefed the First Minister that suspects arrested on alleged embezzlement charges as part of Operation Branchform were not being charged, before the individuals themselves had been notified.
3 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether colleges should have borrowing powers and how any such powers would be delivered.
18 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the transport secretary, acting in her ministerial capacity, last travelled on the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen.
16 Feb 2026 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether anyone who works for the Scottish Government, including ministers, special advisers or civil servants, was involved in discussions concerning the postponement of the trial of Peter Murrell until after the Scottish Parliament election in May.
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a si…
Answer · Angus Robertson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish P…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Deputy First Minister is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single mention of women’s rights.
Answer · Kate Forbes: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish P…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single mention o…
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish P…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single mention of women&…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish Parliament Website.
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single mention of wo…
Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish P…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single mention of wome…
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish P…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish P…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Housing is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single mention of women’s right…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish P…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single mention of w…
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish P…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single mention of women’s rights.
Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish P…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Transport is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single mention of women’s rig…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish P…
13 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice is ashamed that the written case for Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody did not include a single mention of women’…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish P…
3 Feb 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister and the rest of the Cabinet are ashamed that the written case for Scottish Ministers and the Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the SPS Policy for the management of Transgender People in Custody, did not include a single mention of women’s rights.
28 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many requests for review have been made by applicants to the Future Farming Investment Scheme whose application was rejected, and how many of these have been responded to.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43447 on 9 February 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-committe…
28 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many requests for review have been made by applicants to the Future Farming Investment Scheme whose application was deemed ineligible, and how many of these have been responded to.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government received a total of 26 request for review of Future Farming Investment Scheme applications. 19 for those were for applications that were rejected and 7 for those deemed ineligible. All those who requested a review were responded to.
26 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what response or feedback was provided to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs after she submitted a note of her private call with Professor Alexis Jay, in light of it subsequently being found to have breached the Ministerial Code.
Answer · Angela Constance: The First Minister issued a letter of reprove to the Justice Secretary on 6 January. A copy of this letter is available here: Ministerial Code investigation: First Minister letter to Justice Secretary - gov.scot.
26 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (a) wrote-up the note of her private call with Professor Alexis Jay, and when the note was (b) submitted to her Private Office and (c) shared with (i) special advisers and (ii) other civil servants.
Answer · Angela Constance: A note of the call was written and shared with civil servants in Private Office on 2 December. Private Office shared this with other civil servants and Special Advisers on 11 December.
26 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how any inability to abstract water from the River Spey impacted the production of Scotch whisky in 2025, and how many litres of whisky production were lost as a result.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
26 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to the Education, Children and Young People Committee on 17 December 2025, for what reason she answered “I do not think so. No, I do not” when asked if she believed that the private call that…
Answer · Angela Constance: As I explained at the Education, Children and Young People Committee on 17 December 2025, an official was not present on the call as I felt it was important to make a personal apology to Alexis Jay. Although I took a note of that discussion, the Independent A…
26 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the volume of whisky production that has been lost due to an inability to abstract water from the River Spey in each of the last five years.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
12 Jan 2026 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister for what reason the Scottish Government is going to court to continue to allow it to house male prisoners in the female prison estate, in light of any projections it has made of the cost to taxpayers in Scotland of challenging the Supreme Court ruling in this way.
6 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Transport Scotland and what issues were discussed.