Parliamentary questions
Willie Rennie
1,353 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Jul 2026 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the appointment of an individual to undertake an independent review of Qualifications Scotland arrangements for qualifications quality.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: I am pleased to confirm the Scottish Government appointed Dr Lena Gray on the 25 March 2026 to undertake a review into Qualifications Scotland’s arrangements for qualifications quality. The review is a statutory requirement under the Education (Scotland…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-00174 by Jenny Gilruth MSP on 5 June 2026, whether it will consider engaging with other local authorities in the UK, including Devon County Council, on the success of any pilots undertaken to tackle road repairs effectively, when determining how the…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to drawing on a wide range of evidence in developing the Better Surfaces Fund. Engagement with relevant stakeholders will inform the design and operation of the fund, to ensure it supports the adoption of best practice and…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to launch its proposed Better Surfaces Fund.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00174 on 5 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…
4 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of section 9 of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 in relation to the creation of a central register of child welfare reporters.
Answer · Kirsten Oswald: We recognise that the register of child welfare reporters is a key part of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020. It remains a priority and will improve consistency, transparency and quality in how reporters are appointed and deliver their role. To support the del…
4 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its working group on child welfare reporters has concluded its work, and whether it has agreed an implementation plan to create a central register of child welfare reporters as set out in the Children (Scotland) Act 2020.
Answer · Kirsten Oswald: The creation of a national register for child welfare reporters is a priority for the implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020. The register will improve consistency, transparency and quality in how reporters are appointed and carry out their role, …
4 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of section 23 of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 in relation to Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Answer · Kirsten Oswald: Section 23 of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 (the 2020 Act) requires Scottish Ministers to make funding available, through legal aid or otherwise, to help individuals cover the costs of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in family law cases under section …
12 Mar 2026 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to commitment given by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on 27 November 2025, whether it will provide an update on the progress of NHS Tayside’s investigation into the destruction of theatre logbooks, and what further information will be offered on the progr…
Answer · Neil Gray: I have been advised by NHS Tayside that external investigators AAB began their formal investigation in February 2026, and that they are independently analysing all the documents they have requested to date, with further documentation being identified and new …
6 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish an equivalent to the UK Government's Places of Worship Renewal Fund in Scotland, in light of the reported closure of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, and what assessment it has made of the provision of any Barnett consequential funding that may support…
Answer · Angus Robertson: In light of the UK Government’s decision, the Scottish Government is actively exploring options to ensure that listed places of worship in Scotland are not disproportionately affected by this withdrawal of UK-wide VAT relief.I asked for clarity about Ba…
6 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) the UK Government and (b) religious organisations in Scotland, including the Church of Scotland, regarding (i) the closure of and (ii) a replacement for the UK Government's Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Following the announcement by the UK Government of the closure of the Places of Worship Grant Scheme the Scottish Government has met with representatives of both the UK Government, and the Church of Scotland, regarding the closure of the UK Government’s…
25 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the new Future Farming Investment Scheme will be open for applications.
19 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38780 by Mairi McAllan on 11 July 2025, by what date it will publish data relating to the average application and claim processing timescales for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: I welcome the interest in the Home Energy Grant and Loan scheme performance, and expect this information to publish shortly.
19 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work being carried out to simplify the application process of the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme, in light of its commitment in its 2025-26 Programme for Government.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The wide range of improvements delivered for the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan scheme include introduction of a digital customer claim verification process, simplified documentation requirements, language and layout updates to the application port…
19 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the cancer research funding that it hasawarded to date has been allocated to research on lobular breast cancer, andwhether this has been in proportion to the prevalence of the condition, whichaccounts for a reported 15% of breast cancer cases.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office supports open competitive grant and fellowship schemes for applied health research in Scotland across a wide remit that is inclusive of consideration of applications for research relating to cancers, incl…
19 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the suggestion by LobularMoonshot Project for a ringfenced £20 million fund to be established by itand the other UK governments in the UK to support, over five years, research onthe basic biology of lobular breast cancer.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist for Health and officials from the Chief Scientist Office have arranged to meet with representatives of the Lobular Moonshot Project to discuss Lobular Breast Cancer research and the Lobular Moonshot Project sugg…
19 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to (a) increase awareness of and (b) improve screening for lobular breast cancer.
Answer · Jenni Minto: (a) We know that the earlier all cancers, including lobular breast cancer, are diagnosed the easier they are to treat and even cure which is why we continue to invest in our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme. Detect Cancer Earlier’s Be The Early Bir…
19 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it plans to make available for research into lobular breast cancer, and what its position is on whether such research funding should be proportionate to the prevalence of the condition.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO) supports applied health research in Scotland through open competitive grant and fellowship schemes with a wide remit inclusive of research across the range of clinical conditions including types of …
11 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further the Scottish Funding Council report, College Statistics 2024-25, which was published on 4 February 2026, what assessment it has made of the impact that enrolling primary and secondary 1 to 3 pupils with colleges has on colleges’ capacity to meet demand from senior-phase pu…
Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government notes that SFC’s 2024–25 guidance directed colleges to prioritise senior-phase pupils and cap activity outwith the senior phase at 1.5% of credits, and colleges have responded accordingly. Senior-phase enrolments rose by ar…
11 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current levels of college enrolment for pupils below the senior phase represents value for money for the public purse, in light of the potential duplication of funding between the school and college sectors.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: College enrolments for school pupils b demonstrate the important role colleges play in supporting an improved learner journey for all age groups. Between 2023-24 and 2024-25 enrolments below the senior phase fell by 19.2% (from 11,420 to 9,230), while senior-…
2 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40593 by Natalie Don-Innes on 30 September 2025, when it will publish a full report on the evaluation of the early learning and childcare expansion to 1140 hours for the period 2018-25.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: As stated in the answer to S6W-40593, it is our intention to publish our overarching report on the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) 1140 expansion evaluation for the period 2018-2025 in the coming weeks. This report will draw together findings from across t…
22 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support people with Raynaud's phenomenon and other cold-related conditions; whether it provides any guidance to people affected by these conditions, and whether it has engaged with the UK Government regarding protections for medically vulnerable people in relat…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people living in Scotland with Raynaud’s phenomenon and other cold-related conditions are able to access safe, effective and person-centred healthcare and support.We set the policy direction for heal…
21 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that newly qualified teachers are able to secure stable, long-term employment, in light of recent reports that only one in four newly qualified teachers secured permanent posts in 2024-25.
14 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that expertise in criminal law is represented among those appointed as Scottish Law Commissioners.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: When a Commissioner vacancy arises at the Scottish Law Commission, the skills and experience sought will be informed by the skills and experience needed to deliver their Programme of Law Reform. The Programme of Law Reform is the subject of extensive consulta…
13 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action is being taken to improve whole-system patient flow, including seven-day discharge services, social care capacity, and shared responsibility across hospital departments, rather than focusing on redirecting patients away from A&E departments.
19 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to bring forward regulations to bring section 75 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 into force.
Answer · Shona Robison: Section 75 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 was commenced through commencement regulations and came into force on 12 January 2026.Separately, the Scottish Government intends to lay regulations later this month which, subject to Parliamentary approval, will …
3 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many households received support from the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, broken down by local authority area, in the financial year 2024-25.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The following table gives the number of households who received support through the Warmer Homes Scotland (WHS) scheme in the financial year 2024-25, broken down by local authority area.Local Authority AreaWHS2Aberdeen City193Aberdeenshire218Angus213Argyll an…
3 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding support for the workforce and local economy of Mossmorran, in light of ExxonMobil's announcement that the Fife Ethylene Plant will be closed.
24 Nov 2025 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns and frustration of the Educational Institute of Scotland about its four-day working week proposal for teachers.
17 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many school buildings in the Argyll and Bute Council area are currently assessed as not fit for purpose, and what the estimated cost of repair or replacement is associated with each such building.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage and maintain their school estate, therefore, this would be a matter for Argyll and Bute Council. However, the condition ratings for all schools in Scotland are available within the School Estat…
17 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money was budgeted for agricultural support payments in each of the last five years, and how much of this budget remained unspent at the end of each of those last five years.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Agricultural support payments are funded through a range of budget lines in the Rural Affairs, Islands and Land Reform portfolio. The following table sets out the total budget for the relevant budget lines for each of the previous five years and how much was …
17 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve processing times for agricultural support payments.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Streamlining and process improvements have been made across a wide range of activities including application assessments, inspections, land maintenance records, and performance monitoring. These processing improvements allow us to continue to make payments at…