Parliamentary questions
Richard Leonard
963 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether regional news serves an important function in a democracy.
9 Dec 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the issue of assaults against transport workers.
6 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurance it can provide to the (a) firefighters and (b) communities of Cumbernauld and surrounding areas that the urban search and rescue appliance will continue to operate from Cumbernauld Fire Station following the service delivery review.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Urban Search and Rescue is a specialist activity undertaken on a national basis by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). Decisions on which fire stations are best placed to host national specialist services are an operational matter for the SFRS.
6 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what sites have been identified in the Cumbernauld area for the construction of a new fire station; what the timescale is for the construction of this, and by what date it will become operational.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The current fire station at Cumbernauld contains reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) panels and is therefore a priority for RAAC remediation. The specification for the refurbished or replacement fire station, including the possible location, timesca…
4 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Islands Connectivity Plan’s CommunityNeeds Assessment methodology recognising the importance of workforce issues, includingcrewing levels, seafarers hours of work, seafarer certification, seafareraccommodation, operating conditions, vessel type and vessel design, i…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Community Needs Assessment (CNA) methodology recognises how crewing levels, working hours and crew location influence service design. For each assessment, the relevant operator will be asked to check that crewing information used to inform an understandin…
4 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on planned reforms to the governance of ferry services provided by CalMac under the Clyde and Hebrides (Third Generation) contract, which commenced on 1 October 2025.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Regarding the governance recommendation Scottish Ministers have not taken any decisions at this stage on potential further reforms to the governance of Scotland’s ferry bodies. Work to consider all available options is ongoing, and no approach has been …
4 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations in the recent report by Glasgow University’s Adam Smith Business School on behalf of the Economic and Social Research Council, A Stakeholder Model of Public Ferry Service Provision.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We note the report and that many of themes explored align well with themes identified in the recently published Islands Connectivity Plan.Regarding the governance recommendation Scottish Ministers have not taken any decisions at this stage on potential furthe…
3 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41434 by Mairi McAllan on 18 November 2025, whether it plans to publish the final review report and options for ministers to consider for new accommodation standards for seasonal workers developed by its Housing Standards and Quality team, and, if s…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The unequal protection for seasonal workers is something we want to address as urgently as we can. The work undertaken by officials has not been compiled into a report but in my meeting with you on 29 January my officials provided an update on our work on sea…
3 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41436 by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2025, whether it will consider introducing a relationship between the charge levied by the employer for accommodation and the accommodation offset rate when it introduces bespoke statutory accommodation sta…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government recognises there is a gap in protection for seasonal workers and it is something we are very keen to address as urgently as we can.We are working to gain a better understanding of what is required from the Scottish Government.All point…
3 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the development of standards for caravans and mobile accommodation for seasonal workers, and further to the answer to question S6W-41436 by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2025, whether it will ensure that (a) there is a robust inspection regime, (b) those providing accommodation…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: I would like to reiterate that the Scottish Government cannot accept that people need to live in substandard accommodation in Scotland.At my meeting with you on 29 January my officials provided an outline of the work undertaken and the key aspects of this wor…
3 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41435 by Mairi McAllan on 18 November 2025, whether it will provide a list of those specific organisations that it (a) has met or consulted with (i) between 20 November 2024 and 16 January 2025 and (ii) since 17 January 2025 and (b) it plans to cons…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: As I stated in my previous answer to Question S6W-41435 from Ariane Burgess MSP, initial meetings with stakeholders took place between 20 November 2024 and 16 January 2025 including with local authorities, farmer representatives, farm employers and regulatory…
2 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communication the finance secretary has had with the UK Government and the Financial Conduct Authority regarding what support is available for policyholders impacted by the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan by CMutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings.
11 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement withthe Financial Conduct Authority and other organisations regarding the impact onpolicyholders of the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual andMaiden Life Försäkrings.
4 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many inspections at farms have been carried out by its Agriculture Wages Inspection Team since 1 January 2025, broken down by (a) how many were as a result of a complaint received by a third party and (b) what proportion related to people holding a Seasonal Worker Visa, and what info…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: (A) Since 1 January 2025, Agricultural Wages Inspectors (AWIs), acting on behalf of the Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team (AWET), have conducted a total of 70 on-farm inspections. Of these, 64 were Control Test Inspections (CTIs)—routine spot checks&m…
28 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with credit unions regarding the termination of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings from 30 November 2025.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is aware of the decision by Maiden Life, to withdraw the Family Protection Plan, which is a commercial matter for the insurer and its broker, CMutual. We have engaged with the Financial Conduct Authority and the Association of British …
28 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the number of older and vulnerable people who will have their insurance policies for funeral costs withdrawn as a result of the termination of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings from 30 November 2025.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We understand that around 4,900 individuals across 71 UK credit unions will lose cover without compensation. The impact in Scotland is estimated to be c1,400 individuals across 29 credit unions in Scotland. Some of those may be eligible for alternative polici…
22 Oct 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the modernisation of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
20 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the release of reserve funds to pension scheme members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Responsibility for occupational pensions is reserved to Westminster.However, the Scottish Government encourages the UK Government and the trustees of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme to agree a sustainable, equitable and fair solution for members …
30 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported jobs and cuts crisis in further and higher education.
24 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when information on farming payments will be publicly available, in accordance with section 19 of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024.
23 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39984 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2025, in relation to the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services 3 (CHFS3) contract, what discussions of the detailed specifications of the contract Transport Scotland officials have had with the (a) the Cha…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since 8 March 2025, Transport Scotland have continued to engage with the Ferries Community Board, both in relation to performance management of the new contract, and also the nature of their ongoing role post-award. This was invaluable to inform the suite of …
23 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the partners that Transport Scotland shared the initial specification with of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services 3 (CHFS3) contract, as recorded in the 7 March 2025 minutes of the Ferries Community Board.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland engaged with a number of partners on the development of the specification. This included sharing the draft specification with CalMac Ferries Ltd, in addition to discussing specific elements with CMAL, to ensure that operational and technica…
23 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39984 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2023, in relation to the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services 3 (CHFS3) contract, whether (a) detailed specification of the contract will be published on the Transport Scotland website before 1 October 2025, a…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The grant agreement containing the full CHFS3 specification has been published on the Transport Scotland website and we have intimated this by letter to unions amongst other bodies and welcome the positive statements made at publication by union representativ…
12 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the Scottish Funding Council and (b) Forth Valley College regarding a bailout to save its Alloa campus.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Ministers have been in communication with both the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and Forth Valley College regarding the Alloa campus, and the SFC is working intensively to seek a resolution with the College regarding the campus and to support the College&rsq…
12 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking in light of the reported threatened closure of Forth Valley College’s Alloa campus.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40522 on 29 September 2025. 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-commit…
12 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an outline of the discussions it has had with the Scottish Funding Council to ensure that Forth Valley College is funded sufficiently to keep the Alloa campus open and operational.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40522 on 29 September 2025. 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-commit…
10 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that three of the biggest six local authority areas that use the Seasonal Worker Visa scheme are located in Scotland, what representation it has made to the UK Government regarding the review of the scheme by the Migration Advisory Committee, and what the outcome was.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government recognises the vital contribution Seasonal Worker visa holders make to Scotland’s soft fruit and seasonal vegetable sectors and to Scotland’s economy.We are absolutely clear that migration policy should support fair work an…
10 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times, in each of the last three calendar years, its Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team has reported concerns to local authorities regarding the standards of accommodation provided in their areas to migrant workers, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) what the outcome wa…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: (a) The Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team’s (AWET) role is to ensure compliance with the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order, which sets out minimum pay and conditions for workers in the sector. The Order does not specifically cover the standard of ac…
9 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what interventions it has made to end the current dispute over jobs and cuts in the higher education sector.
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to review the charter agreement with Pentland Ferries for the MV Alfred to provide contracted Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services from Troon to Brodick, before the current agreement expires.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The charter of MV Alfred is an operational matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd as the network service operator. The Scottish Government has no role in reviewing the charter agreed with Pentland Ferries.