Rona Mackay

18 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking through its fuel poverty programmes to support low-income rural and off-grid households that are unable to heat their homes due to the recent increase in heating oil prices.

10 Mar 2026 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the pilot for free rail travel for companions accompanying blind National Entitlement Cardholders (NEC+1), which was launched in April 2025.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am pleased to announce that following a positive evaluation from Transport Scotland, I have agreed that free rail travel for companions accompanying blind NEC + 1 cardholders can be made permanent from 1 April 2026.The evaluation found that a significant ma…

16 Feb 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards the establishment of a pathway for free dyslexia assessments at the point of contact for adults.

5 Feb 2026 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its recent Fairer Funding pilot, what next steps it will take to strengthen work with the third sector across Scotland.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government will work with third sector partners to deliver Scotland’s first ever “Third Sector Partnership” which will further strengthen the role and place of the sector in Scotland. This new Partnership creates a unique and va…

3 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that the Adult Disability Payment application process is fully accessible to people with aphasia.

2 Feb 2026 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the new measures that the Scottish Government has announced to tackle long-term unemployment will support its work to grow Scotland’s economy.

28 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the immediate economic outcomes were for Scotland's exporters of its recent trade mission to the United Arab Emirates.

21 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the current occupancy levels and total operational capacity across the Women’s Community Custody Unit estate.

12 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the work of the recently announced ADHD and Autism Taskforce will affect integrated care for residents in Strathkelvin and Bearsden, and for people across Scotland.

17 Dec 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will launch its consultation on the extension of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to private and third sector providers of care home and "care at home" services.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The consultation will be published on 5 January 2026 and will help to inform a detailed assessment of whether and when providers of care home and 'care at home' services can be understood to be delivering public functions. Subject to the outcome of that asses…

15 Dec 2025 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent attack on the Jewish community at Bondi Beach in Australia, what steps are being taken to ensure community safety in Scotland.

10 Dec 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to publish its response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 2 report, which was published on 20 November 2025.

Answer · Kate Forbes: We welcomed the publication of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 2 report on core decision-making and political governance on 20 November 2025.Further to my statement to Parliament on that date, and following further consideration of the report, we can c…

10 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local authorities, such as East Dunbartonshire Council, to reduce the use of temporary accommodation and prevent homelessness.

8 Dec 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Terms of Reference will be finalised for the public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the investigation of the murder of Emma Caldwell.

Answer · Angela Constance: Following the appointment of Lord Scott to chair the Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry, I have consulted with the Chair, and met with the Caldwell family and a range of key parties to discuss the Terms of Reference of the Inquiry.In these discussions I outlined my…

2 Dec 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to mitigate the two-child benefit cap now that the UK Government has announced that it is removing this limit.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Following years of pressure from stakeholders and the Scottish Government, the UK Government has finally scrapped the two child limit. I can therefore confirm that we will not proceed with our regulations that would have, subject to Parliamentary approval, se…

26 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports cultural initiatives in East Dunbartonshire, such as Acorn Shed Music, to expand opportunities for participation in the arts across all age groups.

12 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its climate policies, what it hopes to achieve through its representation at COP30 in Brazil.

2 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding and timelines will support the new Disability Equality Plan to ensure that its aims deliver real change for disabled people.

27 Aug 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to add the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.

Answer · Angela Constance: Today the Scottish Ministers have laid a draft of a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) in Parliament which adds the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 ("the 2021 Act") and published a consultation paper seeking views…

26 Aug 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to East Dunbartonshire Council to help meet any additional costs of providing social care services for an ageing population.

6 Aug 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Plan of Action on Cladding, which was published in March 2025.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Today I have published the Cladding Remediation Programme: Next Phase Plan of Action which can be found here: www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836919636.There has been significant and measurable progress in expansion and pace since the publication of Plan of Action for …

30 Jul 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides any support to community transport operators to allow them to invest in zero emission vehicles and charging infrastructure.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The community transport sector provides many of our most vulnerable groups with access to essential goods and services and to social or leisure activities.These services assist those who can’t or don’t use conventional public transport, providing …

24 Jun 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the responses to its consultation on dual mandates in the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill was passed unanimously on 17 December 2024 by the Scottish Parliament. It places a duty on Scottish Ministers to bring forward regulations which:must have the effect of prohibiting Members of the Scottis…

19 Jun 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to end the use of WhatsApp and other mobile messaging applications in the Scottish Government, as announced by the Deputy First Minister in December 2024.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government announced on 17 December 2024, that the use of WhatsApp and similar mobile messaging applications in Scottish Government would end.I am pleased to confirm the new Policy and Guidance on Mobile Messaging Applications will be introduced …

5 Jun 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost of employing special advisers was in 2024-25.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Special Advisers are appointed in accordance with Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 by the First Minister as a Special Adviser for the purpose of providing assistance to the Scottish Ministers.Due to the appointment of a new First Mi…

4 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Robert Gordon University’s recent report, Striking the Balance: Building a sustainable UK offshore energy workforce, on the need for confirmation of the Acorn project.

22 May 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on ScotRail driver recruitment and training programmes, in light of reports of previous service reductions being attributed to staffing shortages.

1 May 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of its legislative programme.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government continues to make progress in delivering its legislative programme in this parliamentary session with 38 Government Bills already passed since 2021. I have set out below the 14 Government Bills which parliament is currently scrutinisin…

17 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much East Dunbartonshire Council has spent on PFI contracts in the last year.   

14 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what eligibility criteria and implementation guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding the use of the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund in education settings.