Oliver Mundell

16 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce reported bed pressures at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

10 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support Dumfries town centre.

4 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it and its agencies have taken in response to reported concerns about contamination in the Scaur Water, near Sanquhar, following works relating to the Sanquhar II Wind Farm.

Answer · Gillian Martin: In Scotland, onshore wind farms in excess of 50 MW, like the Sanquhar II Wind Farm, require consent from Scottish Ministers. Deemed planning permissions accompanying such consents contain conditions which require pollution prevention plans to be approved by p…

10 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43529 by Fiona Hyslop on 10 February 2026, what recent communication Transport Scotland and Amey have had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding litter along the A75.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland officials met with representatives from Amey and Dumfries and Galloway Council on 14 January 2026. At this meeting, Transport Scotland reiterated to the Council its statutory responsibilities for litter management under the Environmental Pr…

3 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to ensure that Transport Scotland and operating companies across the trunk-road network adequately address local concerns regarding litter and fly-tipping, both generally and with particular reference to the A75.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities in Scotland have a statutory duty to clear litter from all verges and roads, including trunk roads such as the A75. Transport Scotland, through its trunk road Operating Companies, is responsible f…

4 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action Scottish Water is taking to prioritise the connection of residential properties to the mains water supply in situations where private water supplies are consistently failing water quality tests and residents are routinely provided with bottled drinking water.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Responsibility for private water supplies rests with those who own or operate them, with statutory duties set out in the relevant regulations. Local authorities have duties to monitor supplies, provide advice where standards are not met, and take enforcement …

31 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many calls the Disclosure Scotland helpline has received in the last 12 months, and what the (a) average and (b) longest recorded waiting time for a call to be answered was.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:The Disclosure Scotland helpline received 129,575 calls over the past 12 months. Customers waited an average of 16 minutes and 18 seconds to speak to an ad…

30 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on allowing children and young people from rural areas who have cancer and must travel significant distances for day care and treatment, and who are currently excluded from accessing the Young Patients Family Fund, to access this Fund to support their travel costs.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government recognises the significant challenges faced by children and young people with cancer, particularly those living in rural and island areas. We are committed to ensuring equitable access to healthcare and support for all patients, regard…

30 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that children and young people from rural areas who have cancer and are excluded from accessing the Young Patients Family Fund do not experience inequalities in accessing their treatment and care because of any significant travel distances and costs tha…

Answer · Neil Gray: If a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, the Scottish Government wants them to be treated as close to home as clinically appropriate. As treatments for cancer become more complex and expensive however, it is not possible to deliver them in every l…

30 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure there is appropriate policing cover for communities in Dumfriesshire.

24 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support NHS Dumfries and Galloway in addressing financial pressures. 

9 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that pupils attending smaller rural schools are receiving the additional support for learning that they need.

2 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that passengers from Lockerbie train station can benefit from the removal of peak fares.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail is not currently contracted or funded by Transport Scotland to operate rail services to Lockerbie. This has been investigated several times in the past but cannot be delivered efficiently by extending an existing service to Lockerbie.It would require…

10 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that residents in Eskdale can access patient transport for hospital appointments.

5 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Young Carer Grant is only available to carers aged 16 to 18, in light of many young carers being younger than this.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Young Carer Grant is part of a package of measures to support young carers alongside non-cash support through the Young Scot Young Carers Package, which is available to young carers aged 11-18 and provides tailored discounts and opportunities including hi…

5 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason young carers are reportedly discriminated against in relation to school absences and claiming Education Maintenance Allowance.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: No young person should not be discriminated against if they are a young carer and are entitled to claim the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).Receipt of the EMA is linked to attendance - that is why we strongly encourage delivery partners to consider a yo…

5 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many stoma nurses there currently are, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally, however, NHS Boards will have this information.

27 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that pupils with additional support needs receive consistent and adequate support.

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason local councillors are not exempt from jury duty.

Answer · Angela Constance: Jury service is an important civic duty, and I am grateful to all those who undertake it.It is the view of the Scottish Government that the pool of potential jurors should be as wide as possible, to ensure that an accused person is being judged by their peers…

6 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that those identified with dyslexia at school leave education with the appropriate supporting information needed to secure reasonable adjustments in the workplace.

6 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25968 by Jenni Minto on 18 March 2024, whether it still anticipates that the Primary Care Data and Intelligence platform will be delivered by March 2026, and whether it will include data on the number of people in Scotland with myalgic encephalomyel…

Answer · Neil Gray: NHS National Services Scotland is working to deliver a Primary Care Data and Intelligence platform to unlock the value of primary care data.The programme is focusing on delivering milestones to complete a technology refresh. The platform will deliver by March…

8 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further consideration it has given to the protected status for feral goats in the Eskdale area, in light of media and public interest, including the reported gathering of 4,000 signatures by campaigners.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: As set out in my answer to S6W-35250 on 5 March 2025, the Scottish Government does not intend to provide feral goats with protected status. Feral goats are a non-native species and it is an offence to release any non-native species without a licence from Natu…

8 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with local residents regarding concerns in relation to reports of a goat cull being carried out by Oxygen Conservation, and what assurances have been sought that the existing population will be maintained albeit at lower levels.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: As set out in my answer to S6W-35250 on 5 March 2025, as the landowners, it is for Oxygen Conservation Limited to consider how any reduction in the feral goat population should be achieved in practice. I understand that the landowner is not calling for eradic…

25 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what due diligence Scottish Enterprise undertook prior to its ministers announcing the grant offer of £1.7 million for Bhagat Holdings in relation to the former Pinneys of Scotland plant in Annan.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Prior to the announcement of support for Bhagat Holdings, Scottish Enterprise's due diligence included appraisal of the project and its benefits to the Scottish economy, assessment of eligible Scottish Enterprise support and consideration of the conditions at…

25 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date Bhagat Holdings first had contact with its (a) ministers and (b) agencies in relation to the former Pinneys of Scotland plant in Annan.

Answer · Kate Forbes: According to Scottish Government records, the first contact between representatives of Bhagat Holdings and Scottish Ministers was on 20 February 2019. Scottish Enterprise's records show that it first had contact with Bhagat Holdings in January 2019.

19 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities with managing planning applications.

12 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to digitalising the M10 Marriage Notice - Scotland form.

Answer · Angus Robertson: I have asked Alison Byrne OBE, Registrar General for Scotland and Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:Statutory forms relating to marriage are prescribed by the Registrar General for Scotland with the approv…

12 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is permissible for private businesses to fund the employment of assistant registrars to carry out marriage ceremonies.

Answer · Angus Robertson: There is no provision in the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 allowing for the private funding of assistant registrars to carry out marriage ceremonies.Under Section 7 of the 1965 Act, every local registration authority (which …

11 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the mental health of police officers and ensure that they have access to the appropriate specialist services.

6 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that retired police officers affected by the 2018 McCloud judgment receive a remediable service statement by the 31 March 2025.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I have asked Stephen Pathirana, Chief Executive of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency, to respond. His response is as follows:The current position for the delivery of remediable service statements to retired police officers is set out in the Scottish Public …