Parliamentary questions
Rachael Hamilton
1,432 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what oversight it has of commercial partnerships between local authorities and technology providers in schools, including any safeguards to ensure that educational priorities and pupil wellbeing are protected.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As with other areas of local service delivery, responsibility for decisions about the use of commercial technology providers in schools, including procurement arrangements, rests with local authorities as part of their statutory role in delivering education. …
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what requirements exist for obtaining parental consent where pupils are required to use digital learning platforms that involve the processing or sharing of personal data.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities are independent data controllers for their use of digital learning platforms in schools are responsible for ensuring that any processing of pupils’ personal data complies with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Prot…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its Rural Support Plan as required by the Agricultural and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Rural Support Plan was laid today and will be published tomorrow.
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any action it has taken under section 33 of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 to prepare and publish a food security statement.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government takes matters of food security and resilience very seriously. Work is underway on the inaugural food security statement which will have regard to the recently published Rural Support Plan. That statement will build on the package of me…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to undertake an assessment of the impact of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 on rural and island communities, as required by section 81 of that Act.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Section 81 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 requires the Scottish Ministers to conduct a rural and island communities impact assessment of the provisions of the Act no later than 6 November 2026.A report of the findings will be laid before the Scottish Parl…
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost to date is of the working group it established following the UK Supreme Court’s judgment in the For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers case.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Supreme Court Working Group is part of the Scottish Government’s core business, and its work does not create additional costs for the public. Meetings are held in a hybrid format, allowing members to join either online or in person as part of their …
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on any further action that the working group it established following the UK Supreme Court’s judgment in the For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers case has assessed as necessary to ensure that all public bodies…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Public bodies, as both employers and service providers, are responsible for ensuring that they comply with all relevant legal obligations. Following the UK Supreme Court’s judgment in FWS v Scottish Ministers, this duty specifically includes compliance …
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the actions taken by the working group it established following the UK Supreme Court’s judgment in the For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers case, to ensure that all public bodies are providing single-sex spac…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Public bodies, as both employers and service providers, are responsible for ensuring that they comply with all relevant legal obligations. Following the UK Supreme Court’s judgment in FWS v Scottish Ministers, this duty specifically includes compliance …
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its revised Code of Practice for constables when exercising the power of stop and search, which is currently being consulted on, will ensure the safety of biological women, in light of proposals that could allow a biological male to request that a biological female constab…
Answer · Angela Constance: The revised Stop and Search Code of Practice (the Code) includes clear safeguards for officers for the conduct of strip and intimate searches. It requires that such searches must be conducted by a constable of the same biological sex as the detainee. It also …
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is regarding the cross-border referral of patients to facilities in England for routine healthcare treatment when waiting lists in NHS boards in Scotland exceed referral-to-treatment standards.
Answer · Neil Gray: Health Boards might arrange treatment for some patients outwith NHS Scotland in exceptional circumstances. In all cases, the originating Health Board retains responsibility for funding consultation, diagnosis and treatment for their patients and we expect Sco…
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent consultation on extending permitted development rights to support the provision of new homes.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The consultation closed on 27 October last year. Analysis of the responses has now been completed and a summary of the responses has been published on the Scottish Government WebsiteRespondents to the consultation provided a wide variety of views in relation …
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for energy consents under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 over the last five years involved planning authority objections that resulted in a Public Local Inquiry being held.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Details of Section 36 and Section 37 applications involving planning authority objections, resulting in a Public Local Inquiry over the last five years are as follows:Section 36 applications (electricity generating station) 47Section 37 applications (overhead…
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding applications for energy consents, what assessment it has made of any financial savings that may be made as a result of the removal of the automatic Public Local Inquiry trigger.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has not made a formal assessment of financial savings that may be made as a result of the removal of the automatic Public Local Inquiry trigger. However, by selecting the most appropriate examination procedure based on the specific cir…
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that communities retain meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making on large-scale energy infrastructure proposals under the revised procedures for applications for energy consents.
Answer · Ivan McKee: It is essential that communities are able to have their say on energy applications that affect them. For this reason, the Scottish Government worked with the UK Government on the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 to reform the energy consenting process in …
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding applications for energy consents, whether it will (a) monitor the number of Public Local Inquiries held following implementation of the new process for considering these and (b) publish data on how frequently inquiries are granted following planning authority objections.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government will continue to monitor the number of Public Local Inquiries as part of our on going administration of the applications for energy consent process.Information on energy consent applications and Public Local Inquiries will continue to …
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding applications for energy consents, what criteria reporters will use to determine whether a Public Local Inquiry should take place under the new reporter-led examination process.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Reporters appointed from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) will be able to select from a range of procedures, from consideration of written submissions through to a full Public Local Inquiry. In line with other casework where similar proc…
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding applications for energy consents, what consultation it has undertaken with (a) planning authorities and (b) local communities regarding the removal of the automatic Public Local Inquiry trigger.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Changes to the automatic Public Local Inquiry trigger for energy consent applications were consulted on by the UK Government in October and November 2024 as part of preparations for the then Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Details of the consultation outcom…
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on community participation and transparency of the removal of the automatic requirement for a Public Local Inquiry when a planning authority objects to an application under sections 36 or 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.
Answer · Ivan McKee: While the Scottish Government has not made a formal assessment, it is our expectation that community participation and transparency will not be reduced as a result of the removal of the automatic requirement for a Public Local Inquiry when a planning authorit…
18 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its draft Budget 2026-27 to support women in enterprise, including in the Scottish Borders.
9 Feb 2026 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on the Service Delivery Review of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
5 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what process ministers follow when considering byelaws submitted under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, in cases linked to proposed large-scale tourism or leisure developments.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The process for Scottish Ministers to consider requests for the confirmation of byelaws made under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”) is specified in section 12 of the 2003 Act and also sections 202 to 204 of the Lo…
5 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what timescales typically apply for the ministerial determination of byelaws submitted under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, where the byelaw relates to land affected by a proposed development.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: There is no statutory timescale for Scottish Ministers to determine a request for confirmation of byelaws made under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. Timescales to deliver the determination will be dependent on the complexity of the issues r…
5 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how ministers ensure transparency in decision-making when determining byelaws under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 that relate to land subject to ongoing development proposals.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As required by section 202(8) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Scottish Ministers will consider all representations made with respect to any proposed byelaws and may if it is considered necessary or desirable require a local inquiry to be held to …
5 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) submissions made to it from Scottish Borders Council and (b) ministers' response in relation to the application made under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 for the Center Parcs proposal in the Scottish Borders will be published and made publicly available.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: There is no statutory requirement for either Scottish Borders Council to publish the request for confirmation of byelaws or for Scottish Ministers to publish the decision made.However, section 202(11) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 requires the l…
5 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities there are for communities affected by a proposed development, such as the Center Parcs proposal in the Scottish Borders, to have representations considered by ministers once a byelaw application has been submitted for determination.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Section 202(7) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 makes provisions for any aggrieved party to object to Scottish Ministers, as confirming authority, within 12 weeks of the notice of intention to apply for confirmation of the byelaws having been made …
5 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) guidance and (b) criteria ministers apply when considering whether proposed boundaries in byelaws submitted under section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 are proportionate and applied consistently, including how any concerns regarding inequitable or inconsistent bounda…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The criteria for the making of byelaws which Scottish Ministers must consider when determining whether they should be confirmed are set out in section 12(1) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (2003 Act). This specifies that byelaws can be made to provide …
27 Jan 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what work it is doing to improve access to thrombectomy services across the Scottish Borders.
22 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the impact on mothers, expectant mothers and partners in the Scottish Borders of the potential loss of long-established specialist perinatal mental health services that currently provide an alternative referral pathway alongside NHS provision.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The third sector continues to play a key role for families in providing access to perinatal mental health support across Scotland. In 2019, the Scottish Government established the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) Fund, administered by Inspiring Scotl…
22 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged with NHS Borders on the role that independent charitable perinatal mental health services play in supporting statutory services, and whether any options exist for direct or indirect NHS funding to support their continuation.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government recognises the important role that third sector organisations play in supporting perinatal mental health outcomes, including working alongside NHS Boards to complement statutory services.While engagement on perinatal mental health take…
22 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what provision there is within the draft Scottish Budget 2026-27 for dedicated funding to support third sector and charitable perinatal mental health services, including those operating in rural areas such as the Scottish Borders.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43267 on 29 January 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…