Emma Harper

11 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle racism in secondary schools.

5 Feb 2026 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support people to access affordable home ownership in rural and island communities.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is taking a range of actions to support people to access affordable home ownership in rural and island communities.We operate the Low Cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers (LIFT), which includes:Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE) Scheme …

19 Jan 2026 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I am pleased to announce that Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan will be published tomorrow.Phase Two sets out action which will be taken forward over the next three years, driving towards our ambition that all women and girls in Scotland enjoy the be…

17 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve family support services within the prison estate.

17 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to national treatment centres to offer trabecular bypass procedures at the time of cataract surgery, where clinically appropriate, in light of the recent UK and Eire Glaucoma Society consensus statement concluding that all patients with glaucoma should be off…

Answer · Neil Gray: In 2025-26 all ophthalmic procedures at National Treatment Centres (NTCs) have been cataract surgery. This will continue in to 2026-27. NTCs will not provide glaucoma treatments such as trabecular bypasses.The National Treatment Centres for ophthalmology deli…

17 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to use technological innovation to improve ophthalmology services and reduce waiting lists for glaucoma treatment.

Answer · Neil Gray: We are utilising digital technology to improve ophthalmology services across Scotland with the present roll out of the Once for Scotland Ophthalmic Electronic Patient Record (EPR). This EPR allows clinicians to access and update patient records wherever the o…

3 Dec 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the response to the recommendations set out by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the February 2025 Market Study into Infant formula and Follow-on formula will be published, in light of these measures being designed to increase affordability of a vital food pro…

Answer · Jenni Minto: On 14 February 2025, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published the final report of its market study into the UK infant and follow-on formula market. CMA set out 11 recommendations to the Scottish, Welsh and UK Governments and Northern Ireland Exec…

1 Dec 2025 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the National Timber Group entering administration.

26 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported protests outside a primary school in Glasgow, what support it is offering to Police Scotland, local authorities and other agencies to ensure the safety and security of those using adult education services.

5 Nov 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to help deliver regeneration in the south west, including any plans for future infrastructure and housing investment.

27 Oct 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government has had any initial response from the UK Government in relation to the letter sent to the Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs on 22 October regarding the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.

13 Oct 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further action it is taking to improve access to primary care.

Answer · Neil Gray: Improving access to primary care is a key priority for this Government. We recognise the vital role that GPs, community nurses, pharmacists, dentists and other members of the primary care team play as the foundation of healthcare in our communities.We are com…

8 Oct 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the muirburn licensing provisions in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 will be implemented on 1 January 2026, in light of the lessons learned following the wildfires in Dava and Carrbridge in summer 2025.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Following discussions with a number of stakeholders and experts over recent weeks, I have decided to delay implementation of the muirburn provisions until the start of the next muirburn season in Autumn 2026.This decision will provide us with the time and opp…

23 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last engaged with the UK Government on domestic food and drink markets.

27 Aug 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports allied health professionals to balance the demands of responding to system pressures with the delivery of rehabilitation and early intervention.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises and values the crucial role of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in delivering preventative care, early intervention, and rehabilitation across Scotland. To support AHPs in balancing the demands of system pressures with ser…

19 Aug 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the UK Government’s Border Target Operating Model.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Despite voting to stay in the EU, Scotland was forced to leave with the UK. That means putting in place trade barriers for both exports and imports that create costs for businesses and consumers. Checks on imports from the EU stem from Brexit and, as Parliame…

6 Aug 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the escalation status of NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Neil Gray: The NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework is one of the key elements of the evidence-based approach to monitoring performance and managing risk across the NHS in Scotland.In 2025-26 NHS Boards received increased investment in their baseline funding,…

31 Jul 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the Berwick Bank offshore windfarm consenting application.

Answer · Kate Forbes: It is not normally the case that Parliament is informed of determinations on consenting applications. However, given that Parliament is in recess and that the Berwick Bank offshore windfarm consenting application of significant interest and of strategic impor…

15 Jul 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress on implementing the accepted recommendations of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 report, published on 18 July 2024.

Answer · Kate Forbes: We welcomed the publication of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 1 report on pre-pandemic preparedness and resilience on 18 July 2024. On 16 January this year, in line with the timeframes set out by the Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, we published our …

30 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had regarding potentially extending the regulatory protections pertaining to red deer to encompass native wild goat populations.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has not had any recent discussions regarding potentially extending the regulatory protections pertaining to red deer to encompass native wild goat populations.As set out in our response dated 25 May 2025 to the Citizen Participation an…

27 Jun 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s national recommendations in relation to emergency care.

Answer · Neil Gray: Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) conducted a review of the emergency departments of the three main receiving hospitals in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in 2024, and published a report on findings from the review on 27 March 2025.Eleven recommendations fr…

18 Jun 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its policy position on onshore conventional oil and gas.

Answer · Gillian Martin: We have undertaken a full policy development process in order to reach a finalised position on onshore conventional oil and gas in Scotland, in line with statutory requirements.Having considered stakeholders’ views and the evidence received alongside wi…

28 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to modernise family law and ensure the efficient functioning of the civil court system.

13 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the future of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.

1 May 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the activity delivered through the additional £30 million allocated in 2024-25 to reduce NHS waiting times.

Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Boards have exceeded the commitment to deliver 64,000 appointments and procedures in 2024-25, funded through our additional investment of £30 million to drive action to address the longest waits.In 2024-25, Boards were required to provide regular ma…

28 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding whether anaerobic digestion facilities can support the decarbonisation of the agricultural sector by providing low-carbon fertiliser and the creation of biogas.

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the amount saved by (a) visitors, (b) patients and (c) staff in the NHS (i) Dumfries and Galloway and (ii) Borders area since the abolition of car parking charges at NHS premises in 2008.

Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Dumfries & Galloway and NHS Borders did not have any hospitals where car parking was charged for, therefore their saving since 2008 has been zero.The estimated saving for patients, visitors and staff who used NHS car parks that previously charged for …

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what costs have been incurred by the R100 broadband upgrade programme in the (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) Scottish Borders local authority area, and what assessment it has made of potential further R100 spend in this area.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not hold information regarding the cost of delivering connectivity to individual Local Authorities through the R100 contracts. Costs for delivery of the R100 contracts are collected at contractual level and, as such, it is not pos…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many P1-5 pupils in the (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) Scottish Borders local authority area are eligible for universal free school meals.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: All children in Primaries 1 to 5 across Scotland are eligible for Free School Meals, including children living in Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders.The following table sets out the number of eligible pupils by year group and local authority area.&nbs…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what costs have been incurred through the discretionary housing payments that were aimed at mitigating the so-called bedroom tax in the (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) Scottish Borders local authority area since 2013.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government became responsible for funding discretionary housing payments in 2017 and only holds data on costs from April 2017 onwards. Data prior to this has been obtained from the UK Government website: Discretionary Housing Payments statistics …