Parliamentary questions
Finlay Carson
905 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the potential of geothermal energy for job creation in Scotland.
Answer · Stephen Gethins: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00834 on 12 June 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-committees/…
5 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential of geothermal energy to heat homes in Scotland.
Answer · Stephen Gethins: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00834 on 12 June 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-committees/…
4 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage private investment in geothermal energy.
Answer · Stephen Gethins: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00791 on 12 June 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-committees/…
4 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential for geothermal energy in Scotland.
Answer · Stephen Gethins: In 2014, a Scottish Government commissioned study identified significant potential for deep geothermal in Scotland’s abandoned mine workings, hot sedimentary aquifers and hot dry rocks.Our 2021 Heat in Buildings Strategy recognises that this resource, a…
4 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect and strengthen schools in rural areas.
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has made of the (a) prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in Galloway and West Dumfries compared with national averages in each of the last three years,…
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to answer to questions S6W-43676 and S6W-43744 on 24 February 2026.Assessments of respiratory prevalence and emergency hospital admissions are produced and published by Public Health Scotland. These official statistics include data for ever…
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has given to the role of a respiratory Modern Service Framework in reducing winter pressures on the NHS by simultaneously improving outcomes for long-term respiratory conditions and short-term respiratory illness such as…
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to answer to questions S6W-43695 and S6W-43745 on 24 February 2026. The Scottish Government is aware of calls from respiratory stakeholders in England for a Modern Service Framework focused on respiratory care. To clarify, the UK Government…
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care’stimeframe is for deciding on the second wave of the Modern Service Frameworks,and whether respiratory conditions will be considered.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Decisions on Modern Service Frameworks are a matter for the UK Government and apply to services in England. The Scottish Government does not set the timeframe for their development and has no decision making role in determining the conditions included in any …
18 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has had with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology regarding the potential for a respiratory Modern Service Framework to strengthen the UK's life sciences ecosystem by scaling up the adoption of new medicin…
Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government Officials within our Directorates for Health and Social Care are engaged with the UK Office for Life Sciences and NHS England in line with the agreement made between Ministers at the Interministerial Group for Health and Social Care to see…
11 Feb 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its draft Budget 2026-27 will ensure meaningful infrastructure improvements in the south of Scotland.
21 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of access to justice services in rural areas.
14 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) gross and (b) net revenue it forecasts over each of the next five years from the proposal to remove small business rates relief from country sport shoots.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43079 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…
14 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what effect the proposal to remove small business rates relief from country sport shoots is expected to have on conservation and land management associated with shoots, and how this aligns with its climate and biodiversity targets.
Answer · Ivan McKee: During Stage 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill Scottish Ministers committed to explore how non-domestic rates reliefs, particularly Small Business Bonus Scheme relief, can be better targeted.Following consideration and engagement through the budget process…
14 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on (a) rural employment and (b) local supply chains of the proposal to remove small business rates relief from country sport shoots, broken down by (i) local authority area and (ii) and rural area classification type, and what mitigations are planned.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43079 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…
14 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence and policy objectives underpin the proposal to remove small business rates relief from country sport shoots, and whether it will publish all impact assessments and the consultation analysis.
Answer · Ivan McKee: During Stage 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill Scottish Ministers committed to explore how non-domestic rates reliefs, particularly Small Business Bonus Scheme relief, can be better targeted.Following consideration and engagement through the budget process…
3 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research or assessments it has carried out in the south west of Scotland to understand the environmental impact of recent or planned road improvement projects.
5 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of any reductions in police officer numbers since 2020 on rural communities.
22 Oct 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers local communities will have to raise objections in relation to new energy infrastructure projects.
23 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement its Marine Directorate has undertaken to progress any plans to reopen a boat-based cockle fishery on the Solway Firth.
4 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve access to defibrillators nationally.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Through delivery of the Out of hospital cardiac arrest: strategy 2021 to 2026 - gov.scot we are working with our Save a Life for Scotland partners to improve access to defibrillators by ensuring that they are publicly accessible, registered and to take a data…
4 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of reviewing and implementing the recommendations of the Breast Screening Modernisation Board, and by what date the board's final recommendations, including those on data improvement, will be published.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has received the final report from the Breast Screening Modernisation Board, and is grateful for their work. We are working with the organisations responsible for screening to implement the recommendations from the report. Funding has …
4 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Scottish breast screening statistics for 2023-24, which were initially scheduled to be published in spring 2025, have been postponed until December 2025.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland (PHS) announced on their website that they have delayed publication of their breast screening report to December 2025. This is due to data quality concerns identified during their standard quality assurance process. PHS are in communica…
1 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government’s recently announced funding to test new ways to tackle obesity and the reported limited access to weight management treatments across Scotland, what steps it is taking to ensure that people in rural areas, such as Dumfries and Galloway, can access ne…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to address any unmet need in diagnosing cancer, including brain tumours.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government knows that the earlier cancer is diagnosed the easier it is to treat, and even cure. Diagnosing brain cancer can be challenging as symptoms are wide-ranging and often vague.We continue to have a focus on the less survivable cancers, includ…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review current referral pathways to improve early detection of brain tumours.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39986 on 4 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-committ…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring equitable access to specialist neuro-oncology services across all NHS boards.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Cancer Network (SCN) has developed a Clinical Management Pathway on adult neuro-oncology. It sets out the delivery of a Scotland-wide approach to optimal treatment options throughout the patient journey, from diagnosis through to follow-up or end…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the long-term support needs of brain tumour survivors and their families.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that anyone diagnosed with cancer has access to a range of services throughout their cancer pathway. We are aware that individuals’ support needs change and evolve during this time.The Scottish Cancer Network…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider providing match-funding for the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government is aware that research is essential if we are to continue to develop new and effective approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours.There are no plans for the Scottish Government to provide direct funding support to the Scott…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to reduce diagnostic delays for brain tumour patients.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government recognises that diagnosing brain cancer can be challenging as symptoms are wide-ranging and often vague.Through our Cancer strategy 2023 to 2033 - gov.scot and initial three year Cancer action plan 2023 to 2026 - gov.scot published in June…
15 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much NHS Dumfries and Galloway has saved as a result of any reduction in publicly funded dental services, and how any such savings are being accounted for within the region’s financial recovery plans.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39369 on 11 August 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-committee…