Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for ��˿�� to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-42398

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that consumers and businesses are able to afford semiconductors and other important computer parts, in light of the significant increase in prices reportedly due to a combination of increased demand from AI data centres and more general global insecurity.

The global semiconductor market has long been vulnerable to market fluctuations. At a time of unprecedented global demand for AI processing, we believe there is much the UK Government can do to strengthen national sovereignty of our supply chains, particularly on energy costs and capital investment in semiconductor fabs.

The Scottish Government recognises the strategic importance of the semiconductor sector and its diverse supply chain in Scotland. We are working collaboratively with industry and academia through our Cluster Development Programme to support the sector as an intrinsic part of our Critical Technologies Supercluster.

The supercluster acts as a magnet for future investment, a platform to boost Scotland’s profile on the world stage and supports our critical technologies industries to become more resilient to global pressures such as demand for AI technology.

Question reference: S6O-05316

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to the thousands of children who will be living in temporary and unsuitable accommodation over the Christmas period.

Question reference: S6W-42183

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a short bill to amend transport legislation, to simplify the Scottish bus franchising powers to bring them in line with England’s Bus Services Act 2017, by the end of the current parliamentary session.

I have no plans of modifying the franchising model in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. Changing primary legislation would take time to deliver and any proposals to bring the Scottish powers in line with England would require us to revisit the entire approach to franchising.

Development of any new primary legislation in this area is likely to be a lengthy process and could not be undertaken before the end of this parliamentary session. Any changes to the legislation now could significantly impact Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s (SPT) plans for developing its franchising proposals, as well as create uncertainty for all local authorities who may be exploring this option. Such a move would also push Scotland further behind England in delivering bus franchising.

Question reference: S6W-42287

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 9 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what alternative venues were assessed as potential hosts for Scotland House at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Question reference: S6W-42141

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 9 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40706 by Jim Fairlie on 3 October 2025, what weighting community benefits and social value in Scotland will have in the tender scoring for the construction of the two new freight flex vessels to serve the Aberdeen-Kirkwall/Lerwick route.

The key benefits and intended outcome of investment in new vessels is continuation of ferry services, improved reliability and additional capacity for island communities and businesses over their operating life. As Procuring Authority, CMAL consider the approach to vessel and other procurement in line with legislation and guidance. This requires appropriate consideration of community benefits depending on the product or service being procured, ensuring transparency and non-discrimination.

CMAL have confirmed that the overall scoring for the NIFS Freight flex vessels is weighted 70% on quality and 30% on cost. As part of the quality element, 3% of the score relates to community benefits, while wider social value considerations, such as fair work and environmental matters, were tested at SPD stage. As Procuring Authority, CMAL consider this to be appropriate and proportionate for this contract at ITT stage which has attracted interest only from international markets.

Question reference: S6W-42169

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 9 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will engage with Stadler regarding the potential to develop a rolling stock and locomotive manufacturing base in Scotland for the UK market.

Question reference: S6W-42452

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, following the cyber attack on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in 2023, what lessons learnt, if any, have been taken forward and implemented across the public sector.

Question reference: S6W-42431

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged with the Home Office about the UK Government exercising its break clause in the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract with Mears in Scotland from March 2026 and exploring an alternative model for delivery of asylum accommodation and support with local authorities and charities.

Question reference: S6W-42142

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the duration was of the advertisement on the Public Contracts Scotland website for expressions of interest in tendering for the construction of the two new freight flex vessels to serve the Aberdeen-Kirkwall/Lerwick route.

Question reference: S6W-42108

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the plans by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to develop a "virtual hospital", including by what date this will be introduced.

Improving access to Urgent and Emergency Care services is a key priority for the Scottish Government through our NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan, which details our ambitions to shift the balance of care from acute to the community.

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde are contributing to this shift through expansion of their virtual hospital. In a recent update to the Scottish Government, the board advised that a number of pathways are scheduled to come on stream, with a target of 1000 virtual beds in place by Autumn 2026.