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-42198

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 11 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on (a) the documents that have incorporated updates from the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan to date, (b) any further documents expected to include these updates and (c) the proposed publication dates for each.

The Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) was an important springboard for net zero skills planning.

Since its publication in 2020, significant progress has been made to further improve the evidence base, for instance with key reports such as the ‘’ report (published in November 2022), the ‘’ (published in November 2023), and the ‘’ report (published in December 2024).

In 2023, Ministers agreed not to publish a further standalone CESAP, opting instead to strategically align green skills policy and planning behind our wider net zero and economic growth priorities. It will also be a key consideration as we take forward work on Skills Planning.

The importance of skills and education in green sectors has been extensively recognised, including: the development of sectoral and site Just Transition Plans (various dates),the Green Industrial Strategy (September 2024), the recent Draft Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland (October 2025), the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 (November 2024), and the Draft Environment Strategy (July 2025), and the upcoming Climate Change Plan (expected in 2026).

The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to embedding green skills and creating green jobs across all its policies to support a just transition to net zero.

Question reference: S6W-42201

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that filters in cigarettes are one of the most littered items and that they leak toxic chemicals, which can threaten marine life, what its position is on calls to ban them.

The Scottish Government shares your concern about the harmful impact of cigarette litter, which makes up a significant proportion of litter in Scotland, and we are committed to taking action to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics.

While we currently have no plans to ban cigarette filters, we will continue work to prevent littering, improve enforcement and drive behaviour change in line with the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy.

Additionally, one of the most effective ways to reduce the volume of littered cigarette filters is through reducing smoking rates. Our Tobacco and Vaping Framework, published in 2023, sets out the actions we are taking to reduce smoking levels in communities to 5% or less.

Question reference: S6W-41758

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to investigate and respond to reports that Rockstar Games has dismissed staff for joining a workplace union, and how it can ensure that workers' rights to unionise are protected under Scottish employment law.

The Scottish Government has been in touch with Rockstar Games after concerns were raised about the unfair dismissal of staff. We have re-iterated our strong position that we expect all employers to treat their workforce with respect and to engage with workers and their representatives including relevant trade unions in an open and transparent way. A progressive approach to industrial relations and an effective voice for workers is at the heart of a fairer, more successful society.

Question reference: S6O-05224

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will review its interim position on the use of facilities and services at the Parliament, following the Supreme Court ruling, and seek specialist legal advice, in light of the Equality and Human Rights Commission withdrawing its interim guidance.

Question reference: S6W-41764

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any work it has undertaken to disqualify businesses who make use of unpaid trial shifts from receiving public grants and procurement contracts from the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government expects organisations awarded public contracts or receiving public sector grants to maintain agreed workforce standards and professional conduct. Questions on Fair Work First are routinely included in Scottish Government contracts and as a standard requirement in grant conditions. These criteria make clear that exploitative practices, such as unpaid trial shifts, are incompatible with fair work.

Under public procurement legislation, bidders can be excluded from procurement procedures where there is evidence of breaches of employment law or professional misconduct. For grants, there is no statutory exclusion mechanism; instead, compliance with Fair Work First criteria is a condition of funding, and failure to comply will result in termination of the grant and recovery of funds. As with all commercial, procurement, and grant matters, decisions must be taken on a case-by-case basis with appropriate legal advice being sought.

Question reference: S6W-41707

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the inclusion of specific diagnostic and treatment guidelines for Tourette syndrome in the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and, in light of reported concerns about underreporting and inconsistent diagnosis and the need for clear national support frameworks for people living with the condition, whether it will review the absence of such guidelines and, if so, by what date.

I recognise how debilitating Tourette Syndrome can be and want to ensure that all people living in Scotland with this condition can access the best possible care and support.

The decision to create, update and/or replace any SIGN guideline is made independently by the Evidence Directorate Work Programme Committee in Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

Any group or individual can propose a guideline topic, and proposed guidelines under consideration can be found on the SIGN website: /

Question reference: S6W-41418

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any progress made in developing reuse targets with Scotland’s local authorities since the passage of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill.

The Circular Economy(Scotland) Act 2024 enables the setting of statutory local recycling and preparation for reuse targets for local authorities from 2030 to help drive further performance improvements in local household waste services.

As set out in the Circular Economy & Waste Route Map, available on the Scottish Government website at local authority targets complement wider work to co-design a statutory Code of Practice for household recycling. A first co-design workshop was held with local authorities in June 2025, and workshops with local government and the wider sector are planned to take place in January and May 2026.

Local authority targets will follow the conclusion of co-design. They will be assessed, agreed and set through delivery of an action-focussed improvement programme to support local authorities to improve their services and increase reuse and recycling, which is being designed by the Scottish Government in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

Question reference: S6W-40642

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure consistent implementation of the Coeliac Disease Pathway across all NHS boards.

Following the launch of a new national evidence-based pathway for coeliac disease in 2018, we expect all Health Boards to fully implement the Coeliac Disease Pathway in Scotland to improve under diagnosis, time to diagnosis and to ensure dietetic person-centred support for people living with this condition so that they can take control and manage its impact on their health and quality of life.

Our £70 million Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan is increasing capacity and supporting workforce training. This also includes a commitment to promote and implement guidelines for non-biopsy diagnosis for coeliac disease, which is expected to reduce waiting times for diagnosis for this condition.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is invasive and often requires sedation or anaesthesia. A no-biopsy approach, now fully adopted across adult services in Scotland, reduces the need for endoscopy and speeds up diagnosis for eligible patients.

Question reference: S6W-40640

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 30 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish further details on the aims set out in the Health and Care Service Renewal Framework, including how these aims will be implemented and resourced.

We intend to report annually on the progress of the Service Renewal Framework (SRF). Implementation is well under way to deliver the stated actions in the SRF, with a particular focus on the Year One actions published.

With regard to resourcing, the SRF is designed to make better use of the resources we already have — not to rely on new funding. It is about doing things differently, not doing more with less. It is a ten-year plan to make health and care services more sustainable, effective, and person-centred.

By aligning efforts and promoting collaboration, the SRF will support partners to get the most value from the totality of public investment. As financial sustainability is key to the SRF, financial implications will be considered in parallel with the refinement of actions, including understanding the investment required and development of cost/benefits calculations.

Question reference: S6W-40641

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported ongoing concerns about underdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis for people with coeliac disease, whether it plans to introduce a national early testing scheme for the condition.

The Modernising Patient Pathway Programme - estimates that the incidence of diagnosed Coeliac Disease is 1% of the population in Scotland with 7-8 people remaining undiagnosed for every person diagnosed.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with long term conditions such as coeliac disease are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the person at the centre of their care.

We expect all Health Boards to fully implement the Coeliac Disease Pathway in Scotland to improve under diagnosis and improve time to diagnosis for those with coeliac disease. Our £70 million Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan is increasing capacity and supporting workforce training. This also includes a commitment to promote and implement guidelines for non-biopsy diagnosis for coeliac disease, which is expected to reduce waiting times for diagnosis for this condition.