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: S6O-04946

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the worst wildfires ever recorded in Scotland affected the areas around Dava, Lochindorb and Carrbridge this summer, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding potentially commissioning an independent review of wildfire management practices.

Question reference: S6W-39924

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 18 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 10 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what grants have been paid to Summerhall Arts in Edinburgh in each of the last five years, broken down by the (i) value and (ii) specific purpose of each grant.

Summerhall Arts, set up in 2023, was awarded Multi Year Funding by Creative Scotland in January 2025. Over 2025-26 it will receive grant funding of £168,254 which will support its core operating costs.

The previous operator of the Summerhall venue, Summerhall Management, had received the below payments from Creative Scotland since 2020:

Year	Company Name	Application Summary	Fund	Awarded Amount
2019-20	Summerhall Management Ltd	DCI compliant cinema equipment	2019-20 Cinema Equipment Fund	£25,000.00
2020-21	Summerhall Management Ltd	(i) Organisational development for Summerhall (ii) An artist development programme to support artists to make new work (iii) Summerhall 10th anniversary celebrations	2020-21 Creative Scotland Open Fund for Organisations (National Lottery funded)	£29,300.00
2020-21	Summerhall Management Ltd	Live music venue support funding	Grassroots Music Funds	£46,656.00
2020-21	Summerhall Management Ltd	Live music venue support funding	Grassroots Music Funds	£66,200.00
2021-22	Summerhall Management Ltd	Emergency COVID-19 funding	Cancellation Fund for Cultural Organisations	£79,962.00

Question reference: S6W-40117

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 01 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 8 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many orders for witness anonymity under common law and section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, similar to those imposed by Lady Dorrian in the case HMA v Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond, have been imposed in each year since 2015; in which cases they were imposed; whether it will provide details of the nature of the crimes involved in these cases, and whether there have been any other cases since 2015 where a similar type of order ensuring witness anonymity has been imposed under different provisions.

Question reference: S6W-39947

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 1 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government in relation to any funding grant, whether it will require the applicant body to sign and confirm that it will abide by and observe the principle that in its operations it will observe as an absolute right, freedom of expression within the law, and that any breach or failure to observe this requirement will result in the immediate withdrawal of funding and an obligation to repay any sum awarded.

In accordance with the , Scottish Government Grants are made subject to legally binding agreements. A model offer template sets out standard terms and conditions, which include standard clauses covering default and recovery of a grant. There is no specific reference to freedom of expression but there is a standard clause requiring grant recipients to ensure that “in relation to the project/programme, they and anyone acting on their behalf shall comply with the relevant law, for the time being in force in Scotland”

Question reference: S6O-04888

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the future award of any grants or loans to arts or public performance venues, whether it or any public authority, including Creative Scotland, will require applicants to observe and respect freedom of expression under the law in order to be eligible for financial support, and that failing to do so will require any funding provided to be repaid.

Question reference: S6W-39674

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what risk assessments have been carried out on the possible effects on patients if there is any further removal of NHS specialist treatments for chronic pain services.

Decisions about the planning and delivery of NHS services, including specialist pain treatments, are the responsibility of individual Health Boards. Boards are expected to consider the available evidence, local population needs and clinical advice when making decisions.

The Scottish Health Technologies Group is currently undertaking an independent review of certain specialist interventions for chronic pain. Their findings, expected on 28 November 2025, will support informed decision-making across NHS Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-39673

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government who has been appointed to the Evidence Review on Chronic Pain, which is being handled by the Pain Management Task Force; what the remit of the review is, and when the findings will be published.

The review for specialist interventions for managing chronic non-malignant pain in adults was commissioned by Scottish Government but is being led by the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG), part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS). HIS and SHTG operate independently and neither the Pain Management Taskforce or the Scottish Government have a role in undertaking the review.

SHTG provides evidence-based advice to NHSScotland on health technologies to support informed decision making that improves health and care for people in Scotland. Its advice is underpinned by Health Technology Assessment (HTA) methodology which is a formal, internationally recognised, systematic and transparent process that considers the best available evidence. This includes clinical effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness, and the views of patients, healthcare professionals, and wider system implications.

SHTG have determined that they will make recommendations on the following four questions:

1. Is radiofrequency denervation effective, safe and cost effective for treating chronic non-malignant joint pain in adults?

2. Are injections (spinal axial blocks, sacroiliac joint injections, facet joint injections) with or without steroids effective, safe and cost effective treatment options for adults with chronic non-malignant pain?

3. Are lidocaine intravenous infusions effective, safe and cost effective for treating chronic non-malignant pain in adults?

4. What are patient views and experiences of chronic pain treatment in specialist secondary care settings?

The findings will be published on their website and are currently anticipated to be published on 28 November 2025. You can find more information here: .

Question reference: S6W-39381

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the most recent statistics are on the level of immunisation in the relevant population for (a) measles, (b) whooping cough, (c) mumps, (d) polio, (e) meningitis and (f) rubella, broken down by NHS board area; what its position is on whether these levels of immunisation are acceptable, and, if it does not consider any levels to be acceptable, what action it is taking to address this.

Public Health Scotland provide quarterly updates of immunisation uptake rates for children in Scotland. The most recent release was published on 24 June 2025 and provides uptake statistics for all childhood vaccines, including: the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine; the 6 in 1 vaccine (which protects against whooping cough, polio, tetanus, haemophilus influenzae type B and hepatitis B); and the meningitis B vaccine. The report can be found at the following link:

Quarterly childhood immunisation rates across Scotland remain high, reflecting both the hard work and commitment of our colleagues in the NHS and the recognition of the benefits of vaccination.

However, the Scottish Government is aware that there are decreases in uptake compared with previous years, a trend which has been observed globally. We are working with Public Health Scotland and Health Boards to increase vaccination uptake, address health inequalities and support those eligible for vaccination.

Question reference: S6W-39390

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on its vaccination policies in Scotland, whether it has received any information from the UK Government regarding measles deaths in England, and, if so, what information, and whether it will make it publicly available.

Scottish Government officials continue to work closely with colleagues across the four UK nations to ensure cooperation and, where appropriate, alignment on vaccination policy, but we have received no specific information from the UK Government regarding measles deaths in England.

While Childhood immunisation rates in Scotland remain high, we are working with Public Health Scotland and the NHS to increase vaccination uptake in communities across the country. Measles is a highly infectious disease and can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications. The MMR vaccine is safe, and it is vital that all those eligible receive both doses of the vaccination, especially because of the current global threat of measles to international and domestic travellers.

The Scottish Government urges parents and carers to take their children to be vaccinated when invited to do so to enable them to be protected against serious disease, including measles, meningitis and pertussis.

Question reference: S6W-39380

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when GP vaccination services will be fully restored to GPs in NHS Highland; whether it anticipates that this will happen by the end of 2025, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

In January of this year, Scottish Minsters agreed to Highland HSCP putting in place a mixed-model for vaccinations. GP delivery is likely to be key in some aspects of this model, however, the aim is to take a collaborative approach to delivering vaccinations.

Since 2022, Health Boards have been responsible for delivering vaccination programmes. However, the Scottish Government recognises the need for flexibility to account of specific, local circumstances that might negatively affect vaccine uptake, which is why Ministers agreed to the development and implementation of a mixed model.

The Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland continue to engage with Highland HSCP to support a flexible and responsive immunisation service.