The Scottish Parliament

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-42915

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of one in three men in Scotland reportedly being diagnosed with prostate cancer at a late stage, whether it will commit to exploring alternative interventions to support earlier identification of the condition, irrespective of the final recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee on it.

The Scottish Government, along with all other UK nations, takes advice from the UK NSC, an independent expert advisory group that informs screening policy across the UK. The Scottish Government will consider this guidance regarding any screening interventions.

We continue to take action to diagnose prostate cancer earlier. A clinical refresh of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer was published in August 2025. For this first time this now includes guidelines for key groups who should consider speaking to their GP about PSA testing from age 45. These are:

Men with a family history of prostate cancer,
Black men, who are around three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men, and may develop it up to five years earlier
and those with a genetic predisposition, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

The guidelines now also explicitly mentions the prostate cancer risk management pathway, noting that GPs should have an informed conversation with anyone regardless of age if the individual is concerned about prostate cancer.

The primary care cancer education platform – Gateway C – supported by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is providing innovative, and tailored information to support earlier cancer diagnosis efforts and enable effective decision-making. This resource includes specific modules on prostate cancer to support GPs.

Question reference: S6W-42855

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes have been built in each local authority area since 2007, and how many of those have been for social housing.

A total of 141,730 affordable homes have been delivered between 1 April 2007 and 30 September 2025 and these include new build, rehab and off the shelf purchases. This includes 101,266 homes for social rent (71%), 14,201 homes for other affordable rent (10%), and 26,263 homes for affordable home ownership (19%). The Scottish Government publishes quarterly housing statistics on the Affordable Housing Supply Programme covering approvals, starts and completions by local authority area split by social rent and other affordable. These can be found here:

We report on all homes delivered through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) via our quarterly official statistics, and this includes approvals, starts and completions. We also report on all sector new build starts and completions by local authority including social homes. Official housing statistics are available on the Scottish Government website at .

Question reference: S6O-05358

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage young people to be involved in the Gaelic language and culture.

Question reference: S6W-42372

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to review and assess the need for widening the scope of regulation of independent medical services, such as private baby scans.

The Scottish Government wants all healthcare provided to people in Scotland to be safe, appropriate, and carried out by those with the right qualifications.

The Scottish Government are engaging with Healthcare Improvement Scotland regarding the next phase of regulation of independent healthcare. Any proposals for widening the scope of regulation of independent healthcare will be based on intelligence of potential risks and patient safety concerns.

Question reference: S6W-42240

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 10 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce routine prostate cancer screening for (a) the whole population and (b) people in higher risk groups.

The Scottish Government, along with all other UK nations, takes advice from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC does not currently recommend prostate screening for the whole population. The UK NSC will consider whether to extend their recommendation for prostate screening should evidence support this, including from existing trials like TRANSFORM. The Scottish Government will consider any future recommendations made by the UK NSC in this regard.

Evidence shows that prostate cancer is both more common and aggressive in men with BRCA variants compared to the general population. Following a recent review of evidence, the UK NSC has launched a public consultation which focuses on the UK NSC’s draft recommendation to offer a targeted national prostate cancer screening programme to men with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants every 2 years, from age 45 to age 61. The consultation will close on 20 February 2026, following which, the UK NSC will consider the results and agree a final updated recommendation.

In anticipation of a potential recommendation for targeted prostate cancer screening, a clinician-led short-life working group, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, will assess Scotland’s readiness to respond to any future advice from the UK NSC on prostate screening.

Question reference: S6O-05273

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will allocate in its forthcoming Budget to local authorities to provide financial support to those affected by RAAC, including businesses.

Question reference: S6O-05254

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has given any further consideration to initiating a consultation on the establishment of a kindergarten phase for children in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-05215

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to potential social security implications, what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding compensation for Women Against State Pension Inequality.

Question reference: S6W-41592

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will work with criminal justice stakeholders to develop standards that set out what must happen when someone with an alcohol use disorder comes into contact with the criminal justice system.

The Scottish Government is engaging with a wide range of stakeholders including those involved within the criminal justice system on the creation of a new approach to care and support for people impacted by alcohol. That new approach will include plans for a national specification setting out the interventions required to reduce harm as well as improved standards for implementing those. Standards for alcohol care and support in the criminal justice system are the same as standards in the community.

The Scottish Government has oversight groups in place to help provide national and local leadership with a clear steer on the services which need to be in place in all settings.

Question reference: S6W-41695

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 13 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what protocols and guidance are in place for local authorities that are reporting graffiti which could be considered as a hate crime to Police Scotland.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

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