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-42651

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Graeme Dey on 18 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will launch its consultation on the extension of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to private and third sector providers of care home and "care at home" services.

The consultation will be published on 5 January 2026 and will help to inform a detailed assessment of whether and when providers of care home and 'care at home' services can be understood to be delivering public functions. Subject to the outcome of that assessment, it will also inform decisions on whether, and in what fashion, Ministers might exercise their power under section 5 of FOISA to extend the legislation to private and third sector organisations delivering these services.

Question reference: S6T-02815

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent attack on the Jewish community at Bondi Beach in Australia, what steps are being taken to ensure community safety in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-42503

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kate Forbes on 11 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to publish its response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 2 report, which was published on 20 November 2025.

We welcomed the publication of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 2 report on core decision-making and political governance on 20 November 2025.

Further to my statement to Parliament on that date, and following further consideration of the report, we can confirm today that the Scottish Government intends to publish its response before the dissolution of Parliament in 2026, in line with the timeframes set out by the Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

The Scottish Government will now take the necessary time to engage with stakeholders, including through the dedicated Covid Inquiry Response Engagement Group. This group brings together members representing a broad range of stakeholder expertise, including organisations working with communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and those furthest from decision-making. Their participation ensures that the Scottish Government’s response reflects diverse perspectives and is grounded in real-world impact, while carefully considering the report’s findings and recommendations.

Question reference: S6O-05320

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local authorities, such as East Dunbartonshire Council, to reduce the use of temporary accommodation and prevent homelessness.

Question reference: S6W-42445

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angela Constance on 9 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the Terms of Reference will be finalised for the public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the investigation of the murder of Emma Caldwell.

Following the appointment of Lord Scott to chair the Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry, I have consulted with the Chair, and met with the Caldwell family and a range of key parties to discuss the Terms of Reference of the Inquiry.

In these discussions I outlined my intention to keep the Terms of Reference focused on the original investigation of Emma’s death but sufficiently broad to allow Lord Scott to look at wider issues he considers to be pertinent to the Inquiry. This approach was broadly supported.

The Solicitor General, on behalf of the Law Officers, is content that the prosecutorial decision-making is examined by the Inquiry in connection with the investigation into the murder of Emma Caldwell.

I am pleased to confirm that the Inquiry will formally begin its work on 9 December 2025. The Inquiry’s setting up date marks the point at which I hand over full responsibility of the Inquiry to Lord Scott and the work of the Inquiry will commence.

The Terms of Reference agreed with Lord Scott are provided below:

PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE INVESTIGATION OF THE MURDER OF EMMA CALDWELL – TERMS OF REFERENCE

On 28 February 2024 Iain Packer was convicted of the murder of Emma Caldwell, 19 years after her death. I announced on 7 March 2024 that there would be an independent judge-led inquiry given the gravity of the case, the length of time that it took for justice to be served and the extent of the sexual violence suffered by the victims and survivors.

The Inquiry’s Terms of Reference are set out below. The Terms of Reference do not attempt to present a definitive list of every issue the Inquiry will consider. They specify areas of investigation which the inquiry will interpret flexibly.

Terms of Reference

To examine the investigation carried out by Strathclyde Police, under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, into the murder of Emma Caldwell, including (i) the investigative strategy and decision making; (ii) the giving of direction by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (iii) any steps which could reasonably have been taken and, had they been taken, might have resulted in the offender being apprehended and prosecuted at an earlier stage; (iv) the roles and responsibilities of those involved; and (v) any other factors relevant to the circumstances of the investigation and related prosecution and to make recommendations to address any finding in that regard.
To examine whether any failures in training, procedures, operating models or systems of working contributed to failures (if any) by Strathclyde Police or the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in relation to the investigation and to make recommendations to address any finding in that regard.
To report to the Scottish Ministers on the above matters and to make recommendations as soon as reasonably practicable.

Question reference: S6W-42290

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 December 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to mitigate the two-child benefit cap now that the UK Government has announced that it is removing this limit.

Following years of pressure from stakeholders and the Scottish Government, the UK Government has finally scrapped the two child limit. I can therefore confirm that we will not proceed with our regulations that would have, subject to Parliamentary approval, seen us launch our payment in March 2026. As the First Minister made clear back in January, we will be reinvesting funding freed up to contribute to our mission to eradicate child poverty.

This will include continuing to mitigate the benefit cap which the UK Government is keeping in place, with the result that Policy in Practice estimates one in ten children impacted by the 2 child limit won't benefit from its abolition, and a further one in ten will only benefit partially. Officials continue to engage with the Scottish Fiscal Commission to help inform its forecasts including on the benefit cap and increased caseload on the Scottish Child Payment following the end of the Two Child Limit. Our spending decisions will be set out in the Scottish Government Budget on 13 January.

Question reference: S6O-05232

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports cultural initiatives in East Dunbartonshire, such as Acorn Shed Music, to expand opportunities for participation in the arts across all age groups.

Question reference: S6O-05179

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its climate policies, what it hopes to achieve through its representation at COP30 in Brazil.

Question reference: S6O-04924

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what funding and timelines will support the new Disability Equality Plan to ensure that its aims deliver real change for disabled people.

Question reference: S6W-40153

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angela Constance on 28 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to add the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.

Today the Scottish Ministers have laid a draft of a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) in Parliament which adds the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 ("the 2021 Act") and published a consultation paper seeking views on the draft instrument. The consultation can be viewed at .

The effect of the SSI is to add the characteristic of sex to the list of characteristics covered by the offence of stirring up hatred and the statutory aggravation concerning offences aggravated by prejudice. This will ensure that women and girls have the same protections as victims of hate crime targeted because of their religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity, age, disability or variations in sex characteristics. The provision will also provide protection to men and boys.

There is a requirement in the 2021 Act for the draft SSI to be laid in Parliament for at least 40 days, excluding any period where the Parliament is in recess for more than 2 days. The consultation will run until 10 October 2025. The responses to the consultation will help inform consideration of the SSI to be laid in Parliament after the end of the consultation.