Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-43521

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what early discussions it has had with the newly appointed Traffic Commissioner for Scotland on their position and approach to supporting regional transport partnerships, such as Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, to implement regional bus franchises.

Question reference: S6W-43522

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the current pilot scheme that provides free bus travel for people who are seeking asylum and live in Scotland using the National Entitlement Card (NEC) will be extended beyond 31 March 2026.

Question reference: S6W-43284

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of both Scottish projects in the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 7 (AR7) securing strike prices above the current wholesale price of electricity, what its position is on whether electricity bills for households and businesses would be significantly lower in an independent Scotland, and on what evidence its position is based.

Question reference: S6W-43316

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask Historic Environment Scotland to engage with the interim liquidator of Ballantine Castings Ltd, Johnston Carmichael LLP, to ensure that the foundry's proprietary pattern archive of around 250,000 designs, ranging from manhole covers and bollards to ornate railings and lampposts, is safeguarded for the nation.

Scottish Government officials asked Historic Environment Scotland about Ballantine Castings Ltd and whether it had engaged on this issue.

I understand Historic Environment Scotland used its powers under the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2015 to carry out a rapid emergency photographic survey of the Ballantine Castings site shortly after liquidation proceedings began. It was essential to act quickly and capture the historically significant combination of buildings, patterns, machinery and equipment within one of Scotland’s last traditional foundry sites, before the next steps of the liquidation process were undertaken. These images will soon be made available to the public via www.trove.scot

Historic Environment Scotland also worked pro-actively with other national and local cultural heritage bodies at pace to secure what they can. Challenges around asbestos have complicated some aspects.

The Scottish Government is pleased to learn that the Ballast Trust has already secured the bulk of the business and archive records from the site in collaboration with other heritage bodies including Historic Environment Scotland, and with financial support from the National Archives Records at Risk fund.

Question reference: S6W-43210

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the programme to build three Fleet Solid Support (FFS) ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is facing early disruption due to a cash flow shortage at Liberty Steel Dalzell in Motherwell, which has left the company unable to purchase steel slab to start production, despite the order to supply 34,000 tonnes of rolled steel plates for the FSS programme, and whether it will engage with Sir David Murray about his reported interest in acquiring the Dalzell Plate Mill with government support.

Question reference: S6W-43494

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on the removal or preservation of historic river barriers, including weirs, fish ladders and dams, and their potential for adaptive reuse in flood prevention or energy generation schemes.

Question reference: S6W-43181

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42791 by Mairi Gougeon on 13 January 2026, (a) what its position is on whether (i) national security encompasses a wider scope than the matters reserved by Schedule 5, Section 9 of the Scotland Act 1998 and (ii) the recent Strategic Defence Review, in particular chapter 6 (Home Defence and Resilience: A Whole-of-Society Approach) and chapter 7.2 (Maritime Domain), affords significant scope for the Scottish Government to exempt its procurement of vessels under the provision of Section 45 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022, and (b) whether it will agree to discuss this matter with the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Defence.

National security and defence are matters reserved to the UK Parliament under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, (noting the exception of civil defence). The concept of national security does not extend devolved competence beyond those reserved matters. The Strategic Defence Review is a UK Government policy document and does not alter the statutory division of responsibilities set out in the devolution settlement. As such, including in relation to maritime matters and resilience, it does not provide additional scope for the Scottish Government to rely on the national security exemption set out in Section 45 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 when procuring vessels for devolved purposes. As explained in the answer to question S6W-42791, marine protection vessels and marine research vessels reflect the operational needs of the Marine Directorate, are built and operated to merchant-vessel standards and fulfil functions related to fishing and environmental protection. The national security exemption within the Subsidy Control Act is intended to apply only in exceptional circumstances where this is necessary for the protection of UK national security, and its use does not affect the underlying reservation of defence and national security matters. The Scottish Government continues to engage with the UK Government on subsidy control matters through established intergovernmental mechanisms.

Question reference: S6W-43260

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will explore the potential to stock Scottish wines in the Parliament for use in hospitality and retail.

The Scottish Parliament’s catering service partner has recently reviewed its beverage range and is expanding its Scottish offering. This includes introducing Scottish wines alongside a wider selection of Scottish-produced alcoholic and alcohol-free beverages.

With regard to retail, the Scottish Parliament Shop product range is currently under review, and the suggestion to consider Scottish wines will be taken under consideration.

Question reference: S6W-43083

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help local authorities develop best practice for the conservation of badgers.

NatureScot provides comprehensive standing advice on badgers in relation to development and planning, which is directly relevant to the responsibilities of local authorities. This guidance is publicly available at: https://www.nature.scot/doc/standing-advice-planning-consultations-badgers. It brings together a range of referenced sources and includes links to more detailed best-practice material, such as collaborative work undertaken around 20 years ago between Scottish Natural Heritage, the Highland Council, and several local developers in the Inverness area. Although produced some time ago, the information and core principles, particularly the importance of a holistic approach to balancing development and badger conservation, remain highly relevant today.

While there is no statutory requirement for developers to protect wider badger habitat, the law does provide strict protection for badgers and their setts. NatureScot’s advice therefore emphasises that planning authorities should also consider associated feeding areas and foraging grounds when assessing proposals. Incorporating these key habitats into development plans helps to avoid situations where legally protected setts become isolated and disconnected from essential food resources. Although such outcomes may technically comply with the law, they are ecologically undesirable, and the guidance encourages local authorities to work proactively to prevent them.

Question reference: S6W-42924

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to those whose mental health is affected by climate anxiety due to the reported ongoing climate crisis.

We recognise that concern about climate change can affect mental wellbeing.

Mental health support is available to anyone experiencing anxiety about any issue, by phone, online and in-person. Talking to others can help and in addition to support available through GPs, the Mental Health Hub via 111 and Breathing Space via 0800 83 85 87 also provide free mental health support.

Resources to support anxiety are also provided on our mental wellbeing websites - Mind to Mind for adults, Parent Club for parents and Aye Feel for children and young people, which includes steps that can be taken by anyone experiencing climate anxiety.

We are continuing to develop our understanding of the link and emerging evidence between climate change and mental health and what this means for the people of Scotland.

Practical advice on how people can protect themselves, their community or business from the impacts of climate change as well as action they can take in their home and local communities is available on Home - Adaptation Scotland..

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