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 MSPs 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
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Question reference: S6W-43537
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
- Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) regarding the Matthews (Second Options) Case for retained firefighters, and whether a calculation and statement will be sent by the SPPA to all eligible members by the March 2026 deadline.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-43539
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
- Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent (FTE) Scottish Public Pensions Agency staff are currently working on matters related to the Matthews (Second Options) Case for retained firefighters.
Answer
Question reference: S6O-05454
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
- Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales showing that business confidence in Scotland has fallen for the sixth consecutive quarter and is lower than the UK average.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-42887
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2026
- Current Status: Answer expected on 22 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it has been working with NHS boards to reduce A&E waiting times in order to meet the standard for 95% of all patients to be admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours of arrival, in light of recent Public Health Scotland statistics for the month ending 30 November 2025, which state that only 66.7% of A&E attendances met this threshold.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-42884
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
- Current Status: Answer expected on 21 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 63,867 domestic abuse incidents reported to the police in 2023-24 involved a repeat offender, and, if there are no available statistics on this, for what reason this information is not recorded.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-42886
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
- Current Status: Answer expected on 21 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the 8% increase in suspected drug deaths from January to September 2025, compared with the same period in 2024, as set out in its quarterly report, Suspected drug deaths in Scotland: July to September 2025.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-42885
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
- Current Status: Answer expected on 21 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it considers that any increases in NHS waiting times contributed to the 8% increase in suspected drug deaths from January to September 2025, compared with the same period in 2024, as set out in its quarterly report, Suspected drug deaths in Scotland: July to September 2025.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-42562
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 December 2025
- Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 7 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of material relating to Freedom of Information request 202500493769, which states that "a delegation of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has visited prisons in Scotland and picked up on issues around drugs and the impact on prisoners and staff", what specific concerns were raised by the CPT; what actions have been taken in response, and whether it will publish any observations CPT shared with its ministers or officials.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-42798
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
- Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether its ministers were advised during 2025 that some police officers were unable to retire, despite meeting age or service thresholds, due to pension scheme interaction issues.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-42797
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
- Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether issues relating to police officers being unable to retire due to pension buyback or pension scheme interaction issues were discussed at any governance, oversight or management group to which the Police Workforce, Diversity and Inquiry Sponsorship team reports during 2025.
Answer
