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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-43545

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to a requirement for greyhounds exiting the racing industry to have a complete veterinary history, including full disclosure of any injuries or medical conditions resulting from racing.

Question reference: S6W-43546

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure that all greyhounds residing in Scotland have microchips registered with approved database operators.

Question reference: S6W-43547

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement mechanisms are in place to mitigate issues arising from a greyhound having a microchip registered with a non-approved database operator.

Question reference: S6O-05467

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure the safety of people seeking asylum who are housed in hotels across Perth.

Question reference: S6W-43270

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the safety of fixed ankle leashes in water sports, and what consideration it has given to regulating the sale and use of these for such purposes.

Question reference: S6O-05359

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Deputy First Minister has had with ministerial colleagues regarding when a Just Transition Fund for Mossmorran will be introduced.

Question reference: S6W-42792

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what obligations are placed on bus operators to accept the National Entitlement Card for local cross-border journeys.

Question reference: S6W-42486

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 31 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the practical effects of Part 5 of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill would be with respect to reserved matters, including energy consents, transport and telecommunication.

Part 5 of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill(as introduced)is not intended to have a practical effect on any matters which are reserved.

Section 34 replaces the definition of public body or office holder in section 58 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 with provision that makes it clear that for the purposes of that Act, where the Act refers to a public body or office holder it includes a reference to:

a Scottish public authority,
across-border public authority (which is not a Scottish public authority) but only in relation to functions exercisable in or as regards Scotland which do not relate to reserved matters, and
a statutory undertaker and any person exercising functions of a public nature, but not a court or tribunal.

The amendments also provide that the 2004 Act applies only in relation to the exercise of functions by public bodies or office holders in or as regards Scotland which do not relate to reserved matters.

Sections 35, 36 and 37 provide standard regulation-making, ancillary and commencement powers to Scottish Ministers to implement the Bill effectively. Further detail about these provisions are set out in the Delegated Powers Memorandum for the Bill-Delegated Powers Memorandum

Question reference: S6O-05293

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made to update national guidance for local authorities on their responsibilities to uphold public access rights.

Question reference: S6W-42136

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the extent to which the Housing Emergency Action Plan is helping to meet its commitment to end homelessness.

The Housing Emergency Action Plan delivers new and enhanced actions, including committing to deliver up to £4.9 billion of investment over the coming four-years - with homes delivered through a mixture of public and privately leveraged investment.

These interventions are supporting local authorities to deliver their housing and homelessness services. It is essential that those who are at risk of homelessness are able to access housing and support when they need it most. The plan centres on three priorities, which are closely aligned with the vision in Scotland’s homelessness strategy:

Ending children living in unsuitable accommodation – as a vital part of the Scottish Government’s determination to eradicate child poverty;
Supporting the housing needs of vulnerable communities, including women and children experiencing domestic abuse and people with the most acute experiences of homelessness; and
Building our future – invest extensively in affordable homes whilst working to create the optimum conditions for wider investment to be made in our housing sector with confidence and certainty.

Housing to 2040 remains our key overarching strategy that sets out a vision and roadmap to ensuring everyone has a safe, good quality and affordable home by 2040. That has not changed, and in these challenging times, the formal governance we have established through the Housing to 2040 Strategic Board provides important critical and strategic oversight to support sector-wide delivery of the Housing to 2040 strategy and the Housing Emergency Action Plan.

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