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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

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-43744

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions nationally, and what steps it is taking to ensure that respiratory health is prioritised nationally.

Question reference: S6W-43745

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the potential role of a respiratory framework in reducing winter pressures on the NHS by simultaneously improving outcomes for long-term respiratory conditions and short-term respiratory illnesses such as the flu.

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: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 12 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.

Detailed consideration for such a proposal is not considered necessary: the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2025 requires that anyone selling or otherwise transferring ownership of any dog must give regard to a Code of Practice setting out a range of considerations relating to the health and welfare of the dog, and that both parties must complete and sign a certificate which, amongst other details, confirms that the acquirer has received any relevant health records.

Question reference: S6W-43423

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns that the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund is making it more difficult for community projects to access funding needed to deliver their active travel initiatives.

Since 2023, following the launch of active travel transformation by the (then) Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants Rights, Transport Scotland has been reshaping the way active travel funding is delivered. This revised approach places Local Authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) at the heart of delivery. Both have established relationships with community organisations and national active travel delivery partners, which they use to support local and regional priorities.

The new funding model is designed to increase the pathways through which organisations can access support, rather than restrict them. It broadens opportunities at local and regional levels rather than concentrating them nationally, meaning that more organisations have the opportunity to apply for support.

Community organisations seeking funding for active travel initiatives should engage directly with their Local Authority or RTP to explore the range of available funding streams, including those delivered through the People & Place programme.

Question reference: S6W-43415

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding ScotRail’s most recent procurement tender for a new rail fleet, how many battery electric multiple units will be (a) procured and (b) allocated for Fife routes.

Question reference: S6W-43420

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many tickets that would have previously been considered peak-fare have been sold on ScotRail routes since the permanent removal of peak fares in September 2025.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The Scottish Government does not hold this information however the econometric analysis that was undertaken for Evaluation of the Peak Fares trial and the Outline Business Case for Permanent removal will be repeated to assess the initial impact of permanent removal. Towards the end of the first 12-month period this will be augmented by survey work to get a full picture of the impact of the policy

Question reference: S6W-43414

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the procurement of new rail stock will include an increase in carriages with cycle storage spaces, in light of a reported lack of storage on certain routes.

At this stage, it is not possible to confirm the precise level of cycle space provision on the new trains, as these details will be informed by manufacturers’ bids. The specification for new rolling stock will fully reflect the requirement for appropriate and accessible cycle storage.

In developing the specification, Transport Scotland and rail industry partners will balance provision for cycles alongside other essential passenger requirements, including seating capacity, toilets, wheelchair spaces, priority and family-friendly seating, door layouts and luggage storage. This balanced approach ensures that the overall configuration of new trains best meets the needs of passengers across the network.

ScotRail regularly engages representative groups, including those representing cyclists, to understand and balance customer needs.

Question reference: S6W-43440

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40006 by Fiona Hyslop on 18 September 2025, what recent discussions it has had with the operator regarding the Fair Work First criteria in the granting of public funds.

Question reference: S6W-43418

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many first-class rail tickets across all ScotRail routes have been sold since the permanent removal of peak fares in September 2025.

Question reference: S6W-43417

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to address overcrowding on the commuter trains on the Dunfermline/Alloa – Edinburgh route.