S7W-02572

Asked by: Marra, Michael (Scottish Labour - North East Scotland)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01240 by Màiri McAllan on 10 July 2026, in which it stated that the consultation on legislative approach to restrictions on mobile phones in schools would be launched within its first 100 days, for what reason the consultation has not yet been launched and when it expects it to open. 

Answered by McAllan, Màiri - Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic

I can confirm that the consultation on restricting mobile phones in Scotland’s schools has been published and is open for responses until 17 November 2026. I would like to take this opportunity to invite MSPs, and their constituents, to respond to the consultation here: Restricting mobile phones in Scotland’s schools.

The consultation will provide an important opportunity to hear a range of views from children, young people, parents and carers, school staff, education authorities and interested organisations, and enable their voices to shape future action.

S7W-02511

Asked by: Day, Martyn (Scottish National Party - Falkirk East and Linlithgow)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the National Lottery Community Fund, credit unions and other community finance providers regarding the delivery of the financial inclusion priority within the revised Dormant Assets Policy Direction Framework.

Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing

The Scottish Government has held regular discussions with the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) regarding delivery of the revised Dormant Assets Policy Direction Framework. Consultation, scoping and analysis are continuing by NLCF, with funding programmes expected to be developed by March 2027. The outcomes of the consultation, including with credit unions and community finance providers, will help shape future engagement with financial inclusion stakeholders and inform the delivery of funding programmes.

S7W-02390

Asked by: Briggs, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Edinburgh and Lothians East)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to establish a national NHS Scotland staff bank.

Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care

The Scottish Government has been working with NHS Boards to improve the consistency and effectiveness of staff banks across Scotland. This is supported through regular engagement with those tasked with management of staff banks within Boards. Guidance has been developed to support organisations in adopting a consistent approach to the recruitment of bank staff whilst steps have also been taken to standardise the statutory and mandatory training which staff are expected to undertake.

Whilst there are currently no plans to implement a national staff bank, we welcome the steps taken by Boards such as NHS Lothian and NHS Borders who work together on bank staff deployment. Moving forward, we will continue to consider how we can deliver services on an increasingly Once for Scotland basis in line with the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework.

S7W-02448

Asked by: Ruskell, Mark (Scottish Green Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government for its response to Environmental Standards Scotland's Improvement Report on its investigation into the effectiveness and enforcement of engine idling laws in Scotland, published in June 2026, which found that the current £20 fixed penalty notice for engine idling risks no longer functioning as an effective deterrent, and whether it will increase the level of the fixed penalty notice for engine idling to a level commensurate with other equivalent driving offences.

Answered by Martin, Gillian - Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs

The Scottish Government is currently considering the conclusions and recommendations set out in Environmental Standards Scotland's Improvement Report. A response will be issued in due course once this consideration is completed.

S7W-02281

Asked by: Chapman, Maggie (Scottish Green Party - North East Scotland)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on delivering the commitment made by the First Minister in January 2025 to introduce a new Centre of Excellence at Stracathro hospital.

Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care

The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting the development of sustainable planned care services across Scotland.

As set out in the answer to question S7W-00352 on 8 June 2026, NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside have a joint intention to develop high-volume, single-procedure lists at Stracathro Hospital, although these arrangements are not yet in place.

In 2025, the Sub-National Planning and Delivery Committees (SPDCs) for Scotland East and Scotland West were established under ministerial direction to strengthen regional planning and improve integration of services around the needs of local populations.

SPDCs East and West will work collaboratively with NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside to optimise capacity across all NHS estates, including the Stracathro Regional Treatment Centre

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

S7W-02356

Asked by: Linden, David (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01822 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 July 2026, what steps it will take to engage homeowners and tenants in its planned review of the property factoring system.

Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing

As set out in the answer to question S7W-01822, the Scottish Government is currently improving its understanding of the issues that have been raised regarding the delivery of factoring services and considering what action may be required. The views and experiences of homeowners and property factors will be an important consideration as that work progresses, and the approach to stakeholder engagement will be developed alongside it.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

S7W-02302

Asked by: Griffin, Mark (Scottish Labour - Central Scot and Lothians West)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-26978 by Paul McLennan on 7 May 2024 and S6W-42254 by Mairi McAllan on 15 December 2025, how (a) much funding has been spent through the National Acquisition Programme and (b) many social homes have been delivered in each local authority area in the year 2025-26.

Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing

In 2025-2026 a total of £118.426 million was spent and a total of 1,683 affordable homes were delivered through acquisitions. The following table provides a breakdown of these figures by local authority area.

Table 1: Acquisition Funding

S7W-02307

Asked by: Griffin, Mark (Scottish Labour - Central Scot and Lothians West)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the acquisitions and voids funding package that it announced to reduce homelessness, how much funding was (a) allocated and (b) spent on voids activity in each local authority area in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26, and how many social rented homes were brought back into use through that funding, broken down by (A) local authority area and (B) year. 

Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing

In 2024-25 the Scottish Government announced £40 million for acquisitions and voids, followed by a further £80 million in 2025-26, bringing the total funding commitment to £120 million. This funding is being delivered through local authority Resource Planning Assumptions (RPAs). No separate allocation was made specifically for voids.

The following tables provides details on how much funding was spent on voids in each local authority area in (i) 2024 and (ii) 2025-26.

Table 1: Voids 2024-2025

S7W-02271

Asked by: Langan, Jamie (Reform UK - South Scotland)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NatureScot’s refusal to grant a license for the 2026 Guga Hunt, what action is being taken to safeguard Scotland’s rural cultural heritage and what assessment it has made of any impact that this decision may have on this longstanding tradition in the Western Isles.

Answered by Fairlie, Jim - Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands

The Scottish Government supports the safeguarding of Scotland's cultural heritage through a range of policies, funding programmes and public bodies. Through Scotland's historic environment strategy, Our Past, Our Future, partners across the heritage sector work to sustain and enhance the benefits of the historic environment for communities throughout Scotland, including rural and island communities. The strategy emphasises strengthening community participation, supporting resilient places and recognising the contribution that heritage makes to wellbeing and identity, as well as in the local economy.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken an assessment on the impact that this decision may have on this longstanding tradition in the Western Isles. The hunt is specifically provided for in section 16(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (“the 1981 Act”). This activity can only be done under licence, and in accordance with the terms of a licence issued by NatureScot.

One of the main criteria for issuing a licence under Section 16(2) of 1981 Act is that in considering an application for a licence, NatureScot gives consideration as to whether the hunt is sustainable, and by that, whether the activity would have an adverse effect on the conservation status of the species concerned, namely gannets. NatureScot took the decision to refuse a licence was based on what they believed to be the most up-to-date science available and NatureScot concluded that issuing a licence for even 500 gannet chicks this year would likely have an adverse impact on the Sula Sgeir gannet population.

S7W-02246

Asked by: Greer, Ross (Scottish Green Party - West Scotland)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support and increase horticulture training and education provision in the west of Scotland and Greater Glasgow areas.

Answered by Fairlie, Jim - Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands

The Scottish Government recognises the wide range of careers available in the horticultural sector, and the importance of effective training and educational pathways to deliver a workforce equipped with the skills and expertise demanded by the sector.

In 2026-27 the Scottish Government is investing over £2.4 bn in our post-school education and skills system, supporting the delivery of horticulture provision at education providers across the west of Scotland, including Ayrshire College, Glasgow Clyde College, New College Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire College. While colleges and universities operate independently of Government, with responsibility for their own course provision, we recognise and support collaborative work between those sectors and industry to address horticulture skills needs.

The Scottish Government also funds the 2026-27 Lantra workplan, which supports diverse and rewarding career development in the land-based sectors, including horticulture across Scotland, the UK and Ireland. Scottish Government officials continue to attend regular Horticulture Skills Group meetings, which provide an opportunity for further and higher education institutions to connect with employers, local authorities and other organisations.

While the Scottish Government does not currently offer regional specific support for horticulture education provision, we have supported and endorsed the development of Regional Economic Partnerships (REPs). These partnerships will seek to unlock new powers, and design delivery models tailored to local priorities. This could include powers in areas such as skills, further education, economic development and planning.