Asked by: Burgess, Ariane (Scottish Green Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of public opposition to the closure of fire stations, as proposed in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's Service Delivery Review.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
SFRS carried out an extensive public consultation including 40 public events (in-person meetings, drop-in sessions and online meetings) and a public survey. The SFRS Board took decisions based on both the consultation responses, which had been independently analysed, along with the evidence on the need for change.
Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that, due to factors including larger floor areas, detached construction, older building types and installation costs, rural and island homes are typically more expensive to retrofit for energy efficiency and heating decarbonisation than urban properties.
Answered by Gethins, Stephen - Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
We are aware that Scotland has a large number of pre-1919 built houses in rural and island communities compared to urban areas. These properties are typically detached and are 32% to 38% larger by floor area than urban dwellings of the same age. These buildings can be more complex to decarbonise and insulate than modern buildings due to increased risk of mould or dampness if the “breathable” nature of the building is compromised.
Due to the complexities of these buildings, the owners, especially in rural and island settings, can see a cost premium due to logistical challenges and characteristics, such as age, size and construction.
The 2024 Scottish House Condition Survey also reflects the challenge to improve energy efficiency of pre-1919 houses in both rural and urban settings, with only 23% achieving an EPC band C or better.
Asked by: MacDougall, Julie (Reform UK - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made by Police Scotland to fully address bullying and officer misconduct within the force.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Matters relating to conduct and organisational culture are operational responsibilities for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority.
Since Dame Elish Angiolini's 2020 review of complaints handling and misconduct, Police Scotland has undertaken significant work to improve organisational culture and address equality, diversity and inclusion recommendations. This has included implementing recommendations through its Policing Together strategy and appointing an Assistant Chief Constable to lead this programme of work.
Progress in implementing the review's recommendations has been reported publicly through a series of thematic progress reports and updates to the Scottish Parliament. All non-legislative policing recommendations arising from the review have now been delivered.
The Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act 2025 strengthens integrity, accountability and vetting arrangements and supports further reform through updated conduct regulations intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of police misconduct procedures.
Asked by: Burgess, Ariane (Scottish Green Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the quality of the equipment that operational firefighters have at their disposal to tackle wildfire, including (a) breathing apparatus, (b) communications equipment and (c) appropriate PPE.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The quality of equipment is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). SFRS has provided reassurance that it has the equipment required to support firefighters in carrying out their duties safely and effectively. Specialist wildfire equipment continues to be deployed as part of SFRS’s Wildfire Strategy, whilst structural firefighting vehicles, equipment and PPE can also be safely deployed to a wide range of operational incidents, including wildfires.
SFRS continues to invest in operational capability through programmes including the replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus, the expansion of integrated firefighter communications capability and the development of lightweight PPE suitable for wildfire and other operational activities. Investment decisions continue to be informed by operational risk, firefighter safety and relative priorities between estate, fleet and equipment.
Asked by: Mochan, Carol (Scottish Labour - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risk of modern slavery affecting individuals who become destitute as a result of their employer’s sponsorship license being revoked, and what action it plans to take to mitigate any such risk.
Answered by Arthur, Tom - Minister for Business and Fair Work
The Scottish Government believes no worker should face destitution after losing employment through no fault of their own, including where an employer’s sponsorship licence is revoked. We recognise that workers on employer-sponsored visa routes can face particular vulnerabilities, including an increased risk of exploitation where their immigration status is linked to a single employer.
While immigration policy and employment rights enforcement are reserved to the UK Government, we continue to engage with the UK Government where aspects of the immigration system may increase vulnerability to exploitation or create barriers to workers exercising their rights.
The Scottish Government funds a range of services to support vulnerable migrant workers, including the Worker Support Centre, which provides advice on employment rights and routes to relevant enforcement agencies. We also work with regulators, enforcement bodies and third sector partners to help prevent and tackle labour exploitation and human trafficking.
Asked by: Burgess, Ariane (Scottish Green Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the provision of (a) safety critical training and (b) wildfire training by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The provision of training is an operational matter for SFRS. HMFSI conducted a thematic review of the SFRS training function and this was laid before Parliament in June 2026. SFRS accepted all of the recommendations and continues to make improvements and additional investment in its training function. A recent example of this is the investment of £3 million in a new Compartment Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT) facility and a Contaminants Control Unit (CCU) at Perth Training Centre. The objectives of the Service Delivery Review included freeing up resources to allow more firefighters to be deployed in the training function.
Asked by: Burgess, Ariane (Scottish Green Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) workplace and (b) management culture within the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The SFRS Board provides governance and oversight of the workplace and management culture of SFRS. SFRS has provided assurance that there are no fundamental issues with culture within the organisation. In addition, His Majesty’s Fire Service Inspectorate is conducting a thematic review into workplace culture at SFRS. Part one of this review was laid before Parliament on 18 June 2025 and the second part is expected to be published later this year.
Asked by: Burgess, Ariane (Scottish Green Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the investment by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in new equipment to tackle wildfires over the last 10 years.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Decisions on capital expenditure on estates, fleet and equipment is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). Information on individual items of SFRS equipment purchased over the last 10 years is not held by the Scottish Government. SFRS is investing £1.6 million as part of the roll out of its Wildfire Strategy.
Asked by: Findlay, Russell (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the debate on motion S7M-01178, (Middle East: Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) on 16 September 2026, in which the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy stated that, “The International Criminal Court—an organisation that I wholeheartedly support—has 13 situations under investigation in countries across the world, and we must ensure that there is consistency in our approach internationally and uphold the law, be it domestic or international”, whether it will set out what actions it has taken in relation to each of these “situations”.
Answered by Gethins, Stephen - Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
The Minister's remarks referred to the need for the consistent application of international law and support for independent international judicial institutions, including the International Criminal Court.
The Scottish Government is deeply concerned by conflict, instability and serious human rights violations wherever they occur. We have consistently supported the rules-based international order, respect for human rights and accountability for breaches of international law.
As you will be aware, responsibility for sanctions, export controls, recognition of states, and wider foreign policy rests with the UK Government although there is an important role for devolved administrations to play in international affairs in the UK and they do elsewhere in the world.
Asked by: Lennon, Monica (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-44440 by Natalie Don-Innes on 24 March 2026, what assessment it has made of the impact of childcare costs on the ability of parents with twins and other multiple births to return to, remain in or increase their participation in the workforce, and whether it will publish the evidence informing that assessment.
Answered by Brown, Siobhian - Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise
The Scottish Government has not made an assessment of the impact of childcare costs on the ability of parents with twins and other multiple births to return to, remain in or increase their participation in the workforce.
As highlighted in answer to S7W-03482 on 29 September 2026, the recent Programme for Government set out our intention to publish and consult on a blueprint for a transformed childcare offer in 2027, focussing on what matters most to families. I encourage families with multiples to engage with the consultation when it is published to inform consideration of future policy.
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.