The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S7W-03220

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to conducting public awareness campaigns on illegal puppy trading.

The Scottish Government does not intend to conduct any public awareness campaigns on illegal puppy trading at this time. However, the Scottish Government sits on the Pet Trade Taskforce (PTT); a multi-agency group established to tackle a number of animal-related illegal activities, including the unlicensed puppy trade. Part of the work of the PTT is raising awareness of the unlicensed trade and the suffering associated with it and educating the public about how to buy a puppy safely.

Question reference: S7W-03059

Asked by: Duncan Dunlop, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether its current online safety information and support for parents and carers is effectively reaching families across Scotland, and what evidence it has that such information and support is influencing parental behaviour.

Keeping families safe online is of paramount importance for the Scottish Government and prevention is key.

The Scottish Government’s Parent Club resource is one of the ways that we support parents and carers, providing advice, information and guidance through a website, social media channels and email programme. Parent Club offers policy-led, empathetic advice and support across a wide range of topics. It provides practical advice, information and tips on many topics - from online safety for young children and teenagers to establishing healthy sleep routines and supporting the overall wellbeing of the whole family.

The performance of the Parent Club website is monitored regularly using Google Analytics. Since 1 April 2026 the pages relating to online safety have been viewed 8,010 times by 5,180 users, with users spending an average of 53 seconds per page.

In 2022, the Scottish Government carried user testing on the pages with parents and teachers which confirmed that the participants found the content timely, relevant, inclusive, informative, engaging, actionable, user-friendly and supportive of their needs.

In addition to Parent Club, the Scottish Government funds the Scottish Youth Parliament’s “Mind Yer Time” online resource which includes tips for adults written by young people. The Scottish Government meets regularly with the Scottish Youth Parliament and receive annual reports on the impact of “Mind Yer Time”.

This year, the Scottish Government has also provided funding to Fathers Network Scotland to issue a national Dads Survey 2026. The survey asked a range of questions on how dads across Scotland access digital resources, including Parent Club.

The Scottish Government has also launched two Digital Wellbeing surveys: for children and young people and parents and carers, on 19 August 2026. The surveys will be open until 30 September and seek to gather the views and experiences of children and young people and their parents and carers in relation to their online activities, digital wellbeing, online safety, use of social media and digital devices, and the support and information they may find helpful. Once analysed, the results of these surveys and the Dads survey will inform the strengthening of Scottish Government policy and guidance relating to online safety and digital wellbeing.

Question reference: S7W-03028

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs has decided not to appoint a replacement for Calum MacLeod following his resignation from the Scottish Land Commission, resulting in the Commission having four commissioners rather than the five provided for in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016.

I wrote to the Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee on 3 September 2026 to notify them of my intention to bring forward a Scottish statutory instrument which, subject to Parliament’s consideration, will amend the number of Land Commissioners at the Scottish Land Commission from five to four. We expect the instrument to be laid in early October.

The letter, which sets out the rationale for my decision, can be found on Parliament’s website at the following address https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-7/rural-affairs-committee/correspondence/2026/land-reform-scotland-act-2016-of-3-september

Question reference: S7W-03179

Asked by: Laura Moodie, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts awarded by Forestry and Land Scotland since 1 April 2019 have subsequently been varied to increase either their value or duration and, in each case, by what percentage the contract value or duration was increased.

Since the 1 April 2019, the following Regulated contracts awarded by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) have had an unplanned value and/or time variation:

Description	Original Total Value	Revised Total Value	Value Increase %	Start Date	Original End Date	Revised End Date	Time Increase %
Contract for Ground Maintenance & Vegetation Management - Cowal	£54,824.00	£56,219.36	2.55	01-Apr-19	31-Mar-21	31-Mar-23	51.06
Contract for Ground Maintenance & Vegetation Management - Scottish Lowlands	£224,276.00	£226,376.00	0.94	01-Apr-19	31-Mar-21	31-Mar-23	51.06
Contract for Ground Maintenance & Vegetation Management - Lochaber	£93,512.00	£97,283.00	4.03	01-Apr-19	31-Mar-21	31-Mar-23	51.06
Contract for Ground Maintenance & Vegetation Management - Trossachs	£80,340.00	£87,123.28	8.44	01-Apr-19	31-Mar-21	31-Mar-23	51.06
Wide Format Printers (Plotters)	£53,595.36	£140,713.64	162.55	01-Apr-19	31-Mar-22	29-Feb-24	38.60
Multi-functional device (MFD's)	£41,825.34	£163,701.47	291.39	01-Apr-19	31-Mar-22	01-Apr-23	25.53
ArcGIS Licence Requirements	£595,800.00	£628,975.97	5.57	01-Apr-19	31-Mar-22	N/A	N/A
Low Loader Moves Moray & Aberdeenshire	£72,000.00	£76,800.00	6.67	01-Apr-19	31-Mar-21	N/A	N/A
Low Loader Moves Galloway	£127,000.00	N/A	N/A	01-Apr-19	31-Mar-21	31-Dec-23	58.93
Land Disposal	£122,400.00	£123,600.00	0.98	15-Apr-19	14-Apr-23	N/A	N/A
National Fencing Framework	£4,846,500.00	£5,789,297.00	19.45	01-Jun-19	31-May-22	29-Feb-24	36.36
Car Park Machine - Maintenance ONLY (NCA)	£73,767.52	N/A	N/A	01-Jul-19	30-Jun-20	30-Jun-21	52.17
Re-Stock Ground Preparation and Mechanical In-Crop Drains Maintenance - Re-Stock Ground prep East Region South Aberdeenshire	£168,110.00	£169,297.50	0.71	01-Jul-19	30-Jun-21	N/A	N/A
Re-Stock Ground Preparation and Mechanical In-Crop Drains Maintenance - Re-stock Ground Prep for Galloway North	£425,968.00	£443,161.64	4.04	01-Jul-19	30-Jun-21	N/A	N/A
Re-Stock Ground Preparation and Mechanical In-Crop Drains Maintenance - Re-Stock Ground Prep North Region Central	£235,850.00	£326,850.00	38.58	01-Jul-19	30-Jun-21	N/A	N/A
Berryburn Integrated Contract	£231,808.00	£414,648.20	78.88	15-Jul-19	01-Sep-25	N/A	N/A
Harvesting and Extract of Timber - North Region (Thinning)	£668,250.00	£908,250.00	35.91	17-Jul-19	16-Jul-22	31-Jan-23	14.63
Harvesting and Extract of Timber - East Region - Huntly	£800,085.00	£976,067.00	22.00	26-Aug-19	25-Aug-22	30-Nov-22	7.89
Harvesting and Extract of Timber - East Region - Durris	£718,503.80	£987,873.80	37.49	26-Aug-19	25-Aug-22	N/A	N/A
Car Parking Machines	£360,504.03	£530,878.06	47.26	09-Sep-19	08-Sep-22	08-Sep-23	25.53
Forest Management - MTC's - Mid Aberdeenshire	£270,000.00	£337,500.00	25.00	01-Oct-19	30-Sep-21	31-May-22	25.81
Forest Management - MTC's - Highland Perthshire	£550,000.00	£651,824.65	18.51	01-Oct-19	30-Sep-21	31-May-22	25.81
Forest Management - MTC's - Central Region South West	£500,000.00	£513,741.08	2.75	01-Oct-19	30-Sep-21	31-Aug-22	32.35
Forest Management - MTC's - Crianlarich & North Trossachs	£250,000.00	£279,257.20	11.70	01-Oct-19	30-Sep-21	31-Aug-22	32.35
Forest Management - MTC's - Ardgartan & Lochgoilhead	£250,000.00	£284,966.74	13.99	01-Oct-19	30-Sep-21	31-Aug-22	32.35
Forest Management - MTC's - Central Region North East	£225,000.00	£269,695.92	19.86	01-Oct-19	30-Sep-21	31-Aug-22	32.35
Forest Management - MTC's - Central Region North West	£500,000.00	£571,393.76	14.28	01-Oct-19	30-Sep-21	31-Aug-22	32.35
Forest Management - MTC's - Central Region South East	£225,000.00	£311,901.62	38.62	01-Oct-19	30-Sep-21	31-Aug-22	32.35
Forest Management - MTC's - Glenbranter, Strathlachlan & South Cowal	£550,000.00	£649,397.08	18.07	01-Oct-19	30-Sep-21	31-Aug-22	32.35
Forest Management - MTC's - Central Region East South	£350,000.00	£469,120.02	34.03	01-Oct-19	30-Sep-21	31-Aug-22	32.35
Forest Management - MTC's - South Aberdeenshire	£385,000.00	£456,688.62	18.62	01-Oct-19	30-Sep-21	N/A	N/A
Woodland Establishment DPS Lot 1	£9,000,000.00	N/A	N/A	01-Nov-19	31-Oct-24	31-Oct-29	50.42
Woodland Establishment DPS Lot 2	£3,500,000.00	N/A	N/A	01-Nov-19	31-Oct-24	31-Oct-29	50.42
Lochaber Civil Engineering Hired Machinery & Maintenance	£1,900,000.00	£2,600,000.00	36.84	11-Nov-19	10-Nov-21	10-Jan-23	37.84
Corporate Signage	£925,000.00	£1,075,000.00	16.22	06-Jan-20	05-Jan-24	05-Jan-25	20.34
Corporate Structures	£240,000.00	N/A	N/A	06-Jan-20	05-Jan-24	05-Jan-25	20.34
Corporate Furniture	£240,000.00	N/A	N/A	06-Jan-20	05-Jan-24	05-Jan-25	20.34
Supply of Oils & Lubricants	£168,000.00	£168,000.00	N/A	01-Feb-20	31-Jan-23	30-Jun-23	10.26
Corporate Work Wear	£1,043,458.63	£1,325,825.88	27.06	04-Feb-20	23-Jan-27	03-Feb-27	N/A
eFin Licencing (NCA)	£193,000.00	£195,000.00	1.04	01-Mar-20	28-Feb-23	N/A	N/A
Legal Services (call off from SG FW SP-18-010)	£236,590.00	N/A	N/A	02-Mar-20	30-Apr-22	31-Jul-22	10.71
Harvesting and Extract of Timber - East Region - Moray	£950,482.50	£1,650,482.50	73.65	01-Apr-20	31-Mar-23	31-Jan-23	N/A
Helicopters & Pilot Services	£165,000.00	N/A	N/A	01-Apr-20	31-Mar-22	31-Aug-24	55.77
Steep Ground Harvesting	£3,830,693.16	£5,344,863.86	39.53	01-Jun-20	31-May-24	31-May-25	20.34
First Aid Supplies	£25,000.00	£61,000.00	144.00	10-Jun-20	23-Nov-23	N/A	N/A
Drill & Blast	£2,400,000.00	N/A	N/A	15-Jul-20	14-Jul-22	14-Jul-25	61.02
Relocation Services	£165,000.00	£345,000.00	109.09	01-Sep-20	31-Aug-23	31-Aug-24	25.53
Recruitment Advertising	£220,000.00	£450,000.00	104.55	01-Nov-20	31-Oct-25	N/A	N/A
Bridge Inspections	£1,360,909.54	£1,643,741.94	20.78	18-Jan-21	31-Mar-26	N/A	N/A
Worksite, Statutory Safety and Temporary Site Signs	£240,000.00	£278,000.00	15.83	01-Feb-21	31-Jan-23	31-Jan-26	61.02
Smithton and Culbokie Cleaning	£57,435.34	£67,435.34	17.41	01-Apr-21	31-May-25	N/A	N/A
Temporary Forest Road Bridges	£1,000,000.00	£2,931,621.00	193.16	25-May-21	23-Oct-28	N/A	N/A
Temporary Forest Road Bridges	£1,000,000.00	£2,931,621.00	193.16	25-May-21	23-Oct-28	N/A	N/A
Framework Agreement for Building Maintenance - West	£1,318,000.00	£1,818,000.00	37.94	01-Sep-21	31-Aug-25	27-Jan-26	7.84
Framework Agreement for Building Maintenance - West	£1,318,000.00	£1,818,000.00	37.94	01-Sep-21	31-Aug-25	27-Jan-26	7.84
Car Park Cash Collection	£409,051.06	£430,113.96	5.15	01-Oct-21	30-Sep-23	30-Sep-25	51.06
Car Park Machine Maintenance and Back Office	£361,200.00	N/A	N/A	01-Oct-21	31-Oct-23	31-Oct-25	50.00
Bottled gas	£48,000.00	£72,000.00	50.00	21-Oct-21	21-Oct-25	N/A	N/A
Ecological Surveys - North	£240,000.00	£256,285.00	6.79	25-Oct-21	24-Oct-24	N/A	N/A
Ecological Surveys - East	£185,000.00	£539,000.00	191.35	25-Oct-21	24-Oct-24	24-Oct-26	40.68
Ecological Surveys - Central	£245,000.00	£398,000.50	62.45	25-Oct-21	24-Oct-24	N/A	N/A
Ecological Surveys - West	£265,000.00	£298,638.00	12.69	25-Oct-21	24-Oct-24	24-Oct-26	40.68
Ecological Surveys - South	£265,000.00	£268,705.00	1.40	25-Oct-21	24-Oct-24	N/A	N/A
Newton Nursery Project Management Services	£109,656.48	£201,233.49	83.51	30-Nov-21	01-Dec-25	N/A	N/A
Newton Nursery Project - Cost Management	£103,040.00	£156,570.00	51.95	01-Dec-21	31-Dec-25	N/A	N/A
Upper Tyndrum - Design of Access Route	£24,993.00	£168,641.00	574.75	31-Jan-22	03-Jun-22	31-Oct-24	87.50
Silvan House Cleaning & Security Staff Services	£49,500.00	£174,500.00	252.53	01-Mar-22	29-Aug-22	28-Mar-24	78.26
Network Services	£175,102.82	£188,602.82	7.71	12-Jun-22	21-Dec-22	N/A	N/A
Ground Preparation and Mechanised Establishment Operations	£3,030,668.66	N/A	N/A	19-Jun-22	30-Jun-25	31-Mar-27	36.84
Ground Preparation and Mechanised Establishment Operations	£3,030,668.66	N/A	N/A	27-Jun-22	30-Jun-25	31-Mar-27	36.84
Ground Preparation and Mechanised Establishment Operations	£3,030,668.66	N/A	N/A	27-Jun-22	30-Jun-25	31-Mar-27	36.84
QEFP Skip Hire	£23,921.24	£73,921.23	209.02	04-Jul-22	30-Jun-24	30-Jun-26	51.06
Software Licenses	£417,333.92	£418,333.92	0.24	10-Aug-22	30-Sep-24	N/A	N/A
Ground Preparation - Central Region - Trossachs	£138,300.00	£395,390.55	185.89	16-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	61.11
Ground Preparation - North Region - Glenmore Mounding, and Inverness Mounding	£101,480.00	N/A	N/A	24-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	01-Dec-23	53.33
Ground Preparation - North - Glenmore Scarifying, and Inverness Scarifying	£153,500.00	N/A	N/A	24-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	61.11
Ground Preparation - North Region - Raasay, and Sutherland	£630,630.00	N/A	N/A	24-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Jul-24	68.18
Ground Preparation - East Region - Central & North	£341,900.00	N/A	N/A	24-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	61.11
Ground Preparation - East Region - Tay	£311,655.00	£585,426.00	87.84	24-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	61.11
Ground Preparation - Central Region - Cowal, and Crainlaraich	£156,495.00	£414,995.00	165.18	25-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	61.11
Ground Preparation - West Region - West Loch Awe, and East Loch Awe	£439,847.00	£611,351.82	38.99	30-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	61.11
Ground Preparation - West Region - Mull	£95,415.00	N/A	N/A	30-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	61.11
Ground Preparation - West Region - North Argyll	£150,900.00	£197,100.00	30.62	30-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	61.11
Ground Preparation - West Region - North Lochaber, and South Lochaber	£198,693.75	£534,292.75	168.90	30-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	61.11
Ground Preparation - North Region - Caithness, Easter Ross, and Strathgarve	£746,255.35	N/A	N/A	31-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	61.11
Ground Preparation - West Region - Kintyre	£238,210.00	N/A	N/A	31-Aug-22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	61.11
Professional Consultancy	£67,372.98	N/A	N/A	22-Sep-22	30-Dec-23	30-Jun-24	28.57
FM Operations - North Region - Caithness & Sutherland	£2,869,916.00	£3,765,173.76	31.19	01-Oct-22	30-Sep-26	N/A	N/A
Interim Regulated Procurement Officer	£103,630.00	£208,057.06	100.77	03-Oct-22	30-Sep-23	30-Sep-24	52.17
Fuel Cards	£3,375,000.00	£3,570,000.00	5.78	25-Oct-22	24-Oct-26	N/A	N/A
Ground Preparation - Central Region West - Whitelee, Heathland & Limerigg	£134,579.58	£324,699.65	141.27	03-Nov-22	13-Apr-23	31-Mar-24	68.75
Mobile Chiller Trailers - West	£63,000.00	£63,305.00	0.48	06-Jan-23	31-Mar-23	N/A	N/A
Tree Seedlings (2023)	£667,071.00	£1,105,911.00	65.79	06-Feb-23	31-Oct-24	31-Oct-25	37.50
HR System (iTrent)	£307,926.51	£310,402.61	0.80	19-Feb-23	18-Feb-27	N/A	N/A
Category Manager	£144,430.00	£288,860.00	100.00	02-Mar-23	01-Mar-24	28-Feb-25	50.00
Roads Maintenance & Associated Services - West Region (North)	£2,958,000.00	£3,506,643.00	18.55	20-Mar-23	31-Mar-26	N/A	N/A
Roads Maintenance & Associated Services - West Region (Central)	£4,706,000.00	£5,842,530.00	24.15	20-Mar-23	31-Mar-26	N/A	N/A
Purchase of Plants	£675,260.25	£879,393.30	30.23	29-Mar-23	31-May-24	N/A	N/A
Cognos	£129,557.91	£201,096.96	55.22	01-Apr-23	31-Mar-25	31-Mar-26	34.29
Estate Management Services - Building Surveying, Architectural & Project Services	£795,000.00	£1,027,000.00	29.18	01-May-23	30-Apr-26	N/A	N/A
Estate Management Services - Annual Asset Valuations	£121,000.00	£200,000.00	65.29	01-May-23	30-Apr-26	N/A	N/A
Estate Management Services - Woodland Disposals	£186,000.00	£386,000.00	107.53	01-May-23	30-Apr-26	N/A	N/A
Estate Management Services - Minerals Consultancy and Management	£117,000.00	£757,000.00	547.01	01-May-23	30-Apr-26	N/A	N/A
SPS_02020 Employee Assistance Programme & Welfare Service	£47,000.00	£48,856.35	3.95	01-May-23	30-Apr-27	N/A	N/A
Grounds Maintenance Trossachs	£21,788.52	£63,406.96	191.01	09-May-23	31-Mar-24	31-Mar-25	54.55
Supply of Bulk Fuel	£1,350,000.00	N/A	N/A	01-Jun-23	31-Mar-25	31-Mar-27	53.33
Supply of Bulk Fuel	£1,350,000.00	N/A	N/A	01-Jun-23	31-Mar-25	31-Mar-27	53.33
Deer & Other Wildlife Management Services - Central A	£658,038.64	£1,316,077.28	100.00	01-Jul-23	30-Jun-24	N/A	N/A
Roads Maintenance & Associated Services - North Region (West)	£1,400,000.00	£1,969,816.97	40.70	01-Aug-23	31-Jan-25	19-Mar-26	43.33
Woodfuel	£90,324.00	£90,883.33	0.62	18-Aug-23	31-Mar-24	N/A	N/A
Haulage - Deliver in SRW	£148,610.00	£265,883.09	78.91	18-Aug-23	31-Mar-24	N/A	N/A
Haulage	£617,710.00	£632,618.94	2.41	18-Aug-23	31-Mar-24	N/A	N/A
Callander Crags/ Coilhallan Hydrological Survey	£30,979.81	£61,965.15	100.02	30-Aug-23	27-Oct-24	N/A	N/A
Specialist Peatland Restoration - Specialist Peatland Harvesting: North Highland (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross); Skye, Wester Ross & Inverness-shire; North East (Aberdeenshire & Moray)	£7,151,550.00	£9,151,550.00	27.97	01-Sep-23	31-Aug-26	N/A	N/A
Training - Managed Service Provision	£1,146,000.00	£1,262,295.00	10.15	11-Sep-23	10-Sep-24	31-Mar-26	62.07
Transformation of Legacy Finance, Purchase to Pay, and Business Planning Systems (MIP) Design & Build	£976,899.32	£1,820,388.57	86.34	02-Oct-23	30-Oct-24	30-Jun-25	40.00
FM Operations - Lochaber North	£391,000.00	£503,932.00	28.88	25-Oct-23	31-Aug-24	31-Aug-26	70.59
FM Operations - Lochaber Central	£113,914.90	£320,161.90	181.05	25-Oct-23	31-Aug-24	31-Aug-26	70.59
FM Operations - Lochaber South	£291,142.70	£1,115,693.00	283.21	25-Oct-23	31-Aug-24	31-Aug-26	70.59
Temporary Appointment User Researcher	£43,601.59	£91,153.04	109.06	10-Nov-23	31-Dec-24	07-Feb-26	50.00
SPHN and Invasive Vegetation Control Works - South of West Region	£228,810.00	£348,310.00	52.23	01-Mar-24	31-Mar-25	30-Sep-26	58.62
Aberfoyle Site Security	£34,381.80	£72,200.80	110.00	11-Mar-24	30-May-24	N/A	N/A
IVC Works - West Region	£295,000.00	£745,000.00	152.54	30-Apr-24	29-Apr-25	30-Sep-26	60.71
Stocking Density Assessment (SDA) - East Region	£60,000.00	£180,000.00	200.00	20-May-24	19-May-28	N/A	N/A
Hylobius Survey - East Region	£30,000.00	£80,000.00	166.67	20-May-24	19-May-28	N/A	N/A
Hylobius Survey - Central Region	£40,000.00	£80,000.00	100.00	20-May-24	19-May-28	N/A	N/A
Hylobius Survey - South Region	£40,000.00	£80,000.00	100.00	20-May-24	19-May-28	N/A	N/A
Deer and Other Wildlife Management	£1,476,190.67	N/A	N/A	31-Jul-24	30-Jun-27	31-May-28	24.44
Deer and Other Wildlife Management	£1,613,883.67	N/A	N/A	31-Jul-24	30-Jun-27	31-May-28	24.44
Plant Supply: Tree Seedling Supply	£18,993,800.00	£20,297,013.00	6.86	01-Aug-24	31-Jul-29	N/A	N/A
Glasgow Bin Servicing	£85,219.80	£147,657.26	73.27	19-Aug-24	18-Jan-26	18-Jan-26	N/A
EV Charger Installs at Dunkeld	£88,397.95	£95,001.95	7.47	05-Mar-25	31-Mar-25	N/A	N/A
EV Charger Installs at Torlundy	£76,023.35	£78,020.35	2.63	05-Mar-25	31-Mar-25	N/A	N/A
Dalbeattie Hub office works	£436,140.84	£474,685.65	8.84	07-Mar-25	31-Mar-26	N/A	N/A
2 x Temp Finance Officers	£39,029.90	£58,594.90	50.13	28-Apr-25	02-Sep-26	N/A	N/A
Interim Business Change Manager	£93,373.60	£205,406.75	119.98	01-Oct-25	30-Sep-26	31-Mar-27	35.29
Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) and Process Optimisation	£95,775.00	£107,475.00	12.22	01-Oct-25	30-Jun-26	31-Dec-26	42.86
Aspen Oracle Fusion Managed Service	£402,825.00	£435,666.88	8.15	01-Feb-26	31-Jan-28	N/A	N/A

Question reference: S7W-03046

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Simita Kumar on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-02737 by Simita Kumar on 7 September 2026, whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of how the £400,000 provided to the Gaza HOPES Field Readiness Hub has been spent.

A detailed breakdown of the £400,000 is shown in the following table.

	Item	Requested funds from Scottish Government (£)
Infrastructure: modular medical buildings, foundations, assembly equipment, full assembly	Operating Room (45m²)	81,000
	Power Management System Room (15m²)	30,000
	Maternity Ward/Recovery/External Waiting (60m²)	108,000
	Consultation/Procedure/Imaging Room (30m²)	54,000
	Assembly Test Units (15m²)	24,000
	TOTAL	297,000
MEP design (Mechanical/ Electrical/ Plumbing)
	MEP Supply and installation	4,320
	TOTAL	4,320
Solar		58,000
Admin and project management		40,680
TOTAL		400,000

Question reference: S7W-02721

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government and the home energy installers since March 2026 regarding the end of the ECO4 scheme.

We continue to discuss the closure of the ECO4 scheme with the UK Government, our main focus is ensuring that poor quality work delivered to homes in Scotland as part of the ECO4 scheme is promptly remediated. We engage regularly with our stakeholders in the retrofit supply chain, as well as meeting with individual home energy installers and other businesses impacted by the UK Government decision to end the ECO4 scheme.

Question reference: S7W-03178

Asked by: Laura Moodie, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many procurement waivers have been approved by Forestry and Land Scotland in each financial year since 2019-20, including the number, total value and reason for each waiver.

It is assumed that the reference to procurement ‘waivers’, is referring to occasions where Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) have awarded a Regulated tender using the Negotiated procedure without prior publication under the Public Contract Scotland Regulations or where FLS have had to award directly.

FLS have used the following ‘waivers’ in each financial year since FY 2019-20.

FY 2019-20
Contract	Supplier	Value	Reason
Supply of Christmas Trees	Country Business	£104,167.00	Time-critical to support delivery of the seasonal Programme.
Harvesting and Extraction	Douglas Timber Harvesting	£170,000.00	Time-critical due to contracted supplier insolvency.
Harvesting and Extraction	Speyside Harvesting Ltd	£90,000.00	Time-critical due to contracted supplier insolvency.
FLS Plant Purchases	Christie-Elite Nurseries Ltd	£130,000.00	Time-critical to ensure delivery of the restocking Programme.
FLS Plant Purchases	Alba Trees Plc	£147,500.00	Time-critical to ensure delivery of the restocking Programme.
eFinancials Software Licence Renewal	Advanced Business Solutions	£193,000.00	Interim award pending re-tender.
Stone Haulage	Eagle Recycling Ltd	£69,350.00	Quick Quote requirement that exceeded the regulated threshold. Incorrectly classified as Works.
Car Parking Machines Maintenance	Metric Group Ltd	£73,767.52	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Marooka Ptarmigan Extraction Project	Gary Anderson Forestry	£200,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Gazelle Machine PSS 3/15	JVD Design & Automation Ltd	£270,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

FY 2020-21
Contract	Supplier	Value	Reason
Hydro Harvesting Rassay	AMAC Forestry Ltd	£60,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 6(1)(c) of The Procurement (Scotland) Regulations 2016.
Supply All Terrain/Low Ground Pressure Vehicle	LogLogic	£80,789.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(b) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Purchase of Nursery Irrigation Equipment	Briggs UK Ltd	£97,389.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(c) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
COGNOS Software Licence Renewal	Barrachd Ltd	£175,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(4)(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Staff Welfare Units for Newton Nursery	Portakabin (Scotland) Ltd	£200,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(c) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Plant Purchases 20/21	Tree Tape UK Ltd	£324,993.20	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

FY 2021-22
Contract	Supplier	Value	Reason
East Region Planting	Mike Todd Forestry Contracts	£60,205.60	Time-critical award pending re-tender.
E-Financials	Advanced Business Software & Solutions Ltd (GB)	£206,000.00	Interim award pending re-tender.
Recruitment of Short-Term Temporary Staff	Hays Recruitment	£75,938.64	No suitable provision through framework suppliers.

FY 2022-23
Contract	Supplier	Value	Reason
Silvan House Cleaning and Security Staff	MITIE Cleaning & Environmental Services	£234,500.00	Essential facilities management services pending confirmation of future occupancy arrangements
Silvan House Cleaning and Security Staff	MITIE Cleaning & Environmental Services	£125,000.00	Essential facilities management services pending confirmation of future occupancy arrangements.
Ground Preparation Services - Damside	CGF Services	£71,993.00	Time-critical Quick Quote requirement that exceeded the regulated threshold.
Car Park Design Services, Nevis Forest	Raeburn Farquhar Bowen Ltd	£67,663.00	Time-critical Quick Quote requirement that exceeded the regulated threshold.
Ground Preparation and Mechanised Establishment Operations	Bruce Todd Ltd, Dunnydeer Services Ltd, Forestry Ground Prep Ltd, Plant & Quarry Services, John Strang Contractors Ltd, ICD Contracting Ltd, Kodiak Forestry & Groundworks Ltd, MacColl Appin Ltd, DAB Groundworks Ltd, MAM Contracting Limited, Maxwell Forestry Plant Ltd, Willie Graham Plant, Carron Valley Plant	£2,933,371.68	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(a) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Tree Tape Services	Tape 4 Trees Ltd	£215,200.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Heathland SPHN Felling	Artscape Gardens Ltd	£74,720.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(a) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
INNS Removal Blairadam	DMFCA Ltd	£65,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(a) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Tree Seedlings	Tape 4 Trees Ltd	£667,071.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Forest Management Operations – North Region – Inverness	Forestry Contractors Scotland	£1,349,450.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(a) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, following a failed procurement procedure.
Forest Management Operations – North Region - West	Forestry Contractors Scotland	£1,385,107.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(a) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, following a failed procurement procedure.
FM Operations - West Region - North Argyll	ICD Contracting Ltd	£1,448,321.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(a) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, following a failed procurement procedure.
FM Operations - North Region - Strathspey	Fyfe Forestry Limited	£279,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(a) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, following a failed procurement procedure.
Forest Management Operations: South Region - Arran	Arran Footpath and Forestry Limited	£516,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(a) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, following a failed procurement procedure.
Invasive Vegetation Control North Region	Boreal Forestry Limited	£2,530,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(a) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, following a failed procurement procedure.
FM Operations - West Region - South	ICD Contracting Limited	£4,040,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(a) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, following a failed procurement procedure.

FY 2023-24
Contract	Supplier	Value	Reason
Aerial LiDAR Survey and Inventory (2023)	Oy Arbonaut Ltd.	£274,840.00	Continued innovation testing within service delivery.
Deer & Other Wildlife Management Services – Central A	Deer Dynamics Ltd (GB)	£567,035.00	Time-critical replacement of a terminated contract.
Roads Maintenance and Associated Services – North Region	D.N. Munro Plant Hire Ltd	£1,400,000.00	Direct award under Regulation 33(1)(a) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
FM Planting Lochaber North	Terras Forestry Company Ltd	£391,000.00	Direct award under Regulation 33(1)(a) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Dangerous Tree Surveys - East Region	Forest Fact	£90,000.00	Direct award under Regulation 33(1)(a) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Ground Preparation - East Region Durris	Highland Stoneways Ltd	£113,100.00	Direct award under Regulation 33(1)(a) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
FM Planting Lochaber Central	Sylva Services	£113,914.90	Direct award under Regulation 33(1)(a) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Planting Lochaber South	Terras Forestry Company Ltd	£291,142.70	Direct award under Regulation 33(1)(a) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Deer and Other Wildlife Management Services – South A	MG Services	£189,510.60	Time-critical replacement of a terminated contract.
Purchase of Ex-Military Temporary Bridges	L Jackson & Co Limited	£93,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
TI Drone Surveys – Seasonal Repeat Surveys	BH Wildlife Consultancy	£102,000.00	Direct award under Regulation 33(1)(a) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Inspections of Lifting Equipment	British Engineering Services	£65,572.03	Quick Quote requirement that exceeded the regulated threshold.

FY 2024-25
Contract	Supplier	Value	Reason
Kilmun and Ardentinny Commercial Stone	Breedon Group Plc	£78,719.90	Awarded under Regulation 33(4)(c) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Land Management Plan Reviews	Bidwells	£104,655.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(c) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Cell Growing Machinery – Newton Nursey	Bjorkemar Construction & Consulting AB	£1,928,308.24	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Forest Management – Moray & Huntly	McConnachie Land & Forestry Services Ltd	£95,316.00	Time-critical to ensure delivery of the restocking Programme.
Trossachs Ground Preparation 2024-25	BW Forestry Ltd	£75,120.00	Time-critical to ensure delivery of the restocking Programme.
Planting Bennachie	John Tammi/Aidan Tammi T/A Greenfutures	£198,919.00	Time-critical to ensure delivery of the restocking Programme.
Invasive Vegetation Control - West Region	BlueGreen Conservation	£295,000.00	Interim award pending re-tender.
SPHN and Invasive Vegetation Control	JM Treeworks	£228,810.00	Interim award pending re-tender.

FY 2025-26
Contract	Supplier	Value	Reason
Helicopter Services	S.J. Contracting services LTD, trading as Heli-Lift Services	£84,152.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(c) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
BCMS – ISMS.online	Allianist Limited	£80,483.78	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Supply of Service & Maintenance Package (Harvesters)	John Deere Forestry Limited	£300,000.00	Awarded under Regulation 33(1)(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Question reference: S7W-02675

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's joint committee report on biodiversity collapse, what progress has been made toward reaching a decision on the planning application for the proposed golf development at Coul Links since the report was submitted to the Scottish Ministers on 29 August 2025, and by what date that decision will be issued.

Following receipt of the report, Ministers requested further ecological information from the applicant and provided interested parties with an opportunity to comment on that information. We are now considering the information received through that further procedure, alongside the reporters’ report and recommendation, before reaching a final decision. A decision will be issued as soon as possible.

Question reference: S7W-03262

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its sectoral marine plan for offshore energy.

The Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE) and associated impact assessments have been finalised and are in the latter stages of review ahead of Ministerial consideration. Subject to Ministerial approval, including consideration by UK Ministers due to the presence of cross-border impacts, the Plan will be adopted and all supporting documents will be published. The exact timing will depend on the completion of these approval processes.

Question reference: S7W-02720

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the estimated £140 million in additional block grant funding it is expected to receive between 2026-27 and 2029-30 as a result of the £1.5 billion funding announced by the UK Government in the 2025 UK Budget for its Warm Homes Plan.

Block grant consequentials accrue to the Scottish Government as a whole and it is for the Scottish Ministers to decide how best to allocate these based on their priorities. The £140 million in consequentials was taken into account as part of the 2026-27 Parliamentary budget setting process.

To help households install clean heat and energy efficiency measures, over £330 million funding has been allocated in 2026-27, part of £1.3 billion support over the spending review period. Our schemes have already supported thousands of households to save between £300 and £500 per year on their energy bills and we estimate 20,000 households will benefit from our schemes this year, with around 60% targeted at those most at risk of fuel poverty. We also continue to invest in heat networks and decarbonising public sector buildings.

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