Chamber and committees

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.

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Question reference: S6W-39086

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will confirm the process and timescale for its consideration of the recalled appeal PPA-002-2021 at West Riverside and Woodbank House, Balloch.

The recalled appeal is currently with Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) with further procedures being carried out, with a revised target date of 11 September 2025 to provide a report to Ministers.

Once Ministers receive a reporter’s report from DPEA, we normally aim to issue decisions within 3 months, although the timescale can sometimes increase where there are more complex issues involved.

Question reference: S6W-39095

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether a new reporter will consider the planning appeal for the proposed development at Lomond Banks, in light of it being called in by the Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S6W-39096

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the planning appeal for the proposed development at Lomond Banks, and in light of it being called in by the Scottish Ministers, whether the proceedings will include any hearings, including on the issue of potential flooding.

This remains a live appeal, and it would not be appropriate to comment on any specific issues that may be involved in the consideration and decision-making process.

I can assure you that all submitted information and relevant issues will be thoroughly reviewed before a final decision is made. In reaching a decision, Ministers are required by law to have regard to the development plan and to all relevant material factors, including all submissions made by parties involved in the case and all representations made.

Question reference: S6W-39127

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any (a) disruption and (b) health implications reportedly caused by wind turbines, and what consideration it has given to changing its planning policy for wind turbines, in light of reports that subaudible, low-frequency noise emissions can have an impact on people’s health.

Guidance on the assessment of noise from onshore wind turbines across the UK is set out in the UK Government’s ETSU-R-97 guidance. The UK Government is currently consulting on an update which aims to bring the guidance in line with available evidence on turbine noise emissions, developments in turbine technology, and wind turbine noise assessment methodologies. The UK Government intends to issue a formal response to the consultation in Autumn 2025, and has advised that the current guidance remains suitable for assessing wind turbine noise in the meantime.

The Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) policy 11 (energy) requires that wind energy project design and mitigation will demonstrate how impacts on communities and individual dwellings, including from noise, are addressed. Having an established and consistent policy framework enables confidence in the planning system and we have no current plans to amend NPF4.

Question reference: S6W-38891

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a full list of heating methods that will be permitted as part of its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.

Question reference: S6W-38883

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.

Question reference: S6W-38885

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take to ensure that its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill will be technology-neutral.

Question reference: S6W-38896

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much money was allocated to the Housing Infrastructure Fund in total for the current 2025-26 round of funding.

Question reference: S6W-39038

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to address any regional disparities in the investment or export support provided by Scottish Development International.

In Scotland, we provide a range of targeted support to Scottish businesses via our various agencies and partners as they progress through their internationalisation journey. This includes investment and resources to grow their exports, build resilience and compete on the global stage. This support is Scotland wide, and as such is accessible to all businesses regardless of their location.

The Scottish Government acknowledges the importance of addressing any regional disparities in the investment and/or export support provided by Scottish Development International (SDI). This commitment is reinforced in our National Strategy for Economic Transformation, which highlights the need to address current geographical disparities to deliver prosperity for all Scotland’s people and places, and emphasises that every region must both benefit from and contribute to a more productive and innovative economy. By recognising the distinct strengths and opportunities across Scotland’s diverse regions, the strategy underlines a clear intent to shape local economic plans that reflect and unlock regional potential—ensuring that export growth, investment and internationalisation are Scotland wide.

To ensure this is supported, a range of oversight mechanisms are in place. These include structured project management and performance indicators tracked through SDIs statistical reporting, and close collaboration with regional Enterprise Agencies and designated Trade and Investment leads to support activities for businesses across all regions in Scotland.

Additional support is also available through our wider partnership working and networks, such as Department for Business and Trade Scotland, including their export Champions, and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce network based in region, who play an active role in delivering this support.

Scotland continues to attract high quality investment projects and has retained its position as the UK’s top-performing region for foreign direct investment (FDI) outside London for a record tenth year, according to the EY UK Attractiveness Survey (June 2025). The Scottish Government actively continues to evaluate support programmes through structured assessments and independent reviews, confirming their effectiveness. Updated evaluations have already commenced for both inward and export promotion and are expected to complete this financial year.

Question reference: S6W-39064

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 14 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many successful applications were made to the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme in each year since it was established, broken down by local authority area.

The Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme is a legacy Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) EU Scheme. It has been delivered by the Rural Payments Agency on a UK-wide basis since its introduction. There have been a total of four producer organisations (POs), with headquarters in Scotland that have received funding through the scheme since it was introduced; one in Angus, two in Fife and one in the Scottish Borders.

Three of these POs have received funding via the scheme in every year since it was introduced. The remaining PO received funding for expenditure relating to one scheme year. Where possible, the Rural Payments Agency and the Scottish Government work with POs so that applications for operational programmes meet the necessary eligibility criteria as set out in legislation and the National Strategy.