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: S7W-01448

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains on track to meet its objective of easing barriers to fish migration so that 99% of water bodies meet "good or better" condition for fish migration by 2027, as set out in the River Basin Management Plan for Scotland 2021 - 2027, and, if not, what percentage of water bodies it expects to achieve that status by 2027.

In 2021, River Basin Management Plan 3 (RBMP3) identified 244 potential fish barriers that needed an ecological assessment and/or work to ease these barriers to achieve the objective of 99% of water bodies meeting good or better condition for fish migration by 2027.

However, since 2021 SEPA has identified an additional 143 barriers, which have been added to the work programme. To manage this increase, SEPA is prioritising barriers based on the amount of habitat available to migratory fish upstream of each barrier.

SEPA is currently on track to complete work on 261 by 2027, against the original objective of 244. SEPA is currently developing Scotland’s fourth River Basin Management Plan (RBMP4). Given the significant shift in the baseline for this objective, RBMP4 will set out a revised objective and actions to address the remaining barriers.

Question reference: S7W-01450

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 16 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will undertake a public consultation on its draft conservation commitment report to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), in light of the reported failure to submit a draft report by February 2026, in accordance with the timetable agreed by all NASCO parties.

Question reference: S7W-01476

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any welfare impacts associated with the transportation of live decapod crustaceans.

To date, no assessment has been undertaken. In its statutory review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Act 2020 the Scottish Government committed to undertaking, in collaboration with Defra and other devolved administrations, a gap analysis to identify the specific welfare challenges faced by decapods (including live transportation), what evidence there is to inform potential solutions to these challenges and where further research may be needed.

Question reference: S7W-01484

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether existing legislation provides adequate welfare protections for decapod crustaceans, in light of their recognition as sentient animals.

The statutory review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Act 2020 undertaken by the Scottish Government in 2024, acknowledged that decapods currently have no general welfare protection under the 2006 Act; and that this is an area for future policy consideration. Further, the outputs from the 2024 review confirmed our commitment to work collaboratively with Defra to undertake a gap analysis to identify gaps in current research and evidence, and to explore potential solutions to the specific welfare challenges linked to decapods and how they may best be addressed.

Question reference: S7W-01482

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recognition of decapod crustaceans as sentient animals, what research it has commissioned, reviewed or relied upon regarding the welfare needs of these animals.

The Scottish Government has considered and continues to consider a range of evidence around decapod welfare including the London School of Economics study on decapod and cephalopod sentience, and the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission Case Study on cephalopod sentience. Any future research needs will be informed in due course by the gap analysis we are committed to undertaking in collaboration with Defra.

Question reference: S7W-01481

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing statutory welfare standards for decapod crustaceans in sectors that currently operate under voluntary guidance.

The Scottish Government is currently working with the other devolved Governments to develop Guidance for the welfare at the time of killing of decapods. The Scottish Government will consider the case for developing statutory welfare standards as part of the wider work and commitment to undertake a gap analysis in collaboration with Defra and our wider evidence-based review to inform future measures to protect decapod welfare.

Question reference: S7W-01474

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the welfare implications of the live boiling of decapod crustaceans and, if so, whether it is considering any legislative or regulatory changes.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any assessment focussed on the welfare implication of live boiling. However, we have previously acknowledged and recognise that the live boiling of decapods is regarded as an inhumane slaughter method. We continue to consider the welfare challenges associated with decapods and assess the available evidence to inform any future measures to protect decapod welfare.

Question reference: S7W-01480

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness and uptake of voluntary industry codes relating to the welfare of decapod crustaceans.

Question reference: S7W-01477

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government, or other devolved administrations, regarding the possibility of restricting or prohibiting the transportation of live decapod crustaceans through postal services.

Scottish Ministers wrote to the previous UK Government to raise the issue of decapod welfare, including highlighting concerns about live transport through the postal service, and proposing joint working to address these issues.

In its statutory review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Act 2020 the Scottish Government committed to undertaking, in collaboration with Defra and other devolved administrations, a gap analysis to identify the specific welfare challenges faced by decapods (including live transportation), what evidence there is to inform potential solutions to these challenges, and where further research may be needed.

Question reference: S7W-01472

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the recognition of decapod crustaceans as sentient animals gives rise to any need to amend or update the provisions or operation of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

The Scottish Government recognised in its statutory review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Act 2020 that decapods are recognised as sentient; currently have no general welfare protection under the 2006 Act; and that this is an area for future policy consideration. We further recognise the position of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission that future policy development should consider the welfare implications for all sentient animals, including decapods and cephalopods.