- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the forthcoming long-term location policy supports, rather than disadvantages, rural and island communities, and whether it will consult with affected staff and trade unions, including the PCS Highlands and Islands Branch, before finalising the long-term location policy.
Answer
The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including matters relating to workforce location policy.
The Scottish Government is committed to working in partnership with our recognised trade unions. The decision on the revised hybrid working policy was informed by a working group that included trade union representatives. As part of the implementation process, the organisation has committed to establishing a formal location policy. I understand that work will include consideration of any impacts on colleagues in rural and island communities and will be informed by consultation with staff networks and recognised trade unions via the Council of Scottish Government Unions. Work to finalise the location policy is expected to conclude later in 2026.
I would encourage the member to direct any further questions on this matter to the Permanent Secretary.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the minimum 40% office attendance requirement on staff living in rural, island and remote communities.
Answer
The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related hybrid working policy.
The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) for the Scottish Government’s hybrid working policy drew on a broad range of evidence, including feedback from staff networks and findings from the hybrid working policy review, to ensure the policy remains accessible and inclusive.
Work to clarify a location policy for Scottish Government core staff will consider a range of relevant factors and benefit from consultation with trade unions and engagement with staff diversity networks across the organisation. Until the location policy has been reviewed, interim arrangements are in place for people who live a further distant from their contractual work location.
I would encourage the member to direct any further questions on this matter to the Permanent Secretary.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that civil servants based in rural, island and remote communities are not placed at a structural disadvantage in career progression compared with staff based in Edinburgh and the central belt.
Answer
The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related hybrid working policy.
Work to clarify a location policy for Scottish Government core staff will consider a range of relevant factors and benefit from consultation with trade unions and engagement with staff and diversity networks across the organisation. Until the location policy has been reviewed, interim arrangements are in place for people who live distant from their contractual work location.
I would encourage the member to direct any further questions on this matter to the Permanent Secretary.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many civil service roles have been reclassified as “Edinburgh-based” or “central belt-based” since changes to the hybrid working policy were introduced in October 2025.
Answer
The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related hybrid working policy.
No civil service roles have been reclassified as “Edinburgh based” or “central belt-based” because of the revised hybrid working policy introduced in October 2025.
I would encourage the member to direct any further questions on this matter to the Permanent Secretary.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its environmental strategy and responsibilities, what evaluation it has made of the UK Government’s National security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security, published in January 2026.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2026
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 10 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding bioaerosols in the salmon sector, what assessment it has made of their prevalence or impact in the farming industry, including any implications for workers’ health and safety, and what discussions it has had with the Health and Safety Executive regarding the monitoring and regulation of their use.
Answer
I recognise the seriousness of the issue of workplace health and safety, and the Scottish Government fully expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for workers in line with health and safety legislation.
The Scottish Government has not made any assessment of the prevalence or impact of bioaerosols in Scotland’s salmon production sector, or the implication for workers’ health and safety.
Regarding workplace health and safety and Scottish Government discussions with the Health and Safety Executive, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42856 on 21 January 2026. 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.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide access to NHS dentists across the Highlands and Islands.
Answer
Our Operational Improvement Plan commits to reviewing and refreshing the existing financial incentives available to the dental sector, to better support patient access in rural and island areas.
This work is currently underway and we anticipate revised incentives will be introduced in the 2026-27 financial year.
Officials continue to have regular discussions with NHS Highland to understand local issues.
We also continue to make available a range of additional financial support to areas where access is particularly challenging, including rural and island areas. This includes grants of up to £100,000 for establishing new dental surgeries and allowances of up to £37,500 for new dentists practising in qualifying areas.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 2 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether people can raise objections to the Energy Consents Unit by email, and, if not, what consideration it has given to the accessibility of the Energy Consents Unit online submission portal for people in rural and island communities with slow or unreliable broadband, and what alternative arrangements are available for members of the public who cannot reasonably use the portal.
Answer
Since the new representations process was introduced on 16 January 2026, members of the public are expected to send representations about applications for energy consent via the Energy Consents Unit portal. This process replaces emailed representations for all new consultation windows.
The change of process was made following feedback from the public that their representations were not being processed quickly enough, were not displayed clearly, and there was inadequate assurance that representations had been received and would be considered by Scottish Ministers. The portal-based submissions system addresses these concerns and will streamline the administrative handling of virtual representations, while maintaining equivalent accessibility for all members of the public.
The option to send written representations by post remains available for those who cannot or prefer not to use digital platforms, ensuring no group is excluded from participating.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that the Scottish salmon industry recorded 1,274 weekly sea lice counts exceeding the industry’s Code of Good Practice guidelines in the last year, and whether it considers that the current regulatory framework for sea lice management is adequate.
Answer
The sea lice levels referred to in the Code of Good Practice are suggested criteria at which producers should consider treatment to prevent build up of gravid female sea lice They are not a regulatory standard and have no bearing in the regulation of sea lice for fish health purposes.
The Scottish Government’s approach to sea lice management is set out in the document entitled The Sea Lice Regulation in Scotland’ This includes the level of sea lice per fish at which the Fish Health Inspectorate will intervene or take enforcement action. It represents a robust regulatory approach to sea lice management.
Industry actions in response to the regulatory regime delivered the lowest sea lice numbers on record in 2024. These were similarly low in early 2025, rising later in the year within expected levels of seasonal variability.
A risk-based regulatory framework is implemented by SEPA for the purpose of managing the risk that sea lice from fish farms pose to wild salmonids. Separate thresholds for sea lice management may be applied on a temporal or locational basis to specific farms through licence conditions.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that publicly available guidance and policy statements on Ramsar site protections are up to date.
Answer
As outlined in the response to Parliamentary Question S6W-43661 on 23 February 2026, the review and update of the Scottish Government web content relating to Ramsar sites is underway and will be published in March 2026.
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.
