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-01234

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how permitting the culling of live male chicks by maceration aligns with its stated commitment to maintaining high animal welfare standards.

The Scottish Government takes the welfare of all animals extremely seriously at all stages of their lives. The killing of surplus chicks which are less than 72 hours old, and embryos in hatchery waste is regulated by Schedule 11 of The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 ("the 1995 Regulations"). The 1995 Regulations permit only three methods of killing, which the Scottish Government considers to ensure the welfare of the chicks during the killing process:

Use of a mechanical apparatus producing immediate death;
Exposure to gas mixtures; or
Dislocation of the neck.

Under the 1995 Regulations any mechanical apparatus used must be used by a skilled operator and be designed so as to produce immediate death without any unnecessary suffering caused to the chicks.

The current methods of killing chicks, such as Maceration/Instantaneous Mechanical Destruction, are considered to be acceptable by the Humane Slaughter Association and we will continue to work with industry to ensure that the current regulations still meet their objectives.

Question reference: S7W-01233

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of practices by countries or jurisdictions that have prohibited, restricted or phased out the culling of live male chicks by maceration, and what consideration it has given to adopting similar measures in Scotland.

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-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-01478

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 statutory or regulatory measures are currently in place to ensure the welfare of live decapod crustaceans during transport within and from Scotland.

There are currently no statutory or regulatory measures protecting decapod welfare during transport within and from Scotland. 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-01479

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 whether it plans to develop statutory codes of practice relating to the welfare of decapod crustaceans in (a) commercial fishery (b) aquaculture, (c) distribution or (d) retail settings.

Question reference: S7W-01415

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the outcome of its consultation into phasing out cages for gamebirds and laying hens.

The Scottish Government has undertaken two consultations on the issue of phasing out cages for laying hens. The first, a Scotland-only one, which took place in 2024, is currently being analysed and results will be published in the coming months. The second, conducted jointly with DEFRA and the Welsh Government received over 39,000 correspondence and will be published in due course.

It was a Programme for Government Commitment to consult on the phasing out of cages for gamebirds and it remains our intention to consult on that issue in due course.

Question reference: S7W-01237

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of public attitudes towards the maceration of live male chicks.

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-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.