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-01997

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to encourage public bodies, such as schools, hospitals and other public sector organisations, to offer and promote plant-based food and diets.

Public sector organisations are expected to provide food that reflects the Eatwell Guide and complies with applicable nutrition standards and regulations. This may include plant-based or other dietary options, as long as nutritional standards are maintained. Although the Scottish Government does not set specific expectations on promoting plant-based foods, it recognises the significant contribution that healthy food makes to wellbeing. Responsibility for procurement and supply chain choices rests with individual organisations. Through local Good Food Nation Plans, Local Authorities and Health Boards can set out clear, locally relevant approaches to promoting a Good Food Nation, including through their food provision, in ways that best meet the needs of their communities.

Question reference: S7W-02007

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) assessment it has made of how successful Food Standards Scotland has been in its work to promote healthy eating, and (b) actions it plans to undertake to support the organisation to improve outcomes in this area.

Food Standards Scotland plays an important role in supporting healthier diets across Scotland through the provision of scientific evidence, dietary surveillance and expert advice. This evidence informs Scottish Government policies aimed at improving dietary health and creating food environments that make healthier options easier.

Food Standards Scotland are a non-ministerial agency and are directly accountable to the Scottish Parliament. Their Board provides independent strategic direction and governance to the agency.

The Food Standards Scotland framework document sets out the objectives in relation to improving diet and nutrition in Scotland. This is achieved in collaboration with the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with Food Standards Scotland to ensure that action to improve dietary health is informed by robust evidence and expert advice.

Question reference: S7W-02026

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to maintain banking services in rural and island communities.

Question reference: S7W-02024

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government (a) what progress it has made on exploring the development of a fixed links construction programme for island communities, and (b) when it expects to make further announcements on the progress of this work.

The Scottish Government recognises the benefits that fixed links can bring to island and rural communities. As set out in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review Recommendation 41, the next stage is to undertake further business case development to assess the viability of potential fixed links across the Sounds of Harris and Barra, and between Mull and the Scottish mainland. This work will include the assessment of the potential costs, benefits, funding options and impacts on existing ferry services.

This work is vital to ensure that the proposed projects remain value for money as set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual and before it moves to the more detailed, design development stage of any one of these three proposed fixed links.

Scoping for this business case work is expected to commence in 2026, and the work would be progressed in close collaboration with local authorities, stakeholders and local communities.

Future announcements on the progress of this work will made at appropriate points in the business case development.

The Scottish Government is also aware that Shetland Island Council is developing its Inter-Island Transport Connectivity Strategy, which includes fixed links (tunnels) as a potential alternative to the current local ferry services.

Question reference: S7W-02084

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the operation of the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme (CAGS), including (a) for what reason approvals for processed applications are reportedly paused, (b) how many applications are currently awaiting approval, (c) when approvals are expected to recommence and (d) what assessment it has made of any impact of the delays on crofters seeking to undertake essential agricultural improvements.

As a result of the pre and post-election period, we were not able to issue decisions to the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme (CAGS) but the processing of applications have since recommenced, and letters to applicants who had been awaiting decisions are being issued.

In total, as of 5 August 2026, there were 281 applications awaiting approval and these are being prioritised by officials.

We are not aware of any delays in making payments in respect of submitted claims.

Question reference: S7W-02032

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes it plans to deliver through the Rural and Island Housing Action Plan over the course of this session of the Scottish Parliament.

The Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan supports our target to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, at least 10% of which will be in rural and island areas.

From 24 March 2022 to 31 March 2025, we supported delivery of 5,890 affordable homes in rural and island areas towards the target. Overall during this period we supported delivery of 28,536 affordable homes across Scotland towards the target, meaning that delivery in rural and island areas is around 20%.

Delivery of affordable homes in rural and island areas is primarily supported through the local authority area Resource Planning Assumption element of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. Demand-led funds, such as the £37 million Rural and Island Housing Fund and the £25 million Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund are a key and additional part of our approach working with local authorities, as the strategic housing authorities, to address specific rural housing issues where they arise.

Question reference: S7W-02031

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 20 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) assessment it has made of the state of rail services in rural Scotland, and (b) steps it is taking to improve these services.

Rural rail lines are a lifeline for remote communities and this is reflected by the level of financial support provided by the Scottish Government to ScotRail to operate services on these routes. Approximately one quarter of the total cost to operate Scotland’s Railways is committed to servicing all rural lines, despite services on these lines accounting for a much lower percentage of the annual patronage.

ScotRail regularly reviews its services in order to meet passengers’ needs. This includes services in rural areas, taking account of passenger demand and passenger feedback when assessing current provision and considering future timetable developments.

Question reference: S7W-02573

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on island connectivity of the proposed inclusion of planned maintenance days in the Sconser–Raasay ferry timetable, and what consideration it has given to the Raasay community's particular reliance on this lifeline service.

Question reference: S7W-01981

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to meet its duties under section 2 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003, and what assessment it has made of whether these duties are being fully met.

Scottish Ministers meet their duties under section 2 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003, principally through approval of River Basin Management Plans to protect and improve the water environment in Scotland. Other actions include supporting the delivery of Scotland’s third River Basin Management Plan, for example through the Water Environment Fund. Scottish Ministers are meeting their statutory duties under section 2.

Question reference: S7W-02006

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to (a) prepare and (b) support local authorities on the delivery of local Good Food Nation plans.

The Scottish Government is supporting local authorities to develop and deliver local Good Food Nation plans through ongoing engagement and guidance. This includes dedicated workshops, regular engagement to provide tailored support, attendance at local Good Food Nation steering groups and workshops, producing policy guidance notes and presentations at relevant events with a focus on Good Food Nation. An online collaboration space for local authorities to share good practice has also been established by the Good Food Nation Team.