- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to improve broadband reliability in rural Scotland ahead of the switch-off of the Public Switched Telephone Network, in light of the fact that digital landlines depend on internet connectivity.
Answer
In the past decade, Scottish public sector-led digital infrastructure programmes have enabled over one million faster broadband connections. Through the Reaching 100% (R100) and Project Gigabit in Scotland (PGiS) programmes, we are continuing to accelerate access to future-proofed full fibre broadband for those who need it most, despite Scotland having some of the most challenging terrain in which to deploy digital infrastructure in Europe.
The switch-off of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) in the UK is industry-led, with oversight from the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), reflecting that telecoms legislation is reserved.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) scientific and (b) other advice led to the decision to license at least 26 vessels in each of the last five razor clam electro-fishery trial seasons.
Answer
Scientific advice has underpinned the decision to authorise derogations permitting licensed fishing vessels to catch, land and sell razor clams while participating in the trial.
The biological and ecological goals describe the areas in which the scientific trial has sought to further our knowledge. These are:
1.to gather local level information on razor clam populations and stocks, including collating accurate data gathered by trial participants to supplement stock survey work;
2.to ensure sustainable harvesting levels; and,
3.to gather further information about the impacts of the electrofishing method on target and non-target species.
A summary of this advice for each of the last five trial seasons is provided below.
2021-2022:
- Authorising fishing was necessary to gather data to understand trends in landings per unit effort, work that was planned for the previous season but was hampered by the COVID pandemic.
2022-2023:
- To gather data to understand size at maturity and time of spawning.
- To allow scoping development of stock assessments.
- To understand the benefits of REMand to inform applicability to other fisheries.
2023-2024:
- The trial was extended for a two-year period from 1 February 2022 and the advice for 2022-23 applied to 2023-24.
2024-2025:
- To gather data and publish stock assessments. These were published in the Progress Report on the Biological and Ecological Goals of the Trial in September 2024.
- To study the effect of introducing a seasonal closure during the spawning period.
2025-2026:
- To gather data to refine published stock assessments and to publish further assessments for other trial areas.
A range of factors were considered when assessing the merits of all options for the trial. This included the socioeconomic impact of these options, as well as the impact on The Scottish Government and our public sector partners as regulators.
Ultimately however, these decisions rest on the scientific advice.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics for 2024, which showed an increasing trend of job losses across the fishing industry, and in light of reports of collapsing stocks of Northern Shelf cod and mackerel, how it will ensure that money coming into the sector through the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund will return the sector to sustainable growth and deliver tangible benefits to all fishing communities, not just major fishing ports.
Answer
I refer the member to the answers to the related questions S6W-41798 on 24 November 2025 and S6W-41726 on 13 November 2025.
The Scottish Government will make funding decisions for 2026-27 and future years in the upcoming Scottish Budget and Spending Review. When that process concludes we will be able to provide more detail on future years of marine funding in Scotland.
However, the allocation of just 7.78% to Scotland of the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund is nothing short of an insult to our fishing industry and coastal communities. With a fair share of the Fund, we would be able to go further in supporting our vital industry and communities to ensure a sustainable and thriving future for Scotland’s fisheries.
Meanwhile, our Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) has been supporting tangible benefits for marine industries and coastal communities across Scotland since its launch in 2021, awarding to date £70 million to 390 projects, enabling over £150 million of investment. The MFS supports a range of projects across Scotland, including activities at major fishing ports as well as within wider fishing communities.
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, 12 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Oceana UK's recently published research into the impact of offshore oil and gas projects on marine life, whether it plans to oppose any proposed new oil and gas developments in Scotland's seas.
Answer
The regulatory regimes for offshore oil and gas licensing and consenting are matters currently reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government continues to call on the UK Government to approach decisions for North Sea oil and gas projects on a rigorously evidence-led, case by case, basis – with climate compatibility and energy security as key considerations.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Oceana UK's recently published research into the impact of offshore oil and gas projects on marine life, what steps it is undertaking to ensure that Scotland's Marine Protected Areas network is protected from any future disturbances by new oil and gas developments.
Answer
The regulatory regimes for offshore oil and gas licensing and consenting are matters currently reserved to the UK Government. As part of these arrangements, the UK Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) has responsibility for regulating environmental activity for offshore oil and gas operations on the UK continental shelf.
All public bodies have an obligation to consider the conservation objectives of MPAs within their decision making and ensure these are furthered.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to drive growth and sustainability in coastal communities and the fishing sector, and how it expects the fund will halt or reverse the decline in the number of (a) fishers and (b) fishing vessels, as outlined in the recent Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics for 2024.
Answer
The allocation of just £28m of the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Fund is a hammer blow for our fishing sector. Scotland accounts for over 60% of the UK’s fishing capacity and seafood exports, with Scottish vessels landing over 75% of UK quota species. Scotland’s allocation should be at least 46%, reflecting our share of the UK’s EU fisheries funding.
We understand from the UK Government that the funding will not be provided until the financial year 2026-27, and that it will be spread over 12 years. The Scottish Government will make funding decisions for 2026-27 and future years in the upcoming Scottish Budget and Spending Review. When that process concludes we will be able to provide more detail on future years of marine funding in Scotland. However, this unfair allocation severely restricts our ability to support our industry which faces mounting pressures, and the very small allocation will do little to address these. I am strongly urging the UK Government to reconsider this decision.
Meanwhile, our Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) has been supporting new entrants into Scotland's Fishing industry and innovation withing the sector since 2021. Since the MFS's launch, a total of over £40 million in grant funding has been awarded to the fishing sector, supporting 45 new entrants into the sector and enabling £85 million investment. The Scottish Government remains committed to working with industry, coastal communities and stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and thriving future for Scotland's Fisheries. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41725 on 13 November 2025 which sets out the Scottish Governments full response to the 2024 Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics.
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: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review its compliance with, including ministerial performance, section 315 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, which refers to byelaws with respect to accommodation for seasonal workers.
Answer
We know that there is a gap in protection for seasonal workers and it is something we are very keen to address as urgently as we can.
As I stated during the Housing Bill debate, I do not think that it is appropriate to require ministers to make byelaws and therefore don’t feel that we should be considering reviewing section 315 of the Housing (Scotland) Act.
Instead, the Scottish Government will look to introduce a set of bespoke statutory accommodation standards, for all seasonal workers, and all routes will be considered for what will be the best path to take when introducing these standards.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 18 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how the Rural Support Plan will provide clarity on support available
to farmers and crofters to transition to sustainable and regenerative
agriculture.
Answer
The Rural Support Plan will launch the new four-tier framework and in the first instance will map legacy CAP support and existing support into it to provide an overview of the available support.
It will set out, through the Agricultural Reform Programme (ARP) Strategic Outcomes Framework, how this support will contribute to tier outcomes and how these will deliver to ARC Act objectives and to the Vision for Scottish Agriculture.
The transition to sustainable and regenerative agriculture commenced with the changes introduced in 2025 with the start of the Whole Farm Plan, new protections for peatlands and wetlands and a new calving interval requirement for the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme.
We intend to build on these foundations with proposed changes in 2026 to Enhanced Greening Ecological Focus Areas (EFA). These proposals have been co-developed aligned to just transition and will require an additional 2,300 businesses to undertake EFA who did not previously have to do so, with a resulting increase of EFA area by 6,000 ha. The increase to 7% EFA area in 2027 will add a further approximately 14,000 ha of managed area.
The draft Climate Change Plan sets out the policies and proposals the Scottish Government will take forward to enable our carbon budgets to be met between 2026-2040. This will be broadly reflected in the Rural Support Plan, noting that the draft Climate Change Plan will be finalised following a public consultation and Scottish Parliamentary scrutiny. Any changes to the Rural Support Plan to reflect the final Climate Change Plan, will be taken on-board during the development of the next Rural Support Plan
Section 2(3) of the ARC Act sets out matters the Scottish Ministers may consider when describing the support provided under the plan. In the first instance information will be provided to reflect the support that is currently available (e.g. organics options within AECS) and the section will inform the co-development of any further changes to existing support, or the introduction of new support, and this will be reflected in Rural Support Plan amendments.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 18 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it has considered climate adaptation in the development
of the Rural Support Plan.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41655 on 18 November 2025. 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: Tuesday, 21 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what ministerial meetings have been held with (a) local authorities, (b) representatives of the agricultural sector, including farmers and (c) regulatory bodies, including the (i) Health and Safety Executive and (ii) Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority, regarding caravan and mobile accommodation for seasonal workers.
Answer
Initial meetings with stakeholders took place between 20 November 2024 and 16 January 2025 including with local authorities, farmer representatives, farm employers and regulatory bodies.
Further meetings will be held with the wider sector when officials are in a position to begin consultation. We will be able to offer an update on when these meetings will take place when dates have been agreed.
