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-01982

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 (a) what assessment it has made of the need to review and update legislation relating to (i) rivers, (ii) lochs, (iii) coastal waters and (iv) other bodies of water, and (b) whether it plans to update any such legislation during the current session.

Question reference: S7W-02041

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, further to the answer to question S6W-40952 by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025, what progress has been made in addressing the damage to the parallel roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest at Achnabobane, including what measures have been taken to restore the site and prevent further damage.

Following the reported damage to the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a number of actions have been taken. This includes the arrest of alleged perpetrators of the damage and the preparation of a report for the procurator fiscal, and separate enforcement notice action by The Highland Council in relation to unconsented development.

The damaging activities at Achanbobane have caused irreparable damage to some of the protected interest of the SSSI because the processes which created them, glacial ice and meltwater deposition, cannot be replicated. Nevertheless, NatureScot is working with The Highland Council to ensure that the limited re-instatement which is possible is carried out without further damage to the site.

As a stronger deterrence to further damage to the SSSI occurring at Achnabobane, in September 2025 Scottish Ministers put in place a Nature Conservation Order. Only through the vigilance of the community, NatureScot and partners will any further damaging activity be detected and reported, allowing rapid action to be taken to stop it.

Question reference: S7W-01983

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 how much funding from the Nature Restoration Fund has been allocated for (a) rivers, (b) lochs, (c) coastal waters, and (iv) other bodies of water.

The Scottish Government does not hold Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) expenditure information organised in this way. Funding is awarded to projects which deliver benefits across multiple habitats and ecosystems.

Across both the Competitive Fund and Edinburgh Process funding strands, the NRF supports projects under five strategic themes: habitat and species restoration; freshwater restoration, including restoration of natural flows in rural catchments; coastal and marine initiatives; control of invasive non-native species; and urban nature restoration.

The NRF Interim Evaluation Report (2021-24) found that around 50% of the Competitive Fund's budget in its first three years was allocated to projects primarily categorised as freshwater and wetland, or coastal and marine projects.

Question reference: S7W-01984

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 (a) what work it has undertaken to investigate nature-based solutions to (i) flooding and (ii) drought, and (b) what steps it has taken to implement such solutions.

The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that nature-based solutions can make to improving flood and drought resilience. Our policy and investment supports nature-based solutions in both rural and urban areas.

Our Sustainable Flood Risk Management guidance supports a catchment-based approach to flood management and our national Flood Resilience Strategy sets out the importance of restoring and maintaining our natural environment to create flood resilient places. In addition, the Water Resilient Places Policy Framework supports the delivery of blue-green infrastructure and has informed the work of urban drainage partnerships in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.

We support both the Eddleston Water and Allan Water projects to develop and implement nature-based solutions. Evidence from these projects indicates that nature-based solutions can help to delay flood peaks and hold water in the catchment to mitigate water scarcity.

We fund research through the Centre of Expertise on Water and the James Hutton Institute to assess the effectiveness of nature-based solutions and our five year Strategic Research Programme (2022-2027) is funding the “Achieving Multi-Purpose Nature-Based Solutions” research project to explore how to work at scale and across sectors to deliver urban and rural nature-based solutions.

Since 2016, the Scottish Government has provided £612 million to local authorities to support the delivery of flood resilience activities. We also fund environmental improvements with co-benefits for flood and drought resilience through the Water Environment Fund, Peatland Restoration Fund, Nature Restoration Fund and Forestry Grants Scheme.

Question reference: S7W-02035

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

To ask the Scottish Government how it will (a) promote Gaelic and (b) secure existing Gaelic speaking communities, particularly in the Highlands and Islands region.

The Scottish Government will continue to ensure that the promotion of Gaelic is a priority commitment and that this is supported in education and learning, in arts and culture, in media and broadcasting and in other relevant sectors in Scottish public life. For example, in education, the Scottish Government will continue to support the growth of GME and welcomes the excellent support and resources which Storlann and Sabhal Mor Ostaig provide for GME teachers and pupils. In arts and culture, the work of Feisean nan Gaidheal, Ceolas and the Royal National Mod continue to provide opportunities for young and old and enrich the cultural life of Scotland. In broadcasting, MG ALBA provides a wide and diverse range of high quality programmes and adds value to other important areas of Gaelic activity with our support. In connection with Gaelic speaker communities in the Highlands and Islands, the Scottish Government will build on the wide range of projects and initiatives that are in place in these areas with the provisions that are set out in the Scottish Languages Act, 2025. A number of Gaelic bodies and projects are based in island communities and the work of centres such as Cnoc Soillier, Carinish and Grinneabhat are important for the promotion of Gaelic in these communities. In particular the 2025 Act, enables local authorities to designate areas of linguistic significance for the Gaelic language. This intervention will be supported by Statutory Guidance, by the preparation of Standards and Requirements and with additional funding. In these matters the Scottish Government will continue to provide support and to work closely with relevant local authorities.

Question reference: S7W-01998

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 assessment it has made of Nourish Scotland's report, Public Diners: By the Public.

The Scottish Government notes the contents of, and welcomes the effort that Nourish Scotland has put into better understanding public diners through their Public Diners: By The Public report.

We understand that a pilot scheme and further research is being undertaken in Dundee to better understand the real-world impacts of public diners. The Scottish Government is looking forward to seeing the findings of this project, in particular evidence on the feasibility and sustainability within a Scottish setting.

Question reference: S7W-01899

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve transport infrastructure to ensure that outdoor spaces are accessible and affordable for (a) disabled people and (b) minority ethnic groups.

The Scottish Government continues to improve transport infrastructure and make travel more accessible and affordable for all through the Accessible Travel Framework and the National Transport Strategy, which includes “Reduces Inequalities” and “Improves our Health and Wellbeing” as two of its four priorities.

Support is delivered through mainstream transport investment, affordability measures, equality legislation and race equality policies. Equality Impact Assessments help identify and address barriers affecting protected groups, supporting more inclusive transport outcomes.

Measures include enhanced passenger assistance, improved access at rail stations and transport hubs, clearer travel information, and embedding accessibility in the design of new transport infrastructure.

Free bus travel for eligible disabled people and free public transport for blind and visually impaired passengers help reduce the cost of accessing services, employment and recreational opportunities. The Accessible Travel Framework also expects operators to improve accessibility and the passenger experience.

The Scottish Government engages with disabled and minority ethnic representative bodies, including the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland and the Transport Equalities Group, to ensure policies reflect lived experience and address barriers to travel.

Question reference: S7W-02530

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any implications of approving pumped storage hydro developments within or affecting designated sites for the delivery of its 30 by 30 commitment to protect at least 30% of Scotland’s land and seas for nature by 2030, including any potential implications for future development proposals.

Question reference: S7W-02529

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of pumped storage hydro developments on wild Atlantic salmon populations and how this is being taken into account in delivering the objectives of the Wild Salmon Strategy.

Question reference: S7W-02527

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to designating Loch Ness as a National Scenic Area, and what assessment has been made of any potential benefits and implications of such a designation for the landscape, natural and cultural heritage, biodiversity and local economy.