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: S6W-37710

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the evaluations from the pilots of a "single-case flow" approach to planning and SEPA Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR) licences from the Shetland Islands Council and Highland Council areas.

Question reference: S6W-37061

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently published Fisheries Management and Conservation Group stakeholder survey showing that 21 out of 23 participating marine stakeholders believe that FMAC is not delivering on its current aims and responsibilities, what conclusions it has drawn from the stakeholder response, and what specific changes it is planning to make to co-management arrangements to address the issues raised in the survey.

I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-36304 on 9 April 2025 and S6W-37060 on 30 April 2025. The Scottish Government has concluded that, as the primary issue with the functioning of FMAC appears to lie with its current structure, the decision to split the FMAC group should make the group more effective and help address the issues raised within the stakeholder survey.

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.

Question reference: S6W-37568

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 20 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it (a) monitors and (b) addresses any (i) record-keeping violations, (ii) trade violations and (iii) movement restriction breaches at salmon farms, in light of reports that no financial penalties have been imposed since 2021.

The Scottish Government’s Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) undertakes risk based aquatic animal health surveillance where Aquaculture Production Businesses are assessed against their regulatory responsibilities with respect to aquatic animal health. This includes routine and intelligence-based inspections.

The FHI monitors international trade of live fish and shellfish using import notification systems and checks on import health certificates, ensuring imports meet the aquatic animal health requirements of the Great Britain trade unit. Where significant risk of listed disease is detected official control measures can be enforced to help reduce the risk of disease introduction and spread.

The FHI’s enforcement policy, including a range of enforcement actions, is set out in its Service Charter which is available on the Scottish Government website. The Service Charter is based upon the Scottish Government’s principles of good regulation including taking a response which is proportionate to the risk posed and the seriousness of any offence.

Question reference: S6W-37570

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the legal framework that currently does not classify fish escapes from salmon farms as a statutory offence.

In our response to the recent report by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, we committed to prioritising progress to introduce penalties for fish farm escapes in 2026-2027 and to publishing a revised Technical Standard for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture in 2027-2028.

The escape of fish from a fish farm is not a statutory offence. However, the Fish Health Inspectorate assesses whether satisfactory measures are in place on farms for the containment of fish. Where they are not, Scottish Ministers may serve an enforcement notice and failure to comply with this is an offence.

Question reference: S6W-37313

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 16 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to undertake the next review of the list of species of special concern, which was adopted from the EU listing in 2020, to ensure continued protection for the environment from invasive non-native species

The Scottish retained Regulation No 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species requires that Scottish Ministers undertake a comprehensive review of the Scottish list of species of special concern before 2 August 2028 and within every six year period thereafter. The first comprehensive review of the Scottish list of species of special concern was completed in April 2022 and the next comprehensive review is due to be completed by August 2028.

Work is underway on reviewing and updating the GB and Scottish lists of species of special concern which are currently identical. While there is no confirmed timeline for the remaining stages of the listing process, this work will be completed as soon as is practicable.

Question reference: S6O-04702

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to improve transport infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands, particularly in response to the reported request from Highland Council for additional support to run its six ferry services.

Question reference: S6W-37298

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Glen Affric beaver translocation proposal having been live since 2022, and NatureScot being in receipt of the Forestry and Land Scotland licence application since January 2025, for what reason NatureScot reportedly decided to undertake further engagement on the proposal one day after the beaver kit dependency period started.

As set out in the answer to S6W-37296 on 13 May 2025, given the legitimate concerns from the local community a decision on the licence application was unable to be made ahead of the beaver kit dependency period.

This period offered an opportunity for further engagement to be undertaken to fully explore these concerns. NatureScot will publicise their decision on the licence once it has been determined.

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

Question reference: S6W-37297

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what role its ministers have in the assessment of translocation licences for (a) beavers and (b) other protected species.

As set out in Scotland’s Beaver Strategy 2022-2045 published by NatureScot. we will support the identification of opportunities to expand beaver populations, and support the expansion of beaver populations through translocations.

Section 16A of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 allows Scottish Ministers to delegate their functions in relation to licenses under section 16 of that Act to NatureScot.

The Scottish Ministers delegated their species licensing functions to NatureScot in June 2011 via written direction. Assessment of licence applications is therefore the responsibility of NatureScot. Scottish Ministers retain the power to modify or revoke a direction. As part of this delegation, NatureScot is also asked to inform Scottish Ministers of any novel or contentious issues that may arise.

Question reference: S6W-37289

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29859 by Gillian Martin on 26 September 2024, and in light of the closure of its public consultation on the matter on 7 February 2025, when it plans to publish its revised policy statement on Ramsar sites.

Question reference: S6W-37296

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NatureScot describing the two-year public engagement for the Forestry and Land Scotland Glen Affric beaver translocation proposal as "above and beyond" the requirements of the Scottish Beaver Strategy, for what reason it is now undertaking further engagement outside of the accepted local process, and how it will ensure that this additional engagement will represent the full range of views in the community.

The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to expanding the beaver population across Scotland for the benefit of biodiversity, in line with Scotland’s Beaver Strategy.

Whilst we welcome the Glen Affric beaver translocation proposal, it is clear, that there remain concerns about the proposal among the local community.

NatureScot will therefore undertake some additional engagement to ensure the concerns around impact of beavers on land and fisheries managers has been fully explored ahead of any licensing decision. This process is in line with the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations in seeking to ensure there are acceptable mitigations in place.

We understand that there may be frustration around the timeframe for this licencing decision, but with proposals such as this we have to ensure the best chance of success for wildlife living alongside the people and communities most affected.