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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 750 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S7W-02528

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 NatureScot gave to the potential loss of rare red-listed lichen species and veteran hazel associated with Easter Ness Woods SSSI and Ness Woods SAC in its submission to the Loch Kemp Pumped Storage Hydro public hearing, and what assessment was made of the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation measures.

Question reference: S7W-02526

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 any potential impact of the proposed Loch Kemp Pumped Storage Hydro development on the objectives of its 30 by 30 commitment to protect at least 30% of Scotland’s land and seas for nature by 2030, particularly in relation to the protection and restoration of designated sites for nature.

Question reference: S7W-02523

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 action it will take in response to the finding in the Scottish Government-funded study of farm-to-wild genetic introgression, Spatial variability in farm-to-wild introgression in Scotland’s wild Atlantic salmon populations revealed using a novel spatial statistical survey design, which was published on 8 August 2026, that approximately 20% of Scotland’s river network was affected by genetic introgression in wild salmon at the national scale in 2021, ranging from 0% in some east coast regions to approximately 72% in west coast regions associated with high concentrations of marine aquaculture.

Question reference: S7W-02525

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 whether it accepts that the presence of farmed genetic material in wild salmon, as identified by the Scottish Government-funded study, Spatial variability in farm-to-wild introgression in Scotland’s wild Atlantic salmon populations revealed using a novel spatial statistical survey design, which was published on 8 August 2026, demonstrates that escaped farmed salmon are having a genetic impact on wild salmon populations, given the study’s finding that approximately 20% of Scotland’s river network was affected by introgression in 2021, ranging from 0% in some east coast regions to approximately 72% in west coast regions associated with high concentrations of marine aquaculture.

Question reference: S7W-02524

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 whether it will strengthen future monitoring of farm-to-wild genetic introgression in wild salmon, in line with the recommendation from the Scottish Government-funded study, Spatial variability in farm-to-wild introgression in Scotland’s wild Atlantic salmon populations revealed using a novel spatial statistical survey design, which was published on 8 August 2026, for carefully structured juvenile sampling programmes and appropriate statistical approaches to provide credible estimates of the extent and severity of introgression pressures.

Question reference: S7W-02023

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 18 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission's independent report Ascribing sentience to fish: potential policy implications, published on 16 May 2025, what (a) assessment it has made of the findings of this report, (b) dialogue it has had with (i) scientists and (ii) other experts on this subject, and (c) plans it has to update legislation to reflect this research.

The farmed fish welfare guidance that we are developing will take into consideration the recommendations from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s report in order to deliver positive welfare outcomes for fish, whilst being grounded in robust, achievable and enforceable industry practice. We will also be working with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure we have expert input from scientific, industry and welfare perspectives.

The welfare of farmed fish is already assured under the Welfare of Animals (Scotland) Act 2006 and Article 3.1 of assimilated Council Regulation (EC) 1099/2009. We have no current plans to introduce additional legislation.

Question reference: S7W-01989

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 18 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to (a) develop and (b) improve agricultural education during the current session.

The Scottish Government is taking forward a range of actions to develop and improve agricultural education, learning and skills during this Parliamentary session.

This includes implementing the recommendations of the independent Commission for the Land-Based Learning Review, all 22 of which were accepted or accepted in principle by the Scottish Government. In March 2026, the Scottish Government reported that actions relating to 14 recommendations had been completed, with work continuing on the remainder.

The Scottish Government is also supporting agricultural learning and skills development through Scotland’s Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS), including investment in the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund, the Next Generation Practical Training Fund and the Land-Based Pre-Apprenticeship Programme. Together, these initiatives support vocational training, practical skills development and pathways into agricultural careers, helping to develop the skilled workforce needed by Scotland’s rural economy.

The Scottish Government also funds Lantra Scotland to promote careers, learning and skills development across the land-based sector.

Question reference: S7W-01884

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its proposed timeframe is for the delivery of its commitment to implement bespoke housing standards for accommodation used by seasonal agricultural workers.

Current housing standards do not cover agricultural seasonal workers’ accommodation such as mobile homes or other temporary structures, as mobile homes are not considered as houses for the purpose of legislation. This has resulted in inconsistent and unequal protection for seasonal workers and is something we want to address.

The Scottish Government expect local authorities to use the powers granted them to introduce byelaws, taking into account the specific circumstances relating to seasonal workers in their geographical area.

Local authorities will have their own individual timelines for delivery. Officials have had discussions with COSLA and are continuing to engage with them regarding local authorities’ responsibilities and to facilitate the timely implementation of byelaws that maintain standards of accommodation for seasonal workers.

Question reference: S7W-02306

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding animal use in scientific research, what assessment it has made of whether public funding associated with delivery of the Life Sciences Strategy for Scotland 2035 Vision aligns with the guiding 3Rs ethical framework principles of replacement, reduction and refinement.

Question reference: S7W-02301

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of UK Government statistics showing that 2.54 million scientific procedures involving living animals were carried out in Great Britain in 2025, what information it holds on the number of such procedures that took place in Scotland.