The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S7W-03817

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the July 2025 update to its policy on the protection of Ramsar wetland sites, what contact it has had or plans to have with the Ramsar Convention secretariat regarding the proposed Coul Links golf club.

Question reference: S7W-03263

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 28 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress it has made regarding the establishment of a Scottish Marine Recovery Fund.

The Scottish Government continues to prioritise delivery of the Scottish Marine Recovery Fund (MRF), as demonstrated by its inclusion in the Programme for Government 2026 – 2031, published on 1 September 2026.

Research is underway to identify compensatory measures that could be developed for inclusion in the MRF, with statutory guidance on how to implement compensation published on 06 July 2026.

Work continues in partnership with the UK Government on the delegation of functions required for Scottish Ministers to operate and manage the Scottish MRF.

The fund will become operational once the necessary legislative, governance and delivery arrangements are in place and seed funding can be secured to develop and bank appropriate compensatory measures to be made available through the fund.

Question reference: S7W-02735

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Consumer Scotland's briefing, An equitable postal service for the islands, what steps it is taking to ensure that third-party parcel delivery operators provide clear consumer rights information.

Postal delivery companies are commercial organisations, operating in an unregulated market. The Scottish Government has long called for an end to unfair delivery charges, but only the UK Government has the power to regulate these. Where there are opportunities to do so, the Scottish Government urges these companies to be fair and transparent in their pricing policies.

The Scottish Government supports the maintenance of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) and makes regular representations to the UK Government and Royal Mail on behalf of Scottish consumers.

On 25 August 2026, following the publication of the Consumer Scotland report, I wrote to UK Government ministers offering to meet and discuss the challenges faced by island communities. I have also requested that the UK Government convene Royal Mail, Post Office Ltd, Ofcom, parcel delivery companies, and consumer and community organisations to make urgent and necessary progress on postal services and parcel delivery regulation.

Question reference: S7W-02736

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Consumer Scotland's briefing, An equitable postal service for the islands, what its position is on the need for (a) tailored Quality of Service standards for deliveries to island postcode areas, and (b) mobile and community-run post offices that complement existing services.

Question reference: S7W-02734

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Consumer Scotland's briefing, An equitable postal service for the islands, what steps it is taking to improve engagement between postal operators and island communities.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Consumer Scotland report An equitable postal service for the islands. We have long sought, within our limited devolved powers, to instigate change and ensure that every part of Scotland has access to fair and equitable postal and parcel delivery services.

However, Royal Mail and postal services are reserved matters, and it will be for the UK Government to take the necessary steps to improve engagement between postal operators and island communities.

On 25 August 2026, following the publication of the Consumer Scotland report, I wrote to UK Government ministers offering to meet and discuss the challenges faced by island communities. I have also requested that the UK Government convene Royal Mail, Post Office Ltd, Ofcom, parcel delivery companies, and consumer and community organisations to make urgent and necessary progress on postal services and parcel delivery regulation.

Question reference: S7W-03264

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will require local authorities to introduce byelaws governing accommodation for seasonal agricultural workers.

As set out in the answers S7W-02915 and S7W-02916 on 17 September 2026, the Scottish Government have outlined our expectations regarding use of Section 315 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 by local authorities.

It is important that local authorities have sufficient time to determine the most appropriate approach to introducing these byelaws, taking account of local circumstances and needs. It would therefore not be appropriate to outline a date.

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: S7W-03203

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Simita Kumar on 23 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of waiting times for specialist support services for survivors of sexual violence in Moray, and what action it is taking to ensure that survivors are able to access support in an appropriate timeframe.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault can access support and assistance.

The Scottish Government is aware of the pressures front line support services are under in Moray and elsewhere. That is why the Delivering Equally Safe fund, which supports a range of violence against women and girls survivor support and prevention activity, benefited from a 5% increase in 2026-27. This takes total investment in the fund to almost £46 million over 2026-2028 (almost £23 million per year).

Our Programme for Government 2026 to 2031, sets out that we will enhance arrangements for the Delivering Equally Safe Fund and develop a new multi-year fund to ensure vital services are sustainable and can respond flexibly to need.

Question reference: S7W-02675

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's joint committee report on biodiversity collapse, what progress has been made toward reaching a decision on the planning application for the proposed golf development at Coul Links since the report was submitted to the Scottish Ministers on 29 August 2025, and by what date that decision will be issued.

Following receipt of the report, Ministers requested further ecological information from the applicant and provided interested parties with an opportunity to comment on that information. We are now considering the information received through that further procedure, alongside the reporters’ report and recommendation, before reaching a final decision. A decision will be issued as soon as possible.

Question reference: S7W-03262

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its sectoral marine plan for offshore energy.

The Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE) and associated impact assessments have been finalised and are in the latter stages of review ahead of Ministerial consideration. Subject to Ministerial approval, including consideration by UK Ministers due to the presence of cross-border impacts, the Plan will be adopted and all supporting documents will be published. The exact timing will depend on the completion of these approval processes.

Question reference: S7W-03259

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential economic and social benefits of a managed transition from demersal mobile fishing to static-gear fisheries, as part of its consultation process regarding marine protected areas and priority marine features.

The Scottish Government has undertaken a socio-economic impact assessment (SEIA) as part of the Marine Consultation on ‘Proposed Fisheries Management Measures in Scottish Inshore Marine Protected.

The aim of the SEIA is to identify and assess the potential economic and social effects of the proposed measures on the lives and circumstances of people, their families, and their communities.

The SEIA estimates the effects of the proposed measures at individual site level for MPAs and at a regional level for PMFs.

In the development of the SEIA we have engaged with fishers to gather views on the potential social impacts of the proposed measures.

It also considers potential impacts on each of the 11 marine regions of Scotland with respect to economic impacts on fishing activities for both the vessels home port and port of landing.

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Question reference: S7W-03817

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Question reference: S7W-03263

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