- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 20 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to phase out or prohibit the maceration of live male chicks, and, if so, what timetable it has established for doing so.
Answer
Answer expected on 20 July 2026
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect and improve designated core public paths for walking, cycling and general access.
Answer
Part one of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 requires local authorities and National Park Authorities (“access authorities”) to take the lead role in delivery of non-motorised outdoor access, and in relation to core paths. Access authorities have a range of duties and powers to publicise, maintain, and keep core paths free from obstruction.
We have committed to explore with the Ordnance Survey the potential for core paths to be recognised in their mapping; and to work with the Scottish Outdoor Recreation Alliance and others to develop a Scottish Paths Fund; as well as to produce new guidance for access authorities on how to fulfil their responsibilities. Scoping of these commitments is currently under way.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports regarding the Bakkafrost Loch Torridon marine salmon farm site, where fish were allegedly found after the site had been declared fallow and weekly sea lice records were reportedly retrospectively altered, what assessment it has made of whether official reporting requirements were misrepresented; what powers the Fish Health Inspectorate has to investigate inaccurate or misleading declarations and retrospective changes to records, and what penalties, enforcement action or other sanctions have been, or could be, imposed in response.
Answer
It is an offence under Section 2 of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 (‘the 2007 Act’) if an aquaculture business fails to comply with the requirements of the Fish Farming Businesses (Reporting) (Scotland) Order 2020 in respect of sea lice counts, without an appropriate explanation, or to knowingly provide any information which is false in a material particular. An offence under Section 2 of the 2007 Act is punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.
The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) take potential regulatory breaches seriously, and the 2007 Act provides for inspectors to inspect premises, examine and take copies of records, and as certain levels of parasites, as part of desk-based or on-site investigations, as required, depending on what may be proportionate to the suspected offence.
It was concluded that no offence had been committed on the basis that a reasonable excuse had been provided for not submitting a sea lice count. Legal obligations regarding reporting guidance were strongly emphasised to the operator in this case, in line with the FHI’s Service Charter.
I refer the Member to the Answer to Question S6W-44434 on 20 March 2026. 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/questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its decision in the previous parliamentary session not to proceed with planned legislation to incorporate international human rights treaties into Scots law, what (a) work it is currently carrying out, or plans, in this area and (b) consideration it has given to implementing the right to food.
Answer
Advancing human rights is central to every mission of Government. This ambition will underpin our work to deliver prosperity, fairness and security for the people of Scotland.
In July 2025, the Scottish Government published a discussion paper setting out proposals fora potential future Bill. This included proposals relating to the incorporation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which includes a right to adequate food as an essential part of the overall right to an adequate standard of living.
The SNP's manifesto committed to bringing forward a Human Rights Bill, to incorporate further international human rights treaties into Scots law. The Scottish Government's legislative programme will be agreed by Ministers and announced to Parliament in due course and in the usual way.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 18 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on its review of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System.
Answer
The Scottish Government has made continued progress on its review of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS). Work has focused on engaging with key stakeholders to identify current strengths and opportunities to support the development of the AKIS. This includes activities to better support knowledge exchange and the flow of knowledge and innovation between stakeholders in the AKIS and to understand how to better co-ordinate the AKIS in Scotland.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it will respond to data, which reportedly shows that 85% of emissions from the 2025 Dava Moor megafire resulted from subsurface soil dryness, and whether it will put in place a plan to transition towards large-scale hydrological re-saturation and natural habitat succession in areas vulnerable to wildfire.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires sets out a coordinated approach to preventing, preparing for and responding to wildfires, including through national initiatives to strengthen resilience to all climate-related hazards as outlined in the Scottish National Adaptation Plan, such as peatland restoration.
Through our world leading Peatland ACTION programme, we have carried out restoration on over 59,000 hectares of peatland since 2020, including a record 15,448 hectares in 2025-26. This work will continue in 2026-27, investing a further £28 million to deliver at least another 10,000 ha of peatland restoration, towards our aim of restoring more than 400,000 ha of peatland by 2040.
Our recently published Peatland Action Partnership Plan commits to working with our delivery partners to strategically prioritise peatland restoration where it can maximise the multiple benefits for climate, nature and people. Understanding which parts of Scotland face the greatest risk from wildfire as the climate changes, and which could benefit most from rewetting degraded peatlands, will be part of this work.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent research published in Nature Geoscience characterising the 2025 Dava Moor Wildfire as the UK's first megafire, what steps it is taking to accelerate large-scale hydrological restoration and peatland re-saturation, outside of existing deep-peat work, to prevent carbon loss during periods of prolonged drought.
Answer
Restoring degraded peatlands involves taking measures such as drain blocking, creating bunds and reprofiling gullies in order to reinstate the site’s natural hydrology, raise the water table and increase wetness. This plays an important role in halting the spread and extent of fires, and in reducing their intensity and the risk of them burning deep into the peat.
Our Climate Change Plan commits to restoring more than 400,000 hectares of degraded peatland by 2040. Recent successes in upscaling continued in 2025-26 with the restoration of 15,448 hectares – the highest area ever in a single year.
Our recently published Peatland Action Partnership Plan commits to working with our delivery partners to strategically prioritise peatland restoration where it can maximise the multiple benefits for climate, nature and people. Understanding which parts of Scotland face the greatest risk from wildfire as the climate changes, and which could benefit most from rewetting degraded peatlands, will be part of this work.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent research published in Nature Geoscience characterising the 2025 Dava Moor Wildfire as the UK's first megafire, what assessment it has made of the role of landscape-scale engineering by keystone species, such as Eurasian beavers, in creating natural wetlands that serve as systemic, megafire-resistant buffers.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the positive role that Eurasian beavers can play as a native keystone species, and we remain supportive of their managed expansion in appropriate areas, as set out in Scotland’s Beaver Strategy 2022–2045.
Beavers can create wetlands, retain water and contribute to wider ecosystem resilience, which can reduce burn severity in some settings. However, our assessment is that their contribution to preventing large-scale wildfire events such as the 2025 Dava Moor fire is likely to be limited, localised and realised over the longer term, rather than offering a systemic or immediate solution to megafire risk.
Beaver expansion offers one helpful nature-based measure within a broader package of actions, alongside peatland restoration, preparedness and wildfire prevention, rather than as a stand-alone answer to Scotland’s growing wildfire risk.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Alison Thewliss on 10 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to establishing an independent body to investigate complaints regarding the financial practices of adult social care providers, with a role similar to that played by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in England.
Answer
The Scottish Government are not currently making any considerations to establish an independent body to investigate complaints regarding the financial practices of adult social care providers.
Scotland has in place the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) which provides a well-established, fully independent route for complaints relating to adult social care services provided by the public sector.
When a person is self-funding their care this becomes a contractual matter between the individual and their care home. Families in Scotland can contact their local trading standards team who will investigate any breach of contract.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which is a statutory body and accountable to the UK Parliament, has guidance for care homes on deposits and fees. We expect all providers operating in Scotland to abide by the guidance clearly set out by the CMA.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 May 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 9 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any barriers that the current costs and legal requirements associated with obtaining a Power of Attorney create for (a) low-income households, (b) older people and (c) disabled people, and whether it will consider introducing officially approved standard templates or additional financial support for applicants.
Answer
Work is underway to modernise the Adults with Incapacity system in Scotland, including Powers of Attorney, with a specific focus on enhancing the rights and protections of people affected by incapacity law. We are working collaboratively with an Expert Working Group, convened in September 2025, to develop evidence-based recommendations for legislative and procedural reform and to improve the experience of those affected by incapacity law.
Financial support is already in place to obtain a Power of Attorney in circumstances where an individual may not otherwise be able to afford it. Legal aid may be available to support the cost of a solicitor drawing up a Power of Attorney and individuals may be able to claim a fee in relation to registering their Power of Attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian.
The Scottish Government is considering plans to deliver the commitment to temporarily reduce the power of attorney registration fees within this parliamentary term and will engage with relevant stakeholders to do so.
