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-34594

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 4 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been committed in its 2025-26 Budget to bringing empty homes back into use; how local authorities can access this funding, and how much resource has been specifically allocated to support (a) local authority empty homes officers and (b) the Empty Homes Partnership.

We will invest £2 million next year financial year to help local authorities unlock barriers, develop a targeted approach and embed empty homes work across their services to bring more privately owned empty homes back into use through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership project. This builds on our track record of bringing more than 11,000 privately owned homes back into use as warm, safe and secure housing since 2010.

Question reference: S6W-34573

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve maternity services in Caithness, to reduce any need for individuals to travel to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for childbirth and other maternity-related care.

The Scottish Government expects all NHS Boards to provide maternity services that are delivered as close to home as practicable and to offer a full range of birth place options within their region. Service planning and delivery is the responsibility of NHS Boards and it is important that these services are safe, sustainable and meet the needs of local populations.

Women in Caithness can choose to give birth with the support of a midwife, whether at home or in the midwife-led unit at Caithness General Hospital. If the mother or baby are assessed to be at higher risk, then they are advised to give birth at the consultant unit at Raigmore Hospital. To minimise the need for women to travel, NHS Highland provides weekly obstetric-run antenatal clinics and scanning services in Caithness, and helps with travel and accommodation costs for women who need to travel for care. This is the same model of care which operates across all rural areas in the NHS Highland region. We particularly recognise the importance of patient transport and work is commencing to develop guidance on Pre-hospital Maternity and Neonatal Care and Remote & Rural Intrapartum Transfers.

Question reference: S6O-04365

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is, regarding any potential impact on the environment, to reports that Mowi Scotland, a multi-national fish farming company, has purchased Sanda Island in Argyll and Bute.

Question reference: S6W-34497

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31025 by Alasdair Allan on 12 November 2024, by what date it will publish the Nature Conservation Order to protect the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Achnabobane.

Question reference: S6W-34436

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 18 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's decision to bring forward secondary legislation that would allow the Genetic Technologies (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 to take effect, what it anticipates the potential impact on Scotland will be in relation to (a) devolved competencies (b) (i) regional and (ii) international trade, (c) consumer choice and (d) the integrity of GMO-free supply chains, such as organic.

We are aware of the UK Government’s planned secondary legislation following its Genetic Technologies (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 and are looking carefully at the implications of their proposals. As our closest trading partner, any changes in England may have implications for Scottish businesses.

Regulation of genetic modification is an area of devolved responsibility, and the Scottish Government expects full cooperation from the UK Government in matters where any related legislation will impact upon the interests of Scottish businesses and consumers.

The views of stakeholders in Scotland – scientists, farmers, food producers, but especially, consumers and the public as a whole – will inform any future changes in relation to the regulation of genetic technologies in Scotland. On 27 March we will hold a roundtable event to better understand the views and concerns of stakeholders.

Question reference: S6W-34773

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's proposal to transition 14% of England's agricultural land to nature recovery and net zero outcomes, what percentage of Scotland's agricultural land the Scottish Government proposes should be prioritised for (a) nature recovery and (b) net zero outcomes in the forthcoming fourth iteration of Scotland's land use framework.

Through Scotland’s Land Use Strategy, our Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement and Natural Capital Framework, we have in place an established set of principles, objectives, protocols, and guidance. This helps our farmers, crofters and other land owners and managers in their land use decision making, and provides strategic connections across multiple interests, including Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation, Environment Strategy and National Planning Framework 4.

The fourth iteration of Scotland’s Land Use Strategy is due for publication in early 2026 and as it is developed we will work closely with stakeholders to further discussion of the multiple pressures our land faces and the opportunities and challenges that an integrated approach to land use can bring.

Question reference: S6W-32463

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed reduction to land reform funding in its draft Budget 2025-26, how it plans to meet its commitment to increase the Scottish Land Fund to £20 million per year by the end of the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S6O-04207

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to work with NHS boards and patient transport providers to ensure that access to healthcare is fair, equitable and efficient for island residents.

Question reference: S6W-32275

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had (a) internally, (b) with public bodies and (c) with stakeholders regarding supporting fruit and nut orchard development, and what its position is on (i) establishing a bespoke orchard grant to support the setting up of new fruit and nut orchards and (ii) reforming existing grant schemes to allow growers to focus solely on fruit and nut trees.

Through the Agriculture Reform Programme, and in collaboration with Scottish Forestry and NatureScot, we are considering opportunities to improve how we support farmers to integrate trees. The integration of trees on farms can take a variety of forms, with the criteria for the Agroforestry Grant Scheme having been amended in 2023 to include support for fruit and nut trees. We have engaged with stakeholders on the progress of that work through Scottish Forestry’s Customer Representatives Group sub-group on Trees on Farms and will continue to seek opportunities for stakeholder engagement as that work develops.

In addition, we are currently undertaking a review of the funding awarded by our Food and Drink Division to support community Grow Your Own initiatives. This funding for new and innovative food growing projects could include community orchards.

The Scottish Government also continues to provide horticulture support through the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme. Orchard fruit and nuts are products covered by the scheme, which enables funding to groups of growers recognised as Producer Organisations.

Question reference: S6W-32252

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure the sustainability and future of GP practices, particularly in rural and island areas, and to address the funding issues raised by the increase in employer national insurance contributions, including at the Skerryvore practice in Orkney.

The Scottish Government recognises that primary and community care services should be developed to meet the needs of distinct localities, including those in our rural areas and islands. We have a range of levers to support rural and island areas, including Scotgem, golden hellos, rediscover the joy , a GP sustainability project, and our current work with NES to deliver GP fellowships and rural credentials. We also established the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care to support health boards, HSCPS and individuals to improve capability in rural and island areas.

The Scottish Government estimates that the Employer National Insurance Contribution increase might cost between £520 and £580 million for directly employed public sector employees and a further £210 million for contracted out services and the third sector. For NHS contractors, including GPs, we estimate costs of £40 million.

If the chancellor does not fund that in full, it could be, that at best £380 million would be forthcoming; leaving a significant shortfall. We continue to press for clarification.