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-41863

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the Marine Management Organisation campaign, Fish, Trace, Ship, to publicise the new EU traceability rules, which come into effect on 10 January 2026.

The programme of informing the UK industry of these changes is being led by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) with input and support by Devolved Governments. The Scottish Government has been closely involved in the development of the MMO campaign, including at the recent virtual industry engagement sessions that have progressed during October and November.

To supplement the MMO campaign, Marine Directorate officials have organised meetings with key stakeholders in Scotland to raise awareness of the forthcoming changes.

This includes in September, when meetings took place with some of Scotland’s largest seafood exporters.

Question reference: S6W-41839

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its responsibilities are as a partner of the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme.

The Home Office is leading the cross-government Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) to deliver the new Emergency Services Network (ESN) critical communications system, in which the Scottish Government is a Funding Sponsor Body.

In addition to funding the Scottish share of the programme, the Scottish Government is responsible for working in partnership with the Home Office and the Scottish emergency services to ensure that ESN meets their operational needs, and that the network coverage is at least as good as Airwave, the existing communications system. In addition, the Scottish Government provides funding directly to the Scottish emergency services to support and de-risk their transition to ESN.

Question reference: S6W-41866

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with UK-wide agencies, industry bodies and the EU to ensure that there is as smooth a transition as possible to the new EU traceability regime, which comes into effect on 10 January 2026, to allow Scotland's seafood businesses to maintain competitive access to its largest market.

The programme of informing the UK industry of these changes is being led by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) with input and support by Devolved Governments.

We would encourage industry to engage with the process and attend the virtual engagement sessions raising any concerns or questions they may have. The changes being introduced by the EU are mandatory for all imports of fisheries products entering the EU from all third countries after 10 January 2026 so there is no alternative to compliance when trading.

Alongside other Fisheries Administrations, we have been seeking clarity, via UKG engagement with the EU, on the most pressing areas where questions remain, so responses can then be passed to industry.

Marine Directorate compliance officials are also flagging the MMO guidance as part of their routine engagement with industry. A dedicated Scottish mailing address has also been created and communicated to industry to field direct queries to.

For those impacted, they should talk with other industry representatives and their associations to ensure as many as possible are aware of the changes and what additional actions will be required from each other to facilitate continued trade.

Question reference: S6W-41865

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans are in place to help any of Scotland's seafood businesses that might not be ready in time for the new EU traceability rules, which come into effect on 10 January 2026, and therefore are unable to export to the EU.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) are responsible for updates to the IT system – the Fish Export Service (FES) – which exporters will use to provide the enhanced processing statements, catch certificates and other documentation required by the EU from 10 January 2026.

We are seeking assurances from UK Government that appropriate support will be available through MMO to deal with any immediate industry issues arising – including for out of hours service given the nature of seafood exports often occurs outwith routine business hours.

Question reference: S6W-41804

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 21 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in total to date on consultancy fees in relation to the development of the MyCare.scot app.

National Education for Scotland (NES) holds the contract with BJSS for the development of MyCare.scot. The estimated value of this contract for 2025–26 is currently between £4.5 million and £5 million, subject to change depending on the pace of delivery.

In addition, the Scottish Government has spent £11,880 to date on QI Consulting. This work supports assurance activity for the wider programme and is not associated with the development of the MyCare.scot application.

Question reference: S6W-41741

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 21 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent AI was used in the process to determine the awarding of funding from the Future Farming Investment Scheme, and for what reasons.

As was made clear to Jamie Halcro Johnston and Douglas Ross in the Chamber on 5 November 2025, the claims that an AI based system was used to assess applications are not correct. Applications were assessed through a standardised framework that cross checked application data against the Single Application Form (SAF) and other system held data to ensure consistency, transparency, and audit defensibility.

Assessment work was led by the Agricultural Development Team, supported by staff from across the RPID area office network, which is experienced in delivering Scottish Government grant schemes. Independent validation was undertaken by a Project Board, which also included RPID Area Office representatives, as well as being reviewed by Internal Audit representatives.

Question reference: S6O-05222

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-41739

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 19 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40374 by Jim Fairlie on 22 September 2025, how many applications for funding from the Future Farming Investment Scheme were (a) awarded and (b) not awarded support, broken down by scheme objective.

Question reference: S6W-41740

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 19 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value was of grant applications that were requested from applicants for funding from the Future Farming Investment Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-41809

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 19 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) individuals, (b) domestic organisations and (c) overseas organisations have booked an appointment with an immigration lawyer through the Scotland’s Migration Service website in each month since it was launched.

Scotland’s Migration Service publishes performance data on a quarterly basis. This can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-migration-service-performance-data/

987 appointments with individuals took place between April 2024 and October 2025. This is broken down as follows:

Month	Number of appointments
April 2024	33
May 2024	3
June 2024	5
July 2024	18
August 2024	18
September 2024	17
October 2024	15
November 2024	31
December 2024	68
January 2025	39
February 2025	43
March 2025	98
April 2025	65
May 2025	77
June 2025	105
July 2025	99
August 2025	73
September 2025	67
October 2025	113

Note that some individuals have attended multiple appointments, in line with the service offering which enables someone to access up to three appointments per year. This service is provided by Citizens Advice Bureaux across Scotland. Advisers are all accredited to provide at least Level 1 immigration advice in line with the standard set by the Immigration Advice Authority.

173 appointments with Scotland-based employers and inward investors or entrepreneurs took place between April 2024 and October 2025. This is broken down as follows:

Month	Scotland-based employers – number of appointments	Inward investors or entrepreneurs – number of appointments
April 2024	8	3
May 2024	6	2
June 2024	5	2
July 2024	3	1
August 2024	4	0
September 2024	3	1
October 2024	2	1
November 2024	5	1
December 2024	9	3
January 2025	9	2
February 2025	5	1
March 2025	13	2
April 2025	7	1
May 2025	10	4
June 2025	9	1
July 2025	12	3
August 2025	6	2
September 2025	14	2
October 2025	9	2

Note that some organisations have attended multiple appointments, in line with the service offering which enables someone to access up to three appointments per year. This service is provided by specialist immigration law firm Seraphus.

Scheme Objective	Number of Supported Items	Total Grant Value (£)	% of £21.4m
Improve business efficiency and sustainability	3,309	£20,945,081.77	98%
Protect, restore or enhance the environment	1,726	£11,542,568.88	54%
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions	2,184	£14,915,459.53	70%
Mitigate the impact of climate change	1,933	£13,158,491.07	61%