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: S7W-01667

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of current enforcement mechanisms available to Trading Standards Scotland when dealing with any premises involved in the sale of illicit tobacco and vaping products, compared with the closure order mechanisms available to Trading Standards in England and Wales.

Question reference: S7W-01663

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Transport Scotland is taking to mitigate any potential marine safety risks in Oban Harbour while a final decision remains pending on the establishment of a single Statutory Harbour Authority.

Question reference: S7W-01665

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) local authorities and (b) Trading Standards Scotland regarding the potential benefits of allowing local authorities, rather than Police Scotland, to apply for closure orders against any commercial premises that sell age-restricted products to children.

Question reference: S7W-01664

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate Transport Scotland has made of the potential financial costs and duration of a public local inquiry or hearing, should one be triggered by any unresolved objections to the proposed Oban Harbour Revision Order.

Question reference: S7W-01661

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what Transport Scotland’s expected timeline is for a final decision on the Argyll and Bute Council Oban Harbour Revision Order (HRO), which was submitted to Transport Scotland in November 2023.

Question reference: S7W-01264

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding in the Scottish Land Commission's report, Rural Land Market Insights 2026, that Scotland's rural land market is currently experiencing its slowest conditions since the 2008 financial crisis, whether it will delay implementation of the lotting provisions contained in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, until a full assessment has been made of their potential impact on investment and land values in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-01261

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the decline in speculative investment in forestry and natural capital projects, as set out in the Scottish Land Commission’s recent report on Scotland’s rural land market, affects the case for further intervention in the rural land market through lotting requirements in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.

The Scottish Government notes the findings of the Scottish Land Commission's Rural Land Market Insights 2026 report.

The policy intent of the lotting provisions in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 is to address issues relating to the scale and concentration of land ownership in Scotland. Scottish Land Commission research has highlighted that concentrated land ownership can negatively impact community sustainability, particularly through its effect on land availability.

The policy rationale for lotting is not linked to trends in speculative investment in forestry or natural capital markets, which are more recent developments and were not the focus of the evidence base underpinning the Act.

There are no plans to delay implementation of the lotting provisions. The Act was developed following extensive engagement with a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives of the rural property sector, and a full Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment considered the potential impacts of the measures on businesses and the rural land market.

The Scottish Government is working closely with the Scottish Land Commission on implementation of the Act and wider land reform policy. Ministers and officials will continue to engage with stakeholders, including land agents, rural surveyors, lenders, representatives of the rural property sector and other land market interests, through consultation on secondary legislation and guidance. This engagement will help ensure that practical considerations are fully taken into account as implementation progresses.

Question reference: S7W-01267

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has undertaken with land agents, rural surveyors, lenders and other market stakeholders regarding any practical implications of implementing lotting provisions in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 during a period of reduced market activity.

Question reference: S7W-01262

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement that the application for the proposed Spittal to Beauly overhead transmission line will be subject to a public inquiry, what steps it will take to ensure that small community groups have access to sufficient funding, technical expertise and legal support to participate effectively in the inquiry on equal terms with the applicant and statutory consultees.

Scottish Ministers do recognise the importance of ensuring that all interested parties, including small community groups, are able to participate effectively in the inquiry process. In this context, a number of measures are available within existing procedures and practice.

All interested parties are notified of the inquiry and given the opportunity to participate in the DPEA process. Reporters appointed by DPEA are responsible for ensuring that proceedings are conducted in a fair, transparent and proportionate manner. This includes tailoring how evidence is presented, ensuring that the evidence presented is accessible by all parties, focusing on the key issues, and putting in place arrangements that enable all parties, including small community groups, to participate effectively without requiring extensive legal or technical resources.

In addition, the new Planning and Infrastructure legislation strengthens requirements for early and meaningful engagement with communities at the pre-application stage. This enables communities to identify and address concerns before any application is made.

Guidance is available to support participants in understanding the process, and Scottish Ministers continue to consider how participation can be further supported. Together, these measures are intended to ensure that inquiry processes are accessible and that community groups are able to participate on a fair and proportionate basis.

Question reference: S7W-01266

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Land Commission regarding any implications of recent changes in rural land market activity for the operation of the lotting provisions in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.