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-39070

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to (a) the role of coal as a strategic reserve or transitional energy source and (b) whether a blanket policy of no support potentially risks undermining Scotland’s energy security during periods of volatility or supply disruption, in light of the publication of its Coal extraction: policy position on 19 June 2025.

We have undertaken a full policy development process in order to reach a finalised position of no support for coal extraction in Scotland, in line with statutory requirements. The first step in this process was the launch of a call for evidence which ran from 21 June to 2 August 2022, which invited stakeholders’ views and expanded our evidence base in this policy area.

The call for evidence set coal extraction in its wider context of our statutory emissions targets and just transition and highlighted our work to date in relevant policy areas, including energy security, climate change, and just transition.

The policy position was subject to statutory and other assessments, including Strategic Environmental Assessment, before finalisation. This included in our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP), and our National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4). NPF4 is publicly available here: National Planning Framework 4 - gov.scot. The draft SEA of the draft ESJTP is publicly available here: strategic-environmental-assessment-draft-energy-strategy-transition-plan-environmental-report.pdf.

Coal exploitation is a matter reserved to the UK Government, and the Mining Remediation Authority is responsible for licensing coal mining activity in Scotland. Scotland’s planning system is fully devolved to the Scottish Government. We recognise that there may be circumstances where the extraction of coal is legally required, for example as part of building works or where a seam needs to be removed in the course of preparing foundations. Any holder of a licence issued by the Mining Remediation Authority may submit an application for planning permission for coal mining-related activities.

Where any planning applications come forward, as a matter of law these must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. As a statement of national policy, the finalised policy position on coal extraction would be a material consideration.

Question reference: S6W-39072

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what definition it applies to its policy of no support for onshore conventional oil and gas extraction, and whether the policy allows for any limited exceptions where production could support local industry or employment, in light of the publication of its Onshore conventional oil and gas: policy position on 19 June 2025.

We have undertaken a full policy development process in order to reach a finalised position of no support for onshore conventional oil and gas extraction in Scotland, in line with statutory requirements. The policy position was subject to statutory and other assessments, including before finalisation. This included in our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP), and our National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4).NPF4 is publicly available here: National Planning Framework 4 - gov.scot.The draft SEA of the draft ESJTP is publicly available here: strategic-environmental-assessment-draft-energy-strategy-transition-plan-environmental-report.pdf. The partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment of the draft ESJTP is publicly available here: Regulatory Impact Assessment Template.

Our NPF4 makes clear that significant weight will be given to the global climate and nature crises when considering all development proposals. NPF4 Policy 33 sets out a policy of no support for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels, other than in exceptional circumstances aligned with national policy on energy and targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This includes our policy position on onshore conventional oil and gas.

Question reference: S6W-39023

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the Scottish Funding Council to ensure that colleges can continue to deliver any animal care, agriculture and rural skills training that is considered critical to Scotland’s rural economy.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is responsible for allocating funding to colleges, in line with Ministerial priorities, as set out in SFC’s Annual Letter of Guidance 2025–26. Colleges are responsible for determining their own operational decisions, including course provision.

To ensure that post school provision becomes more responsive to Scotland's strategic skills needs and priorities, the Scottish Government is working closely with partners, including SFC, to deliver on the Programme for Government’s commitment to introduce a new Scottish Government-led approach to national skills planning, and strengthen regional skills planning.

Question reference: S6W-39022

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to (a) protect and (b) promote access to land-based and rural education courses, in light of reported reductions in college course offerings in these areas.

The Scottish Government contributes to attracting and equipping skilled people for rural and Island areas, including funding Lantra Scotland’s 2025-26 workplan to promote the rewarding careers available, and the economic and environmental benefits of investing in skills in the land-based, aquaculture and environment.

We are additionally developing our future approach for the sustainable delivery of skills for rural Scotland, following on from the Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland (SAPRS) in the context of reform across the education and skills system.

Operational decisions, including course provision and staffing, are a matter for individual colleges, who are best placed to respond to emerging trends in skills needs at local and regional level. However, the Scottish Government is committed to introducing a new Scottish Government-led approach to national skills planning, and strengthen regional skills planning, to ensure that post school provision becomes more responsive to Scotland's strategic skills needs and priorities.

Question reference: S6W-39020

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to providing funding for rural and animal care education in colleges to support skills development in Scotland’s land-based industries.

The Scottish Government acknowledges the important contribution Colleges make to both education and the economy, which is why we provided a 2.1% uplift in funding for the sector in this year’s Budget.

The Scottish Government also provided £560,000 in funding to Lantra, the sector skills body for land-based, aquaculture, and environmental conservation sectors. This funds Lantra Scotland’s 2025/26 workplan, that promotes careers in these sectors and highlights the economic and environmental value of investing in skills and supports efforts to attract and train skilled people in rural areas.

Operational decisions, including course provision and staffing, are a matter for individual colleges, who are best placed to respond to emerging trends in skills needs at local and regional level.

Question reference: S6W-39024

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with rural stakeholders, including farming and animal welfare organisations, regarding any impact of college course closures on workforce development in the rural sector.

The Scottish Government contributes to attracting and equipping skilled people for rural and Island areas to promote the rewarding careers available and the economic and environmental benefits of investing in skills in the land-based, aquaculture and environment.

Operational decisions, including course provision and staffing, are a matter for individual colleges, who are best placed to respond to emerging trends in skills needs at local and regional level.

We are engaging industries and employers across Scotland, and will continue to do so, as we reform the post school education and skills system.

Question reference: S6W-39021

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of reported funding reductions on the provision of animal care and rural skills courses in colleges.

The Scottish Funding Council’s final allocations to the college sector for 2025-26 provide a 2.6% sector increase in teaching funding compared to last year. Additionally no college sees a reduction in teaching funding in 2025-26 when compared with 2024-25.

Operational decisions, including course provision and staffing, are a matter for individual colleges, who are best placed to respond to emerging trends in skills needs at local and regional level.

Question reference: S6W-38976

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Historic Environment Scotland regarding the future of the South Sleat Estate, in light of reports that it has been placed on the market for sale.

Question reference: S6W-39068

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding was awarded to projects from the Transforming Cancer Care programme in each year since it was launched, also broken down by local authority area.

Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.

Day-to-day management, including that of specific funding, of the Transforming Cancer Care Programme is managed by Macmillan Cancer Support. Scottish Government allocates overall funds to Macmillan Cancer Support to distribute according to locally agreed processes.

During the period 2019-2023, Scottish Government and Macmillan awarded £18 million to the programme. An additional £9 million investment was agreed in 2023 to support the programme until 2032. Funds are to be allocated over that period as per Macmillan and the corresponding local authority/partnership agreement.

Question reference: S6W-38983

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the fuel usage over the last three years of all vessels operating on (a) CalMac and (b) NorthLink ferry services, broken down by vessel.

A table has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre under (Bib Number 65938) that provides a breakdown, by vessel, of the fuel usage over the last 3 years on the CalMac service.

The fuel usage over the last three years, by vessels operating on NorthLink Ferry services, is detailed below. For clarity, CY05 ended June 2025. However, the figures have still to be reconciled, and are therefore not available.

MV Hrossey MV Hjaltland MV Hildasay MV Hellier MV Hamnavore

CY2 July 2021 - June 2023 9058.94 9212,99 3795.80 3611.50 3756.20

CY3 July 2022 - June 2023 9,023.20 8840,6 3660.34 3916.90 4046.10

CY4 July 2023 - June 2024 8674.60 8678 3710.60 3591.50 3732.20