The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S7W-03116

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that applicants to the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) do not face delays in receiving payments from the Basic Payment Scheme and that the Rural Payments and Inspections Division has the resources and capacity required to process applications timeously.

Question reference: S7W-03114

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason more than 1,200 Basic Payment Scheme claimants are reportedly still requiring Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) verification, and whether it considers that the current verification process operates effectively.

Question reference: S7W-03115

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) verification cases remain outstanding, and how many of these involve applicants who (a) have already submitted all requested evidence and (b) are yet to do so, broken down by region.

Question reference: S7W-02914

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of confirmation by the company that MV Loch Portain will not return to service for the remainder of the summer 2026 timetable, what discussions it has had with CalMac Ferries Ltd regarding network resilience and resource allocation, and what contingency measures are being put in place to maintain services to communities.

Question reference: S7O-00156

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that air services in the Highlands and Islands meet the needs of communities.

Question reference: S7W-02049

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 21 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that over two-thirds of applicants to its Emergency Heating Oil Scheme in the Western Isles have had their applications refused.

The Scottish Government launched the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme within a matter of weeks in response to the spiralling prices caused by the Iran conflict and wider instability undermining energy security across Europe.

The scheme was put in place to ensure the most vulnerable households are supported during the cost of living crisis, enabling affected households to apply for £300 towards their bills. This includes households on means-tested benefits but also those in financial hardship and at risk of self-rationing fuel who have unavoidable additional heating needs. The first payment was made within 24 hours of the scheme launching on 1 April 2026.

As of end of 9 August 2026, 598 applications had been received from households in the Western Isles. Of these applications, 270 have received an award of £300 towards the cost of their heating oil bills, with 322 applications having not met the eligbility criteria or had their application closed due to not responding to requests for information. Closed applications can be reopened if the applicant contacts Advice Direct Scotland.

Full details of the eligibility requirements have been available on the Advice Direct Scotland (“ADS”) website since launch, which includes noting that for discretionary decisions applicants must be in financial hardship and, in addition, meet one of the other listed criteria.

The Scottish Government is taking further steps to raise awareness of this scheme and will continue to use various channels to reach those households most in need. I would encourage anyone who uses heating oil or liquid petroleum gas to heat their homes in the Western Isles, and throughout Scotland, to visit the ADS website to check eligibility and, where eligible, to make an application.

Applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria but are still struggling with the cost of living crisis may wish to be aware of the Scottish Government’s cost of living website which provides helpful information and support and can be found here: https://costofliving.campaign.gov.scot

Question reference: S7W-02050

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 21 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure households in need are able to access the Emergency Heating Oil Scheme.

The Scottish Government launched the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme within a matter of weeks in response to the spiralling prices caused by the Iran conflict and wider instability undermining energy security across Europe.

The scheme was put in place to ensure the most vulnerable households are supported during the cost of living crisis, enabling affected households to apply for £300 towards their bills. This includes households on means-tested benefits but also those in financial hardship and at risk of self-rationing fuel who have unavoidable additional heating needs. The first payment was made within 24 hours of the scheme launching on 1 April 2026.

The scheme has been managed by Advice Direct Scotland (“ADS”). Details of the eligibility criteria and the application process have been made available on the ADS website since the launch of the Scheme. Additionally, ADS have utilised the heating oil and liquid petroleum gas supplier network and have contacted over 1,600 third sector organisations to raise awareness of the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme.

ADS are also assisting individuals with any queries that they may have on the scheme or in making an application and I thank them for their on-going work.

We are now taking further steps to raise awareness and will continue to use various channels to reach those households most in need.

Question reference: S7W-01857

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on identifying the two island communities that will pilot remote diagnostic technologies as set out in the National Islands Plan 2, what the consultation and decision-making around selection is, and when this pilot will start.

The Scottish Government commissioned NHS Scotland Innovation Hubs to develop diagnostic pilot proposals aligned with the National Islands Plan commitment.

The North of Scotland Innovation Hub – in partnership with NHS Shetland, NHS Orkney and the Scottish Ambulance Service – proposed Project SOUND, which seeks to evaluate the use of point-of-care diagnostics in emergency response vehicles, assessing their impact on urgent clinical decision-making and reducing hospital admissions through treatment closer to home.

This was assessed by the Scottish Government through internal governance processes and with relevant clinical input to assess viability. The project has been approved and will launch in August 2026.

Information on progress against this commitment will be included in the National Islands Plan Annual Report to the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S7W-01855

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the National Islands Plan 2, what progress has been made on the (a) Ferries Accessibility Standard and (b) new Islands Transport Accessibility Fund and the remit of this fund, and when both will be published

Development of the Ferries Accessibility Standard is underway following engagement with ferry users with disabilities, the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS), ferry operators and representatives of port authorities. Work is on track to achieve the new National Islands Plan commitment to publish in 2026.

Work is also progressing on our commitment to open a new Islands Transport Accessibility Fund applicable to both ferries and aviation infrastructure. The new fund will open as soon as possible, subject to available funding.

Information on progress against the two commitments will be included in the National Islands Plan Annual Report to the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S7W-01856

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar on expanding the commitment of matched funding through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership for Empty Homes Officer roles to the Western Isles.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has an existing empty homes officer, which was originally funded through a matched contribution of just over £38,000 from the Scottish Government. In 2025-2026 the Scottish Government provided £750,000 towards match-funding for additional empty homes officer posts, which resulted in an extra 15 posts within Scottish local authorities. That funding was allocated, and is supported, via the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and discussions were held with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to explore options for funding to support empty homes work across the islands. These discussions continue (they last met on 24 June 2026) and, as well as the option to recruit an additional officer, include the offer of capital funding in 2026-27, which would contribute towards the creation of a local authority run grant scheme for empty homeowners.

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Filter your results Hide all filters

Question reference: S7W-03116

Answer

Question reference: S7W-03114

Answer

Question reference: S7W-03115

Answer

Question reference: S7W-02914

Answer

Question reference: S7O-00156

Answer

Question reference: S7W-02049

Answer

Question reference: S7W-02050

Answer

Question reference: S7W-01857

Answer

Question reference: S7W-01855

Answer

Question reference: S7W-01856

Answer