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-39100

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 11 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it is taking to make the parliamentary estate more pollinator-friendly, and whether these steps include (a) planting a more diverse array of plants for wild pollinators, (b) encouraging nature across the parliamentary estate more generally and (c) moving away from keeping bees in hives, in light of reports that organisations such as the Bumblebee Conservation Trust state that the latter is not a sustainable practice.

Supporting Pollinators and Biodiversity at Holyrood

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) is committed to enhancing biodiversity and supporting pollinators across the parliamentary estate.

These are the key initiatives that are currently in place or planned:

Biodiversity Policy and Route Map

We have a Biodiversity Policy and Route Map. Facilities Management works with the Sustainability Team to ensure best practices are followed.

Monitoring and Evidence

From 2025, we will conduct biodiversity surveys twice a year to monitor progress and guide future actions. This will help us track our efforts and make informed decisions.

Landscaping and Maintenance

Our landscaping avoids pesticides and includes regular checks for invasive species. These efforts are managed through our Facilities Management contract to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Pollinator-Friendly Planting

Each year, we plant a variety of wildflowers to support pollinators. This has increased the variety and number of pollinator-friendly plants across the estate, contributing to a healthier environment.

Partnership and Engagement

We work with internal teams and external organizations, including community benefit clauses in our contracts, to support biodiversity. This collaborative approach ensures a broad impact.

Wildlife Support Measures

Regular bat surveys are conducted, and bird and bat boxes have been installed in suitable locations to support local wildlife.

Public Engagement and Education

Information boards are placed in landscaped areas, and we provide opportunities for public engagement and education on biodiversity. This helps raise awareness and encourages community involvement.

Encouraging Nature Across the Parliamentary Estate

To further support biodiversity, we have implemented several initiatives:

Landscaping

We have incorporated native species of trees, shrubs, and meadow grass. This landscaping approach helps reduce carbon footprints, manage groundwater movements, and encourage biodiversity, including bees, butterflies, insects, and birds.

Management Practices

We maintain a pesticide and peat-free regime to ensure a sustainable environment.

The Butterfly Project/Square Metre for Butterflies

We are working on the recovery of the Northern Brown Argus butterfly at Holyrood, contributing to the conservation of this species.

Biodiversity Surveys

We conduct regular biodiversity surveys and review bird and bat boxes to ensure they are effective.

Beehives

The Scottish Parliament was the first legislature in the UK to have beehives, showing our commitment to supporting pollinators. Please refer to our response under ‘c’ below for the current position relating to beehives on the parliamentary estate

Waste and Recycling

We aim to be a Zero Waste Parliament, reducing our environmental impact through effective waste management practices.

Sustainable Procurement

We minimise ecological impacts through sustainable procurement practices, ensuring our operations are environmentally responsible.

We are committed to tackling climate change and reducing our environmental impact. Recently, we planted fifteen new trees around the Parliament perimeter. Soft landscaping, such as trees, grasses, and shrubs, supports biodiversity and reduces groundwater movement to minimise erosion.

No pesticides, fertilisers, or peat are used onsite by our contractors.

Review of On-Site Beekeeping following recent changes to guidance

As the current beekeeping contract neared its end in early 2025, Facilities Management and Procurement reviewed the role of managed beehives on the estate, following guidance from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. This review involved engaging with stakeholders to determine the best approach. The existing contract was extended by one year to allow time for this review. A project is now underway to explore sustainable pollinator support from 2026 onwards.

Question reference: S6W-39332

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland have published plans to mitigate any impacts of the larch removal policy to control phytophthora ramorum to ensure important breeding raptor and red squirrel populations are adequately protected, and that woodlands or suitable structure, extent and tree species composition remain in situ once diseased larch is removed.

Question reference: S6W-39331

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Forestry carried out a strategic environmental assessment of its larch removal policy for the control of phytophthora ramorum and to consider what potential impacts this removal would have on breeding raptor populations and red squirrels in particular.

Question reference: S6W-39053

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what medical assessment is required by decision makers when authorising the renewal of Blue Badges; what type of healthcare professionals are involved in the renewal process; how they are involved, and whether they are involved in all applications.

Local authorities often refer to Blue Badge applications as 'renewals', but legally, all badges expire after three years and must be reassessed equally.

When authorising Blue Badge applications, local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility based on the information and evidence provided. Medical assessments are not automatically required. Where eligibility cannot be confirmed from the application alone, the applicant may be referred to an Independent Mobility Assessor (IMA). IMAs are regulated healthcare professionals, such as occupational therapists or physiotherapists, qualified to assess mobility impairments.

Question reference: S6W-39051

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the level of skills and abilities of children starting primary school, and whether there has been a recorded decline in these over the last 10 years, including (a) cognitive, (b) motor, (c) practical and (d) social skills.

Question reference: S6W-39052

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the policy recommendations in the University of Manchester report, On Hydrogen, including their potential impact on future (a) policy and (b) publicly funded research on hydrogen in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-39050

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the University of Manchester report, On Hydrogen, what consideration it has given to the potential role that the recently established large industrial clusters could play in the decarbonisation of small industrial emitters.

Question reference: S6W-39054

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, following the removal of peak rail fares in September, whether super off-peak tickets will still be available for purchase at a reduced rate to commuters, and, if so, to which routes this will apply.

Question reference: S6W-39042

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its next steps will be once the current pollinator strategy ends, including how it plans to evaluate the performance of the strategy.

Question reference: S6W-38214

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35205 by Jim Fairlie on 11 March 2025, whether it has reconvened the working group with third sector representatives to explore delivery options for free bus travel for asylum seekers, and, if it is the case that it has not yet done so, when this commitment is likely to be delivered.