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-32057

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation is underway with the Mobility and Access Committee Scotland (MACS) regarding the ScotRail proposal to reduce station ticket office opening hours across the network, in light of MACS reportedly indicating in its response to the 2022 consultation concern regarding the level of engagement there had been with it or other groups representing disabled people on this matter.

Question reference: S6O-04176

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the needs of pupils with additional support needs are taken into account in the procurement and replacement of the school estate.

Question reference: S6W-31891

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 13 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether access to funding available through tiers 3 and 4 of its future agriculture support regime will be dependent upon eligibility for tier 1.

The agriculture support framework will be aimed at delivering against the following five key outcomes: support for a just transition, high quality food production, thriving agricultural businesses, climate mitigation and adaptation and nature restoration.

To summarise, Tier 1 (Base) of the framework will be a universal, entry-level payment for undertaking agricultural activity while meeting minimum essential standards in relation to sustainable farming activities, protecting the environment, animal health and welfare and ensuring Fair Work. Tier 2 (Enhanced) will supplement applicants delivering Tier 1 requirements and who wish to undertake further activity that delivers outcomes for nature and climate improvement, including recognition of wider land management.

Working closely with farmers, crofters and land managers, we are co-designing Tiers 3 (Elective) and 4 (Complementary), which both remain under development and will be subject to continued robust engagement with the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board. This collaborative approach will deliver our Vision for Agriculture, support rural communities and economic growth whilst tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.

Question reference: S6W-31893

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 13 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been awarded through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme for the restoration of natural processes in each year since 2015.

The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) was launched in 2015 to promote land management practices which protect and enhance Scotland’s natural heritage, improve water quality, manage flood risk and mitigate and adapt to climate change.

To date over £317 million has been committed to 3,342 businesses to fund a range of activities that help to maintain and enhance our rich and varied natural environment.

An annual breakdown of the funding issued has been provided in the following table.

Round	Value of Accepted Contracts (£)
2015	39,362,548
2016	55,585,998
2017	43,672,043
2018	36,346,732
2019	31,863,675
2020*	5,214,057
2021	28,978,786
2022	42,080,371
2023	28,053,233
2024A	5,879,133
Total	317,036,576

* The 2020 AECS Round consisted of a one-year extension of management options ending in 2020.

A Slurry Store and Irrigation Lagoons application approvals only. The agri-environment and organic 2024 Round application approvals are subject to the
2025-26 budget.

Further detail can be provided on any specific options of interest.

Question reference: S6W-31971

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce primary legislation to reform water, wastewater and drainage systems within the current parliamentary session.

As set out in the 2023-24 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government has been reviewing its policy in relation to drinking water and wastewater with a view to bringing forward new primary legislation as soon as practicable. As part of the review, it is considering how the water industry needs to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

A consultation on detailed policy measures will be published in Spring 2025 and we would welcome all views and contributions.

Question reference: S6W-31897

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 9 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that Police Scotland designs its Digital Evidence Sharing Capability to enable the public to upload journey-cam footage directly to the police rather than having to report the incident first.

The Scottish Government welcomes His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) highlighting the issue of journey-cam footage in its recent report, the thematic inspection of road policing in Scotland.

The Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) Programme, which is rolling out nationally, will help to enable the ability of a member of the public to submit digital evidence including CCTV, mobile device and computer footage as part of an investigation following a report to the police.

DESC represents an investment by the Scottish Government of £33 million over 10 years, and will deliver significant savings of time and cost in the way that evidence is managed and used.

How Police Scotland use and process the evidence submitted is a matter for the Chief Constable, but I fully expect swifter access to justice and the faster resolution of cases to result from the rollout which will take place across 2025.

Question reference: S6W-31898

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 9 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Police Scotland acts on recommendation 1 of the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland report, Thematic inspection of road policing in Scotland.

I welcome the recent Thematic inspection of road policing in Scotland report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland. The recommendations contained within the report are for Police Scotland to consider and respond, and how they do so is a matter for the Chief Constable.

I note Police Scotland’s statement on the report which highlights that the Service is already taking steps to address the issues raised, including the identification and implementation of a sustainable model for road policing. The Chief Constable has been clear policing must evolve to meet demand, with a focus on enabling frontline officers and staff to deliver for communities.

I look forward to discussing this and other issues when I next meet the Chief Constable.

Question reference: S6W-31888

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 9 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been awarded through Greening payments for the restoration of natural processes in each year since 2015.

The Greening Scheme was introduced in 2015 with the intent to improve the environmental performance of farming. The Scheme delivers thirty per cent of Scotland’s Direct Payment budget as a top up to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Farmers and crofters must comply with the Greening requirements to receive their BPS and Greening payments. For those that meet the eligibility requirements this also includes carrying out Ecological Focus areas (EFA’s) that are beneficial for the climate, environment and biodiversity.

Several of the EFA options encourage land stability and prohibit the use of artificial fertilisers/ chemicals, which create benefits for restoration of natural processes but there is no direct funding link that can be quantified for the “restoration of natural Processes”.

Question reference: S6W-31718

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether the regulations are in place to allow local authorities to introduce congestion charge schemes, and what support is available for local authorities to introduce these.

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 established the discretionary power for local authorities to implement road user charging schemes, including congestion charging and they are best placed to determine whether a local road user charging scheme supports the objectives set out in their local transport strategy.

Any approach should support our shared ambition to a Just Transition to Net Zero, taking into account the needs of those who may be less able to reduce car use, such as carers and those living with a disability, or in rural locations.

As outlined in our draft route map to reduce car use, the scale of the challenge means that we need to take forward a broad combination of interventions, including infrastructure, incentives and regulatory actions. We continue to work closely with local and regional partners to update the route map and will be published on completion of this engagement. We work with all local authorities to support equitable measures which encourage active travel and accompany greater investment in public transport for a fairer and greener transport system in order to ensure a just transition to net zero.

Question reference: S6W-31890

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 9 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing an option for agriculture support to be made available to landholdings where nature restoration is the primary aim.

The Scottish Government is already committed to delivering the ambitions set out in the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture. Scotland will have a support framework that delivers high quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, and nature restoration. This will be delivered thorough the Agricultural Reform Programme (ARP) which will contain a number of Tiers to provide range of targeted support. This will include specific support for businesses which they do their part to deliver Scotland’s climate and biodiversity targets, including measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore and improve nature.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill introduced into Parliament earlier this year further supports nature restoration. It sets out proposals that will change how land is owned and managed in our rural and island communities; it places legal responsibilities on the owners of the very largest landholdings to set out how they use their land and how that contributes to key public policy priorities, like addressing climate change and protecting and restoring nature. It also proposes a new Land Management Tenancy creating a framework for hybrid land management. This will enable people and communities to undertake a range of land management activities that help to deliver net zero, biodiversity and sustainable and regenerative agriculture.