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-04234

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund, (a) how much has been spent, (b) how many homes have been provided for key workers, and (c) in which local authorities homes have been provided, since 2023, and (d) whether the Fund will be continued beyond 2028.

Since the fund's launch in April 2023 to October 2026, a total of £4.613million has been spent through the Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund. The Fund is demand-led, with expenditure dependent on project progress and delivery milestones.

As of October 2026, 32 homes have been completed through the Fund in the following local authority areas:

Orkney Islands: 10 homes
Moray: 3 homes
Highland: 14 homes
North Ayrshire: 5 homes

A further 12 homes have been approved for funding, which will raise the total committed SG funding to £9.045 million.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with local authorities to encourage applications to the Fund and help address local housing needs for key workers. In addition, affordable homes in rural areas are also supported through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

The future of the Fund remains under consideration.

Question reference: S7W-04233

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund, (a) how much of the total fund has been spent, (b) how many homes have been provided, and (c) in which local authorities homes have been provided, (i) in 2025-26 and (ii) since April 2026.

The Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund is a demand-led fund that supports the delivery of affordable homes for key workers in rural and island communities. Application can be made by eligible organisations, including local authorities and registered social landlords.

In 2025-26, £1.555 million was spent through the Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund. Over the same period, 16 affordable homes were delivered in the following local authority areas:

Orkney Islands: 7 homes

Moray: 2 homes

Highland: 4 homes

North Ayrshire: 3 homes

Since April 2026 (to October 2026), £0.470 million has been spent through the Fund. Over the same period, 2 affordable homes were delivered in Highland Council area.

The level of expenditure is not directly linked to the number of homes completed in a given period. Scottish Government grant funding is drawn down by projects on receipt of evidenced payment claims and is recorded as expenditure at that point. As a result, expenditure and completions may occur in different reporting periods.

Question reference: S7W-03736

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 22 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses applied to the Cairngorms Fire Recovery Fund, broken down by how many applications from tier (a) 1 and (b) 2 businesses were (i) approved and (ii) not approved.

The Scottish Government has provided up to £3m to support economic recovery as announced on 5 August 2026. The Cairngorms Fire Recovery Fund is being administered by the Highland Council, as the organisation best placed to know, engage with, and support those businesses affected in the locale. The Fund is open to applications until the end of November; it will then be for Highland Council to update on outcomes.

The Scottish Government continues to work with Highland Council to support recovery and resilience.

Question reference: S7W-04389

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its first National Deer Management and Venison Plan.

Question reference: S7W-04390

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin work on the National Deer Management and Venison Plan following the commencement of the relevant sections of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026.

Question reference: S7O-00384

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address concerns raised in the Scottish Human Rights Commission's October 2026 report, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the South of Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-03960

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently announced urban deer management pilot scheme in the Central Belt, whether it plans to support future proposed deer management and venison supply scheme in other parts of Scotland.

The recently launched Central Belt roe deer pilot scheme, led by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association with support from NatureScot, will run until the end of March 2027 for the first year of the pilot.

This is one of a number of deer management incentive schemes that we have supported across Scotland in recent years. The findings from the schemes, including barriers and successes can be found on the NatureScot website: Deer Management Incentive Scheme pilots | NatureScot.

As set out in the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026, we will produce a National Deer Management and Venison Plan for Scotland. The findings from the existing schemes will help to inform decisions on future incentive schemes and on the Plan itself.

Question reference: S7W-03959

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the joint government and industry communications group established in relation to the bluetongue virus, whether it will provide information on (a) which industry representatives will be members, (b) when the first meeting will take place and (c) how long it expects the group to exist.

The creation of an industry led communication group has been discussed during recent meetings of the Scottish Government’s Bluetongue stakeholder group, which has met frequently since the first detections of bluetongue in Scotland. As soon as the group has been established and membership, chair and terms of reference agreed, information will be provided on the GOV.SCOT bluetongue web page.

It is expected that the first meeting of the group will take place on 26 October, with invitations sent to all members of the Scottish Government’s bluetongue stakeholder group, which includes; Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), , British Veterinary Association (BVA), Cattle Information Service (CIS), Deervet.co.uk, Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers Scotland (IAAS), Moredun Institute, National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS), National Sheep Association (NSA), Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW), Scottish Beef Association (SBA), Scottish Dairy Cattle Association (SDCA), Scottish Rural College (SRUC), Invitation will be extended to other groups as required and agreed. There will also be representation from all three bluetongue serotype 3 vaccine manufacturers; Boehringer Ingelheim, Ceva, and Virbac.

As vaccination is seen as the only long term viable option for the control of Bluetongue, and foreseeing challenges that are likely in communicating that key message consistently to livestock keepers, it is expected the group will remain in place throughout the next high risk season for bluetongue virus between May and September 2027.

Question reference: S7W-04353

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent farm fires, in light of NFU Mutual's latest farm fires report, which indicated that the cost of farm fires in Scotland rose by 22% between 2024 and 2025.

Question reference: S7W-04352

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that rural areas have sufficient fire resources, in light of NFU Mutual's latest farm fires report, which reported a 22% increase in the cost of farm fires between 2024 and 2025.