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-01645

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support has been made available to environmental horticulture businesses, including garden centres, to support investment in (a) water resilience, (b) peat-free growing, (c) energy efficiency, (d) automation and (e) new technologies.

Our enterprise agencies provide support to businesses, including horticulture businesses, through a range of mechanisms aimed at supporting business development, investment and growth. For example, Highlands and Islands Enterprise has provided support to Inverness-based root vegetable supplier NessGro to invest in advanced grading technology, software and production improvements. It has also provided advice to Nortenergy, a social enterprise which makes storm proof polytunnels to enable fruit and vegetables to be grown undercover in extreme climates. South of Scotland Enterprise has provided funding to a garden centre in its region to support energy efficiency measures.

Businesses may be able to access a combination of grant funding, specialist advisory support and investment assistance from Scottish Enterprise where projects have the potential to deliver measurable economic and environmental impact for Scotland. Businesses can also access support provided by their local authority or Business Gateway.

The Find Business Support website at https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/ gives businesses an overview of all funding and services offered by public sector organisations across Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02149

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has evaluated the effectiveness of the current eligibility criteria for lodging a proposal to alter a council tax valuation band, and whether it plans to review these criteria to allow individual property owners greater scope to seek a review of their property's valuation band.

The eligibility criteria for lodging a proposal to alter a Council Tax valuation band are set out in The Council Tax (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 1993 and are administered by Scottish Assessors, who are independent of national and local government.

The current framework provides a number of routes through which valuation bands may be reviewed. Council Taxpayers may make a proposal in prescribed circumstances, including within six months of becoming liable for Council Tax at a property. Similar rules exist in England and Wales.

In addition, Assessors have an ongoing statutory duty to maintain accurate valuation lists and may alter a valuation band where they are satisfied that an error has been made. As such, Assessors may accept informal requests for the valuation of a property at any time, without time limit. The decision whether to undertake such informal consideration of council tax banding is discretionary and therefore is one for the Assessor alone to make.

The Scottish Government has worked with Local Government, including through a joint programme of engagement in the last parliamentary session, to build agreement and inform debate on the future of Council Tax. This has involved independent analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a public consultation which closed in January 2026 and engagement with members of the public and tax professionals. Analysis of this engagement and consultation activity will be published later this year. This will help to provide a clear evidence base for further work to build agreement on the future of Council Tax.

Question reference: S7W-01971

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote and support sustainable fishing practices in Scotland’s waters.

The Scottish Government is taking a range of actions to promote and support sustainable fishing practices in Scotland’s waters through the implementation of Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy 2020-2030 as set out in the Strategy's 2025 Delivery Plan . Scotland already has a strong fisheries management framework based on quotas, effort controls and technical regulations, and we continue to build on these foundations through measures that support sustainable fishing practices while balancing economic, environmental and social objectives.

We use quota management to encourage sustainable fishing, including dedicated allocations for the non-sector fleet such as 1,000 tonnes of North Sea mackerel for handline fishing. In 2025, we also introduced an initiative that provides access to additional west of Scotland cod quota for vessels using selective fishing gear and techniques or demonstrating a reduced environmental impact.

We are further strengthening sustainable fisheries management through the development of 21 of the UK’s 43 Fisheries Management Plans, the introduction of mandatory remote monitoring on high-risk fishing vessels, and work to improve fishing selectivity and reduce bycatch. The Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement Programme will also deliver a step-change for fisheries management — supporting a resilient, evidence-led and regionally tailored approach for the diverse and innovative inshore fisheries sector. All these measures demonstrate our commitment to ensuring Scotland’s fisheries remain productive, resilient and environmentally sustainable for future generations.

Question reference: S7W-01969

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of its compliance with the duties and requirements set out under Part 2 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and, in particular, how it considers that it is meeting its obligations in relation to (a) fisheries management, (b) protection and enhancement of the marine environment, and (c) the spatial planning and management of Scotland’s marine areas.

The Scottish Government takes its legal responsibilities seriously and considers the requirements of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and other relevant legislation when developing marine policies, plans and management measures.

The Scottish Government takes a holistic approach to sustainable development of our seas and to mitigation and adaptation to climate change .Our general approach to climate change mitigation is set out in Climate Change Plan 2026-2040 and to climate change adaptation in the Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 (SNAP3). Scotland’s national marine plan sets out planning policies designed to support sustainable development and mitigation and adaptation of climate change in our decision-making.

These plans are considered when developing marine policies, plans and management measures which affect Scotland’s seas. Where relevant, impact assessments are also undertaken to better understand the potential effects on the marine environment, communities and marine sectors to ensure these effects are considered at the policy-making stage and to support compliance with statutory obligations.

Through these and other measures, the Scottish Government seeks to balance environmental, social and economic objectives and promote the sustainable development, action on climate change, management, protection and enhancement of Scotland's marine area.

In relation to fisheries management, this includes delivery of Scotland's Fisheries Management Strategy, development of Fisheries Management Plans and the Future Catching Policy, and the introduction of Remote Electronic Monitoring on key fleet segments.

In relation to the protection and enhancement of the marine environment, this includes implementation of fisheries management measures for Marine Protected Areas, action to reduce by catch, implementation of our conservation strategies and action plans, habitat restoration initiatives, measures to address marine litter and pollution, and action to contribute towards achieving Good Environmental Status under the UK Marine Strategy.

In relation to the spatial planning and management of Scotland's marine areas, this includes implementation of the National Marine Plan, development of National Marine Plan 2, adoption of Regional Marine Plans in Shetland and Orkney, operation of marine licensing and consenting systems and the updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE).

Question reference: S7W-02467

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S7W-02468

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S7W-02109

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 14 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are currently employed on a full-time basis in GP walk-in clinics, broken down by (a) GP, (b) nurse and (c) administration and other staff.

Question reference: S7W-02111

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 14 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £36 million allocated for GP walk-in clinics has been spent to date, and whether this funding will continue in the next financial year.

Question reference: S7W-01747

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 14 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the proposed housing development on West Road, Saline, West Fife.

Question reference: S7W-02110

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 14 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to evaluate the interactions between GP walk-in clinics and GP practices in delivering continuity of care.

A national monitoring and evaluation framework is being developed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Public Health Scotland and NHS Boards. This will assess cost, activity, patient experience, workforce impact, health inequalities, clinical safety and wider system effects. The walk-in services are designed to provide an additional route for patients to access same-day care for minor illnesses. Itis hoped that this will free up capacity within GP practices to focus on patients with complex, longer term conditions which require continuity of care.