- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 6 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what steps Transport Scotland is taking to mitigate any potential marine safety risks in Oban Harbour while a final decision remains pending on the establishment of a single Statutory Harbour Authority.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the vital importance of maritime safety. I am aware that The Oban Bay Management Group is in place to help mitigate navigational risks in the Oban Bay area prior to the establishment of a Statutory Harbour Authority covering the wider Bay. This includes the publishing of navigational guidance for vessels using the Bay.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 6 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what Transport Scotland’s expected timeline is for a final decision on the Argyll and Bute Council Oban Harbour Revision Order (HRO), which was submitted to Transport Scotland in November 2023.
Answer
Making a Harbour Order can be a complex and sometimes lengthy process. Following the statutory 42-day consultation period for this application, over 100 representations were received. This was followed by the Written Representations stage, which provided further opportunities for interested parties to submit their views and liaise with the applicants.
Given the volume and nature of the material submitted, it has been essential that Transport Scotland undertakes thorough scrutiny from both a policy and a legal perspective, to ensure that all relevant matters are considered appropriately and in line with the requirements set out in The Harbours Act 1964. Transport Scotland is progressing this work as a priority.
- Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 6 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what precautions it is taking to ensure that the development of data centres does not have a significant impact on energy and water resources
Answer
The Scottish Government is taking a whole system approach to understanding the full implications of data centre developments.
We recognise that data centres are a rapidly evolving sector. In a response to Gillian MacKay MSP on Thursday 25 June, the First Minister set out that he is giving active consideration on whether the Scottish Government should provide planning guidance to balance the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centres with national energy and climate goals which are vital to our future prosperity.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Stephen Flynn on 6 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment Transport Scotland has made of the alternative Harbour Empowerment Order (HEO) submitted by the Oban Community Harbour Development Association (OCHDA), and whether these proposals will be fully considered prior to a final decision on the future of Oban Harbour.
Answer
The Scottish Government has received documentation from the Oban Community Harbour Development Association relating to their original objections to the draft Harbour Revision Order and officials are currently considering this.
Feedback will be provided to OCHDA in due course. The consideration of Argyll and Bute Council’s HRO application continues and is being taken forward as a priority.
- Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 2 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01437 by Angela Constance on 20 July 2026, which potential GP walk-in centre sites are affected by staffing challenges.
Answer
Answer expected on 2 September 2026
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase the rate of working age employment across Scottish cities, replicating the success of Edinburgh, which reportedly has a 83.2% rate of working age employment, the highest of any UK city.
Answer
The Scottish Government is investing £1.9 billion through the Regional Growth Deal programme over the next 10 years to stimulate economic growth at a local and regional level. These strategic partnerships are designed to align long term funding behind shared visions for regional economies, leverage additional investment, create new jobs and accelerate inclusive economic growth.
The Scottish Government is also investing up to £90 million in 2026-27, delivering employability support to people of all ages facing barriers to the labour market. Through the No One Left Behind approach, person-centred employability services are available in every local authority area, helping people progress towards and into sustainable, fair work.
Support is also available to help people find and sustain employment throughout their working lives. Careers support is available across Scotland through Skills Development Scotland, with advisers based in schools and communities. Colleges and universities also provide career support services to help young people and adults find and sustain employment.
Alongside this, our Fair Work approach seeks to help provide the conditions to enable people from all backgrounds to remain in and progress in work.
- Asked by: Jenny Young, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of disabled 16- to 24-year-olds in each year since 2010-11 were classified as not being in employment, education or training (NEET).
Answer
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Population Survey (APS) is the main source for Labour Market Indicators for detailed characteristics. The ONS state there are concerns with the quality of the APS estimates for smaller groups of the population. Therefore, it is not possible to produce robust estimates of the number of people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training who also report having a disability from this source.
Scotland’s Census 2022 results show that, excluding full-time students, there were around 23,600 people aged 16 to 24 in Scotland who were unemployed or economically inactive and had a disability or health problem that limited their day-to-day activities a lot or a little. This was 28% of all disabled 16 to 24 year olds.
The Annual Participation Measure is published by Skills Development Scotland. This publication began in 2016 and covers those aged 16 to 19 years old. The proportion of disabled people aged 16 to 19 who were not participating in education, employment or training is included in Table 1.4a: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/appbneac/2025-annual-participation-measure-supplementary-tables.xlsx.
- Asked by: Jenny Young, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) also report as having a work-limiting health condition.
Answer
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Population Survey (APS) is the main source for Labour Market Indicators for more detailed characteristics. The ONS state there are concerns with the quality of the APS estimates for smaller groups of the population. Therefore, it is not possible to produce robust estimates of the number of people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training who also report having a work-limiting health condition from this source.
Scotland’s Census 2022 results show that, excluding full-time students, there were around 23,600 people aged 16 to 24 in Scotland who were unemployed or economically inactive and had a disability or health problem that limited their day-to-day activities a lot or a little.
The Annual Participation Measure published by Skills Development Scotland provides estimates for 16 to 19 year olds not participating in education, employment or training by disability status. In 2025, the SDS Annual Participation Measure estimates that 8,910 people aged 16 to 19 years old in Scotland were not participating in education, employment, or training (3.9% of 16 to 19 year olds). Of those who were not participating in education, employment or training, 11.1% (985 people) were identified as being disabled.
- Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to respond to the recommendation in the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission's Exotic Pet Working Group: final report, published on 11 November 2022, to introduce a permitted list of species that can legally be kept as pets in order to address animal welfare issues associated with the trade and keeping of exotic pets.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware of the growing sales and ownership of non-traditional and so-called exotic pets but that the full details of this are not easily gathered. We are also aware of campaigns by NGOs as well as SAWC’s historical reports, recommending the introduction of a permitted or positive list system for the keeping of pets in Scotland.
While we acknowledge reports of certain negative welfare outcomes associated with exotic pet ownership, we equally acknowledge that with the right owner education, such species can often be kept under good welfare conditions and in certain cases some species may be kept and bred for important conservation purposes.
At this time, we have no plans to introduce a permitted/positive list system, but we will continue to hold discussions with stakeholders and consider any and all relevant information in this area.
- Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
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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.
Answer
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.
