The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S6W-42801

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has taken place with the development of a Product Stewardship Plan, as set out in the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030.

The Scottish Government has committed to bring forward a product stewardship plan in 2026 that sets out how we will tackle the environmental impact of priority products.

The draft circular economy strategy, which was published for consultation in October 2025, proposes that clothing, mattresses, and at least one other product will be prioritised for further action policy actions, in addition to ongoing action on our existing priorities of packaging, electronics, batteries, vehicles and end-of-life fishing gear. The consultation also sets out proposed principles of alignment with the EU where appropriate, ongoing collaboration across the UK, working with businesses to support innovation and additional voluntary measures, and ensuring end of life products are managed in accordance with the waste hierarchy.

Zero Waste Scotland are conducting research to underpin an evidence-based approach to products based on environmental and economic impact, and potential policy actions. This includes the “Product Stewardship Considerations for Textiles in Scotland” report, published by Zero Waste Scotland in December 2025. The outcome of this work will help inform the priority products identified in the final circular economy strategy, due to be published in March 2026. A product stewardship plan is planned for publication later in 2026 to set out the policy actions proposed over the life of the next Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-42791

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether any procurement procedure for the design and build of a new class of marine protection vessel (MPV) and marine research vessel (MRV) to replace the two existing vessels, MPV Minna and MRV Scotia, will be directly awarded to a UK-based shipbuilding firm, or limited to a UK-only competition, in light of the national security role that these vessels play and such a decision being compliant with the exemption under section 45 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

Shipbuilding is a highly competitive global market and is classified as sensitive under the UK Subsidy Control Act. Any direct award must therefore comply fully with both procurement and subsidy control legislation, as these frameworks operate independently but are equally critical to legal defensibility.

Defence and national security remain reserved matters under UK law, and Scotland does not commission independent naval vessels. The design of these replacement vessels reflects operational needs of the Marine Directorate and does not include warship specifications or military capability, which could misrepresent their authority at sea. MPVs are built and operated to merchant-vessel standards, with Crown-servant crews accountable to Scottish Ministers.

As merchant-class vessels, they fall outside the defence-related exemptions referenced by section 45 of the Subsidy Control Act.

Question reference: S6W-42790

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that outcome 6B of the Good Food Nation Plan, which aims for Scotland’s food sector to make a positive contribution to global food system transformation, is effectively measured, and what consideration will be given to using indicators, such as Fairtrade product purchasing or Fair Trade procurement through Scotland Excel, to provide independent data on Scotland’s global food impact.

The first national Good Food Nation Plan and accompanying initial monitoring framework set out how we will measure progress towards our six overarching outcomes. Scotland’s food sector already makes many positive contributions to global food system transformation. For example, the Scottish Government continues to support research and innovation in low-carbon food solutions to enhance the resilience of our future food system to climate change and contribute positively to global food transformation.

However, a suitable indicator to assess and monitor sub-outcome 6B has not yet been identified. As set out in Scottish Fair Trade’s recent reports on Fair Trade procurement within the Scottish public sector, fair trade procurement data was ‘not fully accurate nor reliable due to variations in how fair trade spend is defined and monitored’. As set out in the monitoring framework, we intend to review the Scottish food data landscape on an on-going basis and will reflect any new or improved datasets in future iterations of the Plan.

Question reference: S6W-42798

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 13 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether its ministers were advised during 2025 that some police officers were unable to retire, despite meeting age or service thresholds, due to pension scheme interaction issues.

The Scottish Government has not been advised that some police officers have been unable to retire due to pension scheme issues.

I am aware of the current administrative pause on buy-back of opted out pensionable service for some police officers impacted by the McCloud Public Service Pensions Remedy. I wrote to the UK Government in February 2025 seeking a resolution through changes to the relevant UK primary legislation, however this was not agreed. I remain confident that a resolution will be found.

Question reference: S6W-42802

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has taken place in the creation of a model for regional Scottish hubs and networks for the reuse of construction materials and assets, as set out in the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030.

Zero Waste Scotland is leading on the work to support the development of a model for regional Scottish hubs and networks for the reuse of construction materials and assets.

They are working with a consortium of European partners to undertake an EU Horizon project – Circular Construction Finance (CirCoFin). CirCoFin aims to accelerate the circular transformation of the construction sector by helping cities and regions across Europe to create infrastructure and financial mechanisms to support the reuse of building materials. Example projects are being set up in Munich, Copenhagen, Lisbon and Scotland.

CirCoFin is also working towards creating a common step-by-step approach to developing Circular Construction Hubs through the development of a practical set of tools and templates.

The aim of the Scottish project is to develop a proposal for the Circular Construction Hub model which is tailored to the specific national and regional context of Scotland. The project is divided into phases - Pre-feasibility, Feasibility, Appraisal, Due Diligence and Bankability, and Roll Out. In year one, progress has been made on the pre-feasibility phase, including initial stakeholder engagement and pre-feasibility analysis to help understand key challenges and opportunities and support thinking on potential business models, materials and locations.

Further information on the range of activities undertaken to date is available from Zero Waste Scotland and information on CirCoFin in general is available online at https://circofin.eu/.

Question reference: S6W-42815

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of SEPA's formal weekly water scarcity reporting season running from May to September, whether it has considered instructing the agency to collect such scarcity data over the winter months as a guide for future mitigation measures for droughts and other causes of water scarcity.

The Scottish Government recognises the value of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) water scarcity reporting to individuals and businesses. Weekly reports from May to September deliver timely information during the highest-risk period.

SEPA also collect data throughout the year and produce seasonal reports in autumn and winter which summarise rainfall patterns and water resource conditions providing early insight and preparation ahead of the spring and summer. SEPA’s autumn water situation report 2025 report was published in December 2025 and is publicly available on SEPA’s website. A winter situation report will follow in March 2026.

Question reference: S6W-42623

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42079 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 December 2025, and in light of reports that there is no restriction on the Scottish Ministers in relation to commenting on civil cases before the courts, for what reason the First Minister is not meeting For Women Scotland.

As stated previously, it is the Scottish Government’s long-held position that it is inappropriate for Scottish Ministers to comment on live litigation. In all cases, we have an obligation to uphold the independence of the judiciary. Therefore it would also be inappropriate to meet with For Women Scotland to discuss a live case. I met with For Women Scotland in May last year, and Scottish Government officials have also met with them to discuss the impact of the judgement and their priorities for the forthcoming Women’s Equality Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-42689

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on smaller pelagic vessels of increasing the Economic Link landing requirement for mackerel and herring from 55% to 70% with effect from 1 January 2026.

The Scottish Government has long committed to increasing the proportion of Scotland's key fish stocks landed into Scotland to strengthen economic benefits for coastal communities and safeguard processing capacity. As a result of processor calls (following the publication of pelagic TAC advice for 2026) for support in light of exceptional quota cuts for mackerel and herring in 2026, the Scottish Government engaged in a process to evaluate if action was in the public interest.

Marine Directorate held targeted discussions with processors, individual catching businesses, port authorities and representative bodies and carried out analysis of landings and socio-economic evidence to understand impacts and options. A series of statutory impact assessments were produced, including a Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), which can be found here:

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436347 - BRIA

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436330 - Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436323 - Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436316 - Consultation Outcome Document

The (BRIA) sets out that Scottish Government intervention is being introduced to increase the proportion of mackerel and herring landed into Scotland during 2026. Without action, landings into Scotland will decrease significantly (a drop of around 60% for mackerel compared to 2024 landings is estimated), undermining local economies, reducing employment, increasing market volatility, and weakening investment in processing and port infrastructure.

The significant cuts in quota will have an impact across the supply chain, including the 21 vessel pelagic trawl fleet. Changes to economic link conditions will have no direct impact on the smaller (handline) pelagic vessels, with vessels under 10 metres in length exempt from these provisions.

This intervention is designed to be proportionate, targeted, and consistent with the Scottish Government’s Better Regulation principles. The policy will be kept under review and engagement maintained with pelagic industry sectors.

Question reference: S6W-42620

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42077 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 December 2025, whether there are minutes taken and papers considered by the Working Group on the Supreme Court Judgement and, if so, by what date these will be published.

Question reference: S6W-42688

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will enable appropriate parliamentary scrutiny of changes to the mackerel and herring Economic Link arrangements, in light of these being announced one day prior to a parliamentary recess.

Following international negotiations the UK, with relevant Coastal states, agreed on 16 December to significant 2026 quota reductions for key pelagic species (a 48% reduction in the North East Atlantic mackerel Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and a 22% reduction for herring).

Parliament was informed on 18 December of emergency measures for 2026, via a revision of economic link fishing licence conditions. This was the earliest opportunity to do so prior to the festive recess.

The same day, a letter was sent to the Convener of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee.

Related statutory impact assessments are available:

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436347 - Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436330 - Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436323 - Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436316 - Consultation Outcome Document

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

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