- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what conclusions it has drawn from the study commissioned on the uptake of sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices in Less Favoured Areas.
Answer
The Scottish Government commissioned a study to support understanding of the challenges facing less favoured areas and to support future decision making in this area. This forms part of the evidence base that will inform on-going work within Agricultural Reform.
We have committed that in future LFA support will sit within Tier 2 to ensure that we continue to support those in constrained areas to deliver more for climate and nature.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is proceeding with the proposed development of Coul Links, in light of the reported assessment by NatureScot that it might cause irreversible damage to a nationally important dune ecosystem and concerns that the project could undermine its commitments to halt biodiversity loss.
Answer
The Scottish Ministers are following the statutory planning process in considering the application. Any planning application is required to be determined in accordance with the development plan unless there are material planning considerations that justify a departure from the development plan. In reaching a decision, full regard will be had to all material planning considerations, including the views of consultees as well as any representations submitted.
- Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported proposed closure of the Alloa campus of Forth Valley College in 2026, and reported concerns regarding skills shortages and a 17% real-terms reduction to college funding, what action it will take to secure the future of the campus, in order to retain its students and maintain the provision of skills education in the area.
Answer
As colleges operate independently of Government, it is for them to decide on operational matters such as their campus footprint, taking into account the needs of the people, region and communities they serve.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) continuously monitors the college sector to ensure sustainable and coherent provision, engaging with institutions as needed. As such, the SFC has been engaging intensively with Forth Valley College for a number of months regarding the Alloa campus and they are working together at pace to resolve the issue and support the College’s financial sustainability.
In recognition of the vital role colleges play in communities across Scotland, all colleges received a 4.9% increase to support college maintenance in 2025-26, and Forth Valley College received a 2.3% uplift to the College's resource allocation.
The Scottish Government is working collaboratively with the SFC and Colleges Scotland through the Tripartite Alignment Group to identify and implement flexibilities to support colleges. To date, the Group has created the conditions to improve the financial sustainability of the sector with the introduction of the SFC’s College Transformation Framework, and the new asset disposals process; and is supporting colleges to maximise commercial income.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the £4.9 billion investment in housing will be delivered through (a) new capital funding and (b) Financial Transactions.
Answer
The Scottish Government will confirm the breakdown of up to £4.9 billion in the Scottish Budget and Scottish Spending Review.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of reviewing and implementing the recommendations of the Breast Screening Modernisation Board, and by what date the board's final recommendations, including those on data improvement, will be published.
Answer
The Scottish Government has received the final report from the Breast Screening Modernisation Board, and is grateful for their work. We are working with the organisations responsible for screening to implement the recommendations from the report. Funding has been provided to Screening Oversight and Assurance Scotland to oversee and progress this work.
The final report will be published in the coming weeks. In line with the prioritisation of recommendations suggested within the report, immediate work is focused on exploring possible changes to the way in which breast screening is managed.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether all persons or businesses conducting peat restoration work are expected by Nature Scot to apply for a licence to control mountain hares, and, if so, under what permissible ground under the applicable Nature Scot guidance.
Answer
Anyone who wishes to control mountain hares must apply to NatureScot for the appropriate licence.
The Scottish Government does not expect all persons or businesses conducting peatland restoration work will be required to control mountain hares, therefore, in these instances, an application to NatureScot for a licence would not be required.
Guidance on Mountain Hare licensing, which includes licensable purposes, is published on NatureScot’s website at Mountain hare licensing - Guidance for applicants | NatureScot
- Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to any school pupils who risk having their transgender status outed against their will in the event of them receiving guidance to use gender neutral toilets and changing rooms, following the Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises that this will be a worrying time for transgender young people and their families.
Education authorities and schools provide a range of wellbeing support to children and young people which is planned and provided using the Getting it right for every child approach, ranging from pastoral care and support to targeted support, such as counselling provided through schools.
The approaches to provision of support will be tailored to the individual needs of the young person concerned.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it uses to determine whether to commission an independent review of local maternity services.
Answer
Within the policies we set, NHS Boards have responsibility for the design and delivery of services to meet the needs of their local populations and deliver safe, high-quality care. NHS Boards may commission local reviews of services to support them in the design and delivery of safe, sustainable services which best meet the needs of their local populations and geographies.
If Scottish Ministers have concerns about local services they would discuss these with the Board as they are responsible for local service delivery, following which Ministers may decide to commission an independent review. There are no set criteria for such decisions as it will depend on the circumstances of the issues under consideration and the most appropriate response.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) undertakes independent inspections of obstetric maternity units in Scotland through its Maternity Inspection programme. The inspection programme launched in January 2025 and details of the inspection methodology are made publicly available on the HIS website, along with inspection reports and NHS Board improvement plans. Crucially, HIS maintains independence in its scrutiny activity, including in its inspection programme. HIS takes decisions around inspection activity using a risk-based, proportionate and data- and intelligence-led approach.
Links:
https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/inspections-reviews-and-regulation/safe-delivery-of-care-in-maternity-units-inspection-programme/
https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/inspections-reviews-and-regulation/inspections-of-nhs-hospitals-and-services/hospital-and-services-inspection-reports/
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 16 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed draft regulations to add
the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act
2021, how it will determine its (a) budget and (b) timetable for implementing
the change at (i) Police Scotland and (ii) the Crown Office and Procurator
Fiscal Service, and in relation to (A) any system upgrades, (B) the delivery of
training and (C) the introduction of any statutory guidance.
Answer
A Business and Regulatory Impact Assessments (BRIA) will be published when the final SSI is laid in Parliament and will set out the estimated costs associated with the addition of the characteristic of sex to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 (“the 2021 Act”). This will be informed by discussions with Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and other justice sector bodies about the costs that may arise.
With regards to the timetable for implementation, the final SSI will include a date on which it takes effect. This commencement date will be agreed following consultation with Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal, Police Scotland, the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and others with an interest, so as to ensure that there is sufficient time for them to carry out necessary training and changes to IT systems and guidance.
There is no power within the 2021 Act for the Scottish Ministers to publish statutory guidance on the Act.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 16 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the flexible working arrangements of the chief executive of the National Social Work Agency who will reportedly be entitled to work remotely for up to 60% of their weekly contracted hours, and what assessment it has made of any impact on leadership and performance of such an arrangement.
Answer
The establishment of the National Social Work Agency is underway. It will be an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government and will be established by Spring 2026. Recruitment for the Chief Executive of the agency is underway to support the transition from the Scottish Government and is line with existing policies and procedures.
The Scottish Government’s hybrid working policy outlines that organisations outside of Scottish Government core, for example, executive agencies will set out their own local approaches. Once the Chief Executive is in post and with the supporting structures in place, the future policy on hybrid working within the National Social Work Agency will be a matter for the Chief Executive and the Board to lead, in consultation with staff and the unions.
