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-01730

Asked by: Helen McDade, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 and the Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Act 2026 receiving Royal Assent in May 2026, what its timescale is for implementing the provisions of these Acts and for issuing the statutory guidance required to prohibit face-down prone restraint of children in secure accommodation.

Question reference: S7W-01731

Asked by: Helen McDade, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that no external review of restraint practices at St Mary's Kenmure has been commissioned, and that the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture has requested a copy of any such review, whether it will commission or require an external review to be undertaken.

Question reference: S7W-01476

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any welfare impacts associated with the transportation of live decapod crustaceans.

To date, no assessment has been undertaken. In its statutory review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Act 2020 the Scottish Government committed to undertaking, in collaboration with Defra and other devolved administrations, a gap analysis to identify the specific welfare challenges faced by decapods (including live transportation), what evidence there is to inform potential solutions to these challenges and where further research may be needed.

Question reference: S7W-01484

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether existing legislation provides adequate welfare protections for decapod crustaceans, in light of their recognition as sentient animals.

The statutory review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Act 2020 undertaken by the Scottish Government in 2024, acknowledged that decapods currently have no general welfare protection under the 2006 Act; and that this is an area for future policy consideration. Further, the outputs from the 2024 review confirmed our commitment to work collaboratively with Defra to undertake a gap analysis to identify gaps in current research and evidence, and to explore potential solutions to the specific welfare challenges linked to decapods and how they may best be addressed.

Question reference: S7W-01489

Asked by: David Green, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the new Muirburn Code, what assessment it has made of the contribution made by gamekeepers and other land managers to wildfire prevention and response, including the provision of personnel, equipment and other resources, and if such an assessment was made, whether (a) any findings have been reflected in the new code and (b) it will publish the findings.

The Scottish Government recognises that gamekeepers, farmers, crofters and other land managers can make an important contribution to wildfire prevention and response, including through vegetation management, local knowledge, practical experience, personnel and equipment.

NatureScot has engaged with stakeholders through the Muirburn Code Working Group. That engagement has helped inform the development of the Code, including provisions relating to safe planning, appropriate resourcing, liaison with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and the role of muirburn as a land management tool.

No separate formal assessment has been undertaken specifically of the contribution made by gamekeepers and other land managers to wildfire prevention and response. As no separate assessment has been produced, there are no findings to publish.

However, the knowledge and experience of land managers have been considered through the consultation and stakeholder engagement process, and has informed the development of a Code intended to be practical, proportionate and capable of supporting safe licensed muirburn where appropriate.

Question reference: S7W-01482

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recognition of decapod crustaceans as sentient animals, what research it has commissioned, reviewed or relied upon regarding the welfare needs of these animals.

The Scottish Government has considered and continues to consider a range of evidence around decapod welfare including the London School of Economics study on decapod and cephalopod sentience, and the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission Case Study on cephalopod sentience. Any future research needs will be informed in due course by the gap analysis we are committed to undertaking in collaboration with Defra.

Question reference: S7W-01481

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing statutory welfare standards for decapod crustaceans in sectors that currently operate under voluntary guidance.

The Scottish Government is currently working with the other devolved Governments to develop Guidance for the welfare at the time of killing of decapods. The Scottish Government will consider the case for developing statutory welfare standards as part of the wider work and commitment to undertake a gap analysis in collaboration with Defra and our wider evidence-based review to inform future measures to protect decapod welfare.

Question reference: S7W-01474

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the welfare implications of the live boiling of decapod crustaceans and, if so, whether it is considering any legislative or regulatory changes.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any assessment focussed on the welfare implication of live boiling. However, we have previously acknowledged and recognise that the live boiling of decapods is regarded as an inhumane slaughter method. We continue to consider the welfare challenges associated with decapods and assess the available evidence to inform any future measures to protect decapod welfare.

Question reference: S7W-01480

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness and uptake of voluntary industry codes relating to the welfare of decapod crustaceans.

Question reference: S7W-01487

Asked by: David Green, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address reported concerns raised by gamekeepers that the new Muirburn Code could undermine wildfire prevention efforts and increase risks to rural communities, property and the environment.

NatureScot has worked through iterations of the Muirburn Code of Practice with stakeholders through the Muirburn Code Working Group. Stakeholder views have been considered throughout the development of the Code, including concerns raised most recently by some stakeholders about the workability of the draft provisions.

Following that engagement, NatureScot has worked with stakeholders to revise the Code to ensure that it supports safe and responsible licensed muirburn, while also protecting peatlands, habitats, species and the wider natural environment.

The Code is intended to provide a clear and practical framework for muirburn. It does not prevent muirburn from being undertaken where it is lawful, licensed where required, and carried out safely and appropriately. Where muirburn is proposed for wildfire prevention purposes, NatureScot will consider applications through the licensing process, including the specific circumstances of the land and the purpose of the proposed burning.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with NatureScot and stakeholders as the licensing regime is implemented, to ensure that the Code remains workable in practice and supports both wildfire prevention and environmental protection.