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-02161

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that high levels of E. coli have been found in the water around Kinghorn Harbour and, whether it considers that a previous decision by it to overturn a SEPA enforcement notice issued to Scottish Water in 2024, regarding the identification and elimination of sources of contamination in the Kinghorn area, has had any bearing on the current situation, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

We take all reports of poor water quality at bathing waters seriously. SEPA, Scottish Water and other relevant bodies continue to work together to understand the source of contamination at the bathing water at Kinghorn Harbour and identify any necessary actions to improve water quality.

Following an appeal against SEPA’s 2024 enforcement notice, the reporter determined that the notice was not valid, as it did not meet the requirements of the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. This finding was issued in February 2025.

The 2024 enforcement notice required Scottish Water to carry out investigative work. Scottish Water had already begun the scoping, resourcing and implementation of this work prior to receiving the revised enforcement notice in September 2025. In addition, SEPA continued to sample and investigate pollution sources between February 2025 and September 2025. This would suggest that the decision to overturn the enforcement notice had no material bearing on the reports of high levels of E.coli identified in the Kinghorn Harbour bathing water.

Question reference: S7W-02470

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government which a) minister, b) directorate and c) public body will be accountable for ensuring that Scotland delivers its agreed contribution to any UK-wide seafloor integrity targets, and how progress towards meeting those targets will be reported to the Scottish Parliament.

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report published on 23 June 2026, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains ESS’ findings and recommendations relating to the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, including in relation to UK seafloor integrity targets.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the ESS report and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report. The lead directorate for this work, which currently sits within the portfolios of the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs and the Minister for Agriculture, Marine, and the Islands, is Marine Directorate. The Scottish Government’s position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

Question reference: S7W-02505

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what use it currently makes of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to map vegetation, assess fuel loads and identify areas at heightened risk of wildfire.

The Scottish Government’s land LiDAR programme is currently in progress and will provide the first full national land LiDAR dataset for Scotland. A number of research projects have been commissioned and are currently in progress that are making use of the new LiDAR data for the purposes of vegetation mapping and wildfire risk assessment.

A project funded via the Scottish Government’s Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) research programme and led by Forest Research is developing methodologies to map vegetation structure and biomass in forests, hedgerows and trees outside woodlands using LiDAR data. A fellowship is also underway with the University of Edinburgh that is exploring how LiDAR data can be used to estimate fuel loads to better inform wildfire risk assessment.

Question reference: S7W-02518

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria will be used by the consultants developing the Corridor Action Plans to assess potential upgrades to the A75 and A77, including improvements to road safety, journey reliability, resilience and economic connectivity.

The development of the Corridor Action Plans will be informed by the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG), the Design Manual for Road and Bridges (DMRB) and Transport Scotland business case guidance. Potential interventions will be assessed against a range of criteria including road safety, journey reliability, resilience and economic connectivity, alongside environmental impacts, affordability, value for money and deliverability. Further details are available at: South West Scotland Strategic Corridor Improvements | Transport Scotland

Question reference: S7W-02506

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to adopting approaches used in Wales to apply Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) mapping to wildfire prevention and planning, and whether it will consider developing a comprehensive LiDAR-based wildfire risk map for Scotland.

The Scottish Government is currently exploring the use of LiDAR for wildfire risk mapping via a fellowship with the University of Edinburgh and via research commissioned as part of the Scottish Government’s ENRA research programme. Outputs from this research will be used to inform next steps in using LiDAR data and developing LiDAR data products, including the potential for a wildfire risk map for Scotland. The next ENRA research programme is currently being commissioned which includes questions on improving understanding on the wildfire risks associated with different land uses.

The Scottish Government engages with the Welsh Government on wildfire response and policy.

Question reference: S7W-02507

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commission research comparing vegetation and fuel loads across Scotland during the drought and wildfires of 2026 with those recorded during the drought of 1976, including through the use of LiDAR data, satellite imagery and historic land-management records.

The Scottish Government does not intend to commission research to compare vegetation and fuel loads across Scotland during the drought and wildfires of 2026 with those recorded during the drought of 1976, including through the use of LiDAR data, satellite imagery and historic land-management records.

It is unlikely that there are sufficient detailed datasets available for either year to support meaningful comparisons. Consequently, it would not possible to undertake a robust assessment or draw reliable conclusions based on the data available.

Question reference: S7W-02519

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to engage with local communities, businesses, freight operators, ferry operators, elected representatives and other stakeholders in Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire during the development of the Corridor Action Plans for the A75 and A77.

Engagement with stakeholders during development of the Corridor Action Plans will be an important part of the process. It is anticipated that a wide range of engagement techniques and formats will be used to ensure that all individuals and organisations are able to participate in the process. Further details are available at: South West Scotland Strategic Corridor Improvements | Transport Scotland

Question reference: S7W-02516

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects consultants to be appointed to develop Corridor Action Plans for the A75 and A77, and what timescale has been set for the completion of this work.

Question reference: S7W-02517

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated for the commissioning and delivery of Corridor Action Plans for the A75 and A77, and from which budget line this expenditure will be met.

Question reference: S7W-02329

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how much of the funding allocated to the Registered Social Landlord Adaptations Programme in its Budget for 2026-27 has, so far, been (i) committed and (ii) spent, and (b) how much of this funding remains unallocated.