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: S6W-38910

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to review the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, as established by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, including any impact of access rights on private landholders.

Question reference: S6W-38998

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether its Marine Directorate publishes data annually on economic link compliance and quota payback, and, if it does not, whether it will consider doing so to improve public oversight of the policy.

Question reference: S6W-39004

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review or revise the current economic link policy to better reflect Scotland’s fishing communities and onshore processing needs.

Question reference: S6W-39012

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 10 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is engaged in to tackle the reportedly significant impact of bank and credit card fraud, following the publication of the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2023/24 results, which found that bank and credit card fraud constituted 47% of all fraud committed in the year.

The Scottish Government is working with law enforcement partners such as Police Scotland, the National Cyber Security Centre as well as the financial industry in combatting fraud.

Police Scotland has established a cyber and fraud specialist division to enhance their response in Scotland, working with UK law enforcement and partner agencies. They will develop capability through cyber and online training, ensuring support and guidance for officers and staff. We encourage everyone to report suspicious sites to NCSC using the reporting tool on their website. We also encourage anyone who believes they have been the victim of a crime to contact Police Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-39005

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, on average, what proportion of landings by Scotland-registered vessels are currently landed in Scotland, and how this has changed since the introduction of the economic link requirements.

The following table shows the share of the eight species landed into Scottish ports as a percentage of the total Scottish landings of each species. It should be noted that landings for 2024 are still management data and are not currently available for publication.

Species	2020	2021	2022	2023
Anglerfish	91%	95%	88%	90%
Cod	99%	98%	99%	98%
Haddock	100%	99%	100%	99%
Hake	93%	91%	92%	96%
Herring	57%	63%	53%	56%
Mackerel	46%	46%	48%	52%
Nephrops	95%	97%	97%	96%

Question reference: S6W-38973

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its decision to not proceed with plans to create a Galloway National Park, whether it will reconsider its position on carrying out an independent review of the economic impact of Scotland’s national parks on businesses and industries within national parks.

There are no current plans for the Scottish Government to conduct an independent review of the two existing National Parks in Scotland, as we consider there are already adequate accountability mechanisms in place. As set out in their underpinning legislation, National Parks are accountable to their boards and to the Scottish Government. They are required to produce a five year National Park Partnership Plan and their Corporate Plans are aligned to these. These Plans, including the aims and objectives within them, are signed off by Ministers.

Delivery is monitored and reviewed at regular meetings between the Scottish Government and National Park authority Convenors and Chief Executives. Park authorities are also required to report on their delivery and performance through their Annual Report and Accounts, which are laid before Parliament and published.

The Scottish Parliament can also scrutinise the Parks’ performance directly, as it can for all public sector bodies.

Question reference: S6W-38925

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote the creation of safe, long-distance walking routes as part of Scotland's active travel network.

NatureScot, on behalf of Scottish Government, currently run a Long Distance Trails Forum which brings together trail managers, including the 4 Long Distance Routes and wider ‘Great Trails’, from across Scotland to share good practice, knowledge and experience. NatureScot also fund Scotland’s Great Trails website promoting Scotland’s long distance trails. There is currently a review being carried out of Scotland’s Great Trails, which includes active travel provision, visitor experience, enjoyment of the outdoors, connection with nature, green tourism and community connections.

Local Authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships can apply for funding for active travel from Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund, which could include long distance walking routes where they deliver against Scotland’s Active Travel Framework. The Scottish Government also funds the National Cycle Network which is also used for walking and wheeling, forming long distance active travel routes that are also used for everyday journeys.

Question reference: S6W-39261

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38840 by Jim Fairlie on 3 July 2025, whether it anticipates it will incur any contingent liability in either capital or resource commitment as a result of the carbon contracts pilot.

Question reference: S6W-39277

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the sale of counterfeit goods.

Question reference: S6W-39256

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is national training and guidance for health settings regarding Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABIs).