Chamber and committees

We fully recognise the significant efforts that have been made by Forestry Land Scotland, Trees for Life, and partners to consult with local communities and stakeholders as part of the process to apply to NatureScot for a licence to translocate beavers to Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin in Glen Affric.

It is clear, however, that there remains considerable concern about the proposal among the local community and its representatives. In light of this and given we are now in the beaver kit dependency period when young beavers are reliant on their parents and trapping and translocation is not appropriate, NatureScot plan to undertake further engagement over the summer with those most likely to be affected before any licensing decision is made.

Caledonian Sleeper currently offers accessible rooms, toilets, and designated seating areas for Persons of Reduced Mobility (PRM) in its carriages. On board ramps operated by Caledonian Sleeper staff enable passengers to enter and exit the carriages, ensuring that the facilities comply with the PRM Technical Standards for Interoperability (TSI) and UK rail safety standards.

Therefore, the Scottish Government has no plans to require Caledonian Sleeper to modify its carriages.

As you know, Project Willow has identified nine alternative projects that could be developed at Grangemouth including plastics recycling, bio-refining, sustainable aviation fuel and low carbon hydrogen production, demonstrating that a long term, new industrial future at Grangemouth is achievable if the public and private sector work together in the coming months to deliver.

If all nine potential projects identified in the base case were taken forward, Project Willow could create up to 800 jobs by 2040 and contribute £600-£700m in Gross Value Added, demonstrating the transformative impact Project Willow could bring to Grangemouth.

I am committed to realising as many of these opportunities as possible which is why Scottish Enterprise and the UK Office for Investment have established an Investor Taskforce to identify and attract investors with an interest in progressing the Project Willow proposals. Protecting and promoting the interests of the workers, businesses and wider Grangemouth community, remains this Government’s absolute priority.

It is not accurate to state that 100% of proposals between 2020 and 2025 have been approved.

To clarify, the Environment Information Request response of 28 February 2025 to which the question referred, noted that, of the 7 renewable energy applications received by the Energy Consents Unit in the Scottish Borders local authority area, all were approved.

Other applications for developments located elsewhere in Scotland have been rejected during this time.

The decision whether to grant consent is taken only after careful consideration of environmental information, consultee responses and public representations.

My officials have had multiple discussions with their counterparts in the Department for Transport on the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill both before and after it was introduced in the House of Lords.

In addition, the Minister for Local Transport, Rt. Hon. Simon Lightwood MP, wrote to me in December when the Bill was introduced, setting out the Bill’s purpose, territorial extent and application, and its interaction with Scotland. We also discussed the UK Government proposals when Mr Lightwood and I met in person on 3 April 2025.

Details of funding provided to the Scottish Assembly from the Scottish Government’s Mental Health budget over the last five years are as follows:

The Scottish Government funds research into farm animal welfare research at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), including the development of alternative farrowing systems enabling producers to make informed decisions when they are considering options for renewing their existing infrastructure. Within Scotland there is already a significant level of free farrowing units where sows are able to nest in hutches outdoors and farrow naturally.

The Scottish Government will continue to listen and work with the industry and stakeholders to find ways for producers to transition towards implementing improved animal welfare methods and practices.

The total amount available in the LDSF fund is £1,625,000 running from October 2025 to March 2028. The Scottish Assembly has submitted an application for funding. Applications are currently being considered and successful applicants will be notified in May 2025.

Takeaway meal containers (lunch boxes) and single use coffee cups in the Garden Level Restaurant are fully compostable, made from a fibrous by product of sugar cane.  Single use coffee cups at the coffee bar are made from paper, paperboard and recyclable materials and are designed for industrial composting.

Compostable items are placed in the food waste bins located throughout the building and are taken by a commercial food waste recycling company to the Anaerobic Digestion Plant at Millerhill just outside Edinburgh.

19 tonnes of food and compostable packaging were taken to the Anaerobic Digestion Plant at Millerhill in 2024/25. This represents 26% of our operational waste stream.

For the period of April 2024-March 2025, 36% of hot beverages sold were served in single use cups. And for the same period, 31% of sales made in the Garden Level Restaurant were in single use lunch boxes.

In partnership with our catering supplier we are implementing many measures to reduce the consumption of single use disposable items such as;

• continuation of the disposable hot drink cup charge to encourage colleagues to use their reuseable cups.
• Removal of disposable cutlery and placing collection caddies at each tea point to return metal cutlery back to the kitchen for cleaning
• Introduction of reusable take away food containers and various campaigns to encourage uptake.
• Actively exploring further options to support reusables and educating users on environmental benefits
• Holding a stock of reuseable hot drink cups for customers on a return basis
  

More information about our Sustainability Plan including waste minimisation is available on our website Sustainability | Scottish Parliament Website.

Farmers and crofters are required to complete at least two of the five Whole Farm Plan audits, including a habitat map for the Biodiversity Audit requirement, by May 2025. All five audits will need to be completed by May 2028.