Questions and answers

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 ��˿�� 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-39483

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 31 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported decision to grant a licence for the culling of gannet chicks as part of the Guga Hunt, what assessment it has made of any impact of this practice on any vulnerable seabird populations, particularly in light of avian flu outbreaks.

In determining an application for a licence, NatureScot must consider whether the hunt is sustainable, in that it would not have an adverse effect on the conservation status of the species concerned, namely gannets.

In the case of the Guga Hunt licence issued this year, NatureScot have confirmed that a population viability analysis of the gannets at Sula Sgeir was completed and considered as part of their assessment prior to issuing the licence.

In issuing a licence to permit the taking of 500 gugas, NatureScot have concluded that this number will allow the gannet population to continue to recover and enable a sustainable future take. The previous licence issued in 2018 was for 2000 birds.

Question reference: S6W-39268

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 31 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the draft islands connectivity plan strategic approach to revisit the Freight Fares Review in the medium to long term, what work has been undertaken on this, and what the anticipated timescale is for the completion and implementation of a revised freight fares structure in (a) Scotland and (b) relation to services to and from Colonsay.

Question reference: S6W-39646

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with its work on reforming the National Performance Framework, and what plans it has to include sustainable, affordable, healthy food in the updated framework.

Question reference: S6W-39647

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out regarding the banning of peat usage in commercial horticulture.

Question reference: S6W-39576

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 26 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) and its evolution, in light of the four-tier model, and what consideration it has given to improving the accessibility of these schemes to crofters and small farmers.

Question reference: S6W-39465

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 29 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for translating the guidance, Scottish Government Guidance on Welfare at the Time of Killing in Salmon Farming, published on 17 July 2025, into legislation, as recommended by the Animal Welfare Committee and the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission.

The Scottish Government’s guidance on Welfare at the time of Killing in Salmon Farming is based on the recommendations made by the UK Government's Animal Welfare Committee and developed in conjunction with the Scottish farmed salmon industry, Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) and animal welfare organisations.

The Scottish Government takes the welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter very seriously. This welfare is assured by the requirement at Article 3.1 of retained Council Regulation (EC) 1099/2009 that ‘animals shall be spared any avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations’. We have no current plans to introduce further legislation.

Question reference: S6W-39286

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish a definitive list of irreplaceable habitats in Scotland, and, if so, whether species-rich meadows will be included within that list.

Under s.2(4) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, the Scottish Ministers are required to publish a list of habitats and species of principal importance within 12 months of the publication of a Scottish biodiversity strategy, known as the Scottish Biodiversity List. It will have particular relevance for public bodies applying their biodiversity duties.

Work to complete the list is ongoing and it would not therefore be appropriate to say definitively that species-rich grasslands will be included. However, various types of species-rich grassland are included in the current Scottish Biodiversity List.

The term ‘irreplaceable habitat’ is not used in Scotland and is primarily associated with the Natural England biodiversity metric.

Question reference: S6W-39124

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to engage with community-led initiatives, such as the Kyles Coastal Community Group’s campaign for clean seas, to ensure that local knowledge and priorities are reflected in marine protection and wastewater management policies.

Protecting our marine environment is a shared responsibility and the Scottish Government welcomes community-led initiatives. The Kyles Coastal Community Group is a member of the Coastal Communities Network that engages directly with the Scottish Government on many marine issues. The Kyles Coastal Community Group can contact Scottish Water or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to raise any local wastewater concerns.

Question reference: S6W-39126

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider supporting a pilot scheme for decentralised, community-scale sewage treatment systems in rural areas, such as the Kyles of Bute, in light of reports that such systems may offer more environmentally sustainable and cost-effective solutions than traditional mains infrastructure.

Question reference: S6W-39125

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve the monitoring and public reporting of sewage discharges into coastal waters, particularly in rural communities such as those around the Kyles of Bute and Loch Riddon, in light of reported concerns regarding the frequency and impact of untreated sewage entering the marine environment.