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-35022

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 4 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the largest number of section 16AA licences is that have been granted to a single landholding under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Question reference: S6W-34951

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 4 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address any housing affordability issues, and what plans it has to support young people with buying their first home.

The draft budget for 2025-26 proposes planned investment of £768 million in the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, an increase of more than £200m compared to the 2024-25 published budget. This will help tackle the housing emergency while contributing towards our target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 of which at least 70% will be social rented homes and 10% in rural and island areas.

Discussions on the use of the Financial Transaction (FT’s) funding for the 2025-26 financial year are ongoing and no decision has been made at this time.

The Scottish Government continues to support home ownership and have interventions in place to help first time buyers through our Low Cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) scheme which helps people on low to moderate incomes to buy their first home.

Question reference: S6W-35173

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the largest number of section 16AA licences is that has been granted to a single landholding in recognition of the assignation of sporting rights to different persons.

Question reference: S6W-34952

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 28 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase job opportunities for young people in rural communities.

One of the key roles of our enterprise agencies is to support job creation, through the advice and assistance they provide to businesses and projects and by attracting investment into their regions. They have a keen focus on maximising opportunities for young people.

For example, South of Scotland Enterprise is delivering a pioneering pathways project that will support young entrepreneurs to bring their business visions to life through coaching, advice and financial support. Since September 2024, the project has resulted in 409 enquiries, with 267 young people receiving place-based enterprise coaching support. To date, 41 young people on the programme have started to trade. In addition, South of Scotland Enterprise has engaged with 2100 young people at its pop up enterprise events across the South of Scotland since April 2024 (up 170% on last year).

HIE’s Graduate Placement Programme 2024-27 aims to create around 40 graduate placements in businesses and social enterprises across the Highlands and Islands, with at least 50% of the placements in remote and rural island areas.

Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Regional Groupsworks with pupils and schools across Scotland to raise awareness of the breadth of job opportunities and career pathways available, including in their local area. Young people can also access careers advice from Skills Development Scotland, which has a qualified Careers Adviser based in each secondary school in the country.

Our agencies work closely with employers, colleges, universities and training providers to strengthen training provision in growth sectors and create opportunity for work based learning with industry. Skills Development Scotland works with DYW to promote apprenticeships across each region and supports modern apprenticeship provision in island and rural areas via a Rural Uplift payment.

Question reference: S6W-34792

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the new muirburn code, and what the timescale is for its completion.

Question reference: S6W-34793

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the new methodology for determining peat depth to inform maps submitted as part of an application to make muirburn under licence, and what the timescale is for its completion.

Question reference: S6W-34794

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns expressed by members of the muirburn code working group regarding the feasibility of introducing muirburn licensing provisions ahead of the 2025 muirburn season.

The Scottish Government recognises the challenges associated with introducing this complex area of licensing but with the help of stakeholders through the Muirburn Code Working Group we are confident that the provisions can be in place ahead of the 2025 season. NatureScot has prioritised this area of work within its licensing team and online development and design team. Progress is being made in developing an easy-to-use online application form and in providing clear guidance around identifying peatlands.

Question reference: S6W-34795

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has sought advice from NatureScot regarding commencing the muirburn licensing provisions ahead of the 2025 muirburn season and, if so, whether it will publish this.

Question reference: S6O-04393

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the total funding that it has provided for local government has changed over the last decade in real terms and as a proportion of total spending.

Question reference: S6W-34928

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the assessment process for the Borderlands Solway Coast and Marine Project bid has been delayed, and by what date a decision will be made on the funding application.

The Solway Cost and Marine Pilot Project (SCAMPP), business justification case was assessed by the Scottish and UK Governments using HM Treasury Green Book guidance. Appropriate due diligence was undertaken and, following further work by the project development partners to clearly articulate its economic and environmental benefits and demonstrate value for money, it was endorsed by Scottish and UK Government on 20 February 2025. This will allow the research element to proceed.