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-27290

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 14 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will detail its investment in state-of-the-art technology and aerial surveillance for early detection and response to wildfires.

Question reference: S6W-27288

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 14 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use digital and social media platforms to effectively disseminate wildfire prevention information to the public.

Efficient and effective dissemination of wildfire prevention information to the public is key to preventing wildfires. Before igniting any flames in a rural or outdoor setting, the SFRS encourage everyone to check which area of Scotland may be at threat of wildfires. If a threat is in place, the key prevention advice from the SFRS is that people should refrain from igniting any flames. People can check the current threat levels in their area by visiting the following SFRS website:

When Scotland is at a high threat of wildfires, the SFRS work in partnership with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF), to alert the public and partners to the threat of wildfires by issuing “Wildfire Danger Assessments”. SFRS issue alerts through their social media channels, their website and local media outlets, and request assistance from Local Authorities across Scotland to share safety messaging to seek engagement with as many members of public as possible. These warnings detail which areas across Scotland are most likely to be affected. The SFRS also alert the Scottish Government who pro-actively re-issue these warnings across digital and social media platforms.

Question reference: S6O-03326

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how data from the most recent Scottish census is being used.

Question reference: S6O-03275

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the impact of its 2024-25 Budget on the Highlands and Islands region.

Question reference: S6O-03189

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to support the fishing industry.

Question reference: S6O-03031

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for tackling crime and antisocial behaviour in the Highlands and Islands.

Question reference: S6O-02866

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support small businesses over the coming months.

Question reference: S6O-02776

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many health services across the Highlands and Islands have been downgraded or lost entirely over the last 16 years.

Question reference: S6W-21723

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for onshore wind development with a capacity in excess of 50 megawatts have been granted in each of the past 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Regarding applications for onshore wind development with a capacity in excess of 50 megawatts (including applications to extend and vary wind farms in excess of 50 megawatts where an application was made to Scottish Ministers) that have been granted in each of the past 10 years, broken down into planning authority areas, is presented in the following table.

Consents made between 2013 - to date.

YEAR	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023 (to date)	Total
PA	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023 (to date)	Total
Aberdeenshire	1									1	1	3
Argyll and Bute							1	2	1	1		5
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar			1							1		2
Dumfries and Galloway	1*	1		1	1		1	2	3*		3++	13
East Ayrshire		1			1****	2	1	1	3		2+++	11
East Lothian			1	1***								2
Highland		3	2	1	4	1	3		4	4	2	24
Moray					1			1	1	2		5
North Lanarkshire			1**									1
Scottish Borders	1	1		1	1		1+	1	2+			8
Shetland Islands					1		1				2	4
South Ayrshire		1				1		1	2****			5
South Lanarkshire		2	1	1		1	2	1	3	1	1	13
West Lothian		1										1
TOTAL	3	10	6	5	9	5	10	9	19	10	11	97

Definitions *= 1 Partially in South Ayrshire, ** = 1 partially in both South and West Lanarkshire, *** = 1 partially in Scottish Borders, **** = 1 partially in Dumfries and Galloway, = 1 partially in West Lothian, + = 1 partially in East Lothian, ++ = 1 partially in East Ayrshire, +++ = 1 partially in South Lanarkshire.

Question reference: S6W-21721

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for onshore wind development with a capacity in excess of 50 megawatts have been submitted in each of the past 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

The following table lists the applications for onshore wind development with a capacity in excess of 50 megawatts (including applications to extend and vary wind farms in excess of 50 megawatts where an application was made to Scottish Ministers) made in each of the last ten years broken down into planning authority areas.

Applications 2013 - To date Excluding applications withdrawn

YEAR	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023 (to date)	Total
PA	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023 (to date)	Total
Aberdeenshire	0					1	2		1	1++++		5
Argyll and Bute	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	1		3	2	15
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar	1						1				1	3
Dumfries and Galloway	2	1		1	1	3	4	3+++	4++	5+++	4	28
East Ayrshire	2*		3				3	2		3++		13
East Lothian	1	1**										2
Highland	4	3	3	4		1	2	4	11	8	9	49
Moray	1					2	1	1		1		6
Perth and Kinross		1										1
Scottish Borders		2		2		1****	2****		2	3	2	14
Shetland Islands				1		1	1			1		4
South Ayrshire			1				3+	1	3	1+++	1	10
South Lanarkshire	1	1		1***	1	2	2	2	2***	1	2	15
Stirling										1		1
West Lothian											1	1
TOTAL	13	10	8	10	3	13	23	14	23	28	22	167

Table 1 Definitions * = 1 partially in South Ayrshire and 1 partially in Dumfries in Galloway, ** = 1 partially in Scottish Borders, *** = 1 partially in West Lothian, **** = 1 partially in East Lothian and 1 partially in Dumfries and Galloway, = 1 partially in South Ayrshire and 1 Partially in East Ayrshire, + = 1 partially in Dumfries and Galloway, ++ = 1 partially in south Lanarkshire, +++ = 1 partially in East Ayrshire, ++++ = 1 partially in Moray.

in each of the past 10 years, broken down by local authority area.