- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has been reported that not all sewage discharge points in Argyll and Bute are monitored.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to S6W-36643 on 2 May 2025 for further information on Scottish Water’s investment strategy.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many controlled
parking zones have been introduced by each local authority in each year since
1999, also broken down by how many parking permits have been sold for these
each year, and how much has been raised by these sales.
Answer
Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area and this includes the introduction of controlled parking zones. The Scottish Government does not monitor how many of these zones have been introduced, or the revenue from parking permit sales. This information would only be available from the local authorities directly.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the definition of “processing” being expanded under the new EU traceability regime, which takes effect on 10 January 2026, and that only seafood “frozen and/or packed without further processing” is exempt, how many businesses in Scotland it estimates will be subject to the new documentation requirements.
Answer
The requirement for processing statements currently only applies to seafood caught by non-UK vessels and processed in the UK prior to export. Rather than the definition being “expanded”, from 10 January 2026, the requirement for a Processing Statement will also apply to seafood caught by UK vessels and processed in the UK before export to the EU.
The EU have confirmed that where fish has only been subject to freezing and/or packed after landing and prior to export, they will not require a Statement.
Given the complexity of the seafood export supply chain, it is difficult to estimate the exact number of businesses impacted. However, given many of our exporters undertake processing that will be captured by the new requirement, we expect a significant number of Scottish businesses to be impacted.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Oceana UK's recently published research into the impact of offshore oil and gas projects on marine life, whether it plans to oppose any proposed new oil and gas developments in Scotland's seas.
Answer
The regulatory regimes for offshore oil and gas licensing and consenting are matters currently reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government continues to call on the UK Government to approach decisions for North Sea oil and gas projects on a rigorously evidence-led, case by case, basis – with climate compatibility and energy security as key considerations.
- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Angus Robertson on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the publication costs were for the recent paper, Your Right to Decide.
Answer
The publication costs for Your Right to Decide were £2,179.92 including VAT. A full breakdown can be found in the following table.
Formatting, design and publication | VAT % | VAT £ | Net Price £ |
Total | 20.00 | 363.32 | 1,816.60 |
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what support and funding is being made available to help Scotland's seafood (a) exporters, (b) processors and (c) suppliers meet the upgraded export requirements under the new EU traceability rules, which come into effect on 10 January 2026.
Answer
We will continue to ensure the interests of the Scottish industry are considered throughout this process. The Scottish Government will also continue to push for the UK to deliver as much assistance as possible to enable our industry to comply with the new requirements and minimise the impact on trade.
Longer term, UK Fisheries Administrations – including Scottish Government - are currently progressing the introduction of a revised UK Control and IUU Regulations in light of these EU changes. This is a complex process with many considerations.
As the IUU changes have a direct impact on the ability of Third Counties to continue to export fisheries products to the EU this has to be taken into consideration when assessing our regulatory alignment.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its responsibilities are as a partner of the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme.
Answer
The Home Office is leading the cross-government Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) to deliver the new Emergency Services Network (ESN) critical communications system, in which the Scottish Government is a Funding Sponsor Body.
In addition to funding the Scottish share of the programme, the Scottish Government is responsible for working in partnership with the Home Office and the Scottish emergency services to ensure that ESN meets their operational needs, and that the network coverage is at least as good as Airwave, the existing communications system. In addition, the Scottish Government provides funding directly to the Scottish emergency services to support and de-risk their transition to ESN.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans are in place to help any of Scotland's seafood businesses that might not be ready in time for the new EU traceability rules, which come into effect on 10 January 2026, and therefore are unable to export to the EU.
Answer
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) are responsible for updates to the IT system – the Fish Export Service (FES) – which exporters will use to provide the enhanced processing statements, catch certificates and other documentation required by the EU from 10 January 2026.
We are seeking assurances from UK Government that appropriate support will be available through MMO to deal with any immediate industry issues arising – including for out of hours service given the nature of seafood exports often occurs outwith routine business hours.
- Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Angus Robertson on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to a review of Creative Scotland.
Answer
The Chair of the independent Review of Creative Scotland, Angela Leitch CBE, has today published her report. This sets out 36 recommendations for how a strong national arts body should support the arts, culture and creative sectors. I will consider these in full before setting out a full response. The recommendations and report are available here:
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with UK-wide agencies, industry bodies and the EU to ensure that there is as smooth a transition as possible to the new EU traceability regime, which comes into effect on 10 January 2026, to allow Scotland's seafood businesses to maintain competitive access to its largest market.
Answer
The programme of informing the UK industry of these changes is being led by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) with input and support by Devolved Governments.
We would encourage industry to engage with the process and attend the virtual engagement sessions raising any concerns or questions they may have. The changes being introduced by the EU are mandatory for all imports of fisheries products entering the EU from all third countries after 10 January 2026 so there is no alternative to compliance when trading.
Alongside other Fisheries Administrations, we have been seeking clarity, via UKG engagement with the EU, on the most pressing areas where questions remain, so responses can then be passed to industry.
Marine Directorate compliance officials are also flagging the MMO guidance as part of their routine engagement with industry. A dedicated Scottish mailing address has also been created and communicated to industry to field direct queries to.
For those impacted, they should talk with other industry representatives and their associations to ensure as many as possible are aware of the changes and what additional actions will be required from each other to facilitate continued trade.