- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many board meetings of Museums and Galleries Scotland the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has attended since May 2021, and on what dates.
Answer
Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) are an independent Third Sector organisation that is funded by the Scottish Government. Since May 2021, Ministerial oversight of the Museums Galleries Scotland has been led by the Minister for Europe and International Development until January 2022, then the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development from January 2022 until May 2024. I took over Ministerial oversight of NGS in May 2024.
In that time period, the I have not attended any board meetings of MGS. However, the myself and Ministers have met when required with the Chair and Chief Executive to discuss appropriate matters.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate has been made of the extra costs of the continuance of a hybrid arrangement in NHS Highland for the delivery of vaccination services, with some provided by GPs and some by NHS Highland vaccination teams.
Answer
This is a matter for NHS Highland and Highland HSCP.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for reporting to the Parliament on the outcomes of its participation at the COP30 UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil, including any (a) new commitments, (b) financial pledges, (c) international initiatives or partnerships entered into and (d) follow-up workstreams agreed by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41890 on 1 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with travel by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and accompanying officials to and from the COP30 UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil, and how this aligns with its policies on reducing emissions from ministerial and official international travel.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41890 on 1 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many of its (a) ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials are attending the COP30 UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil, as part of its delegation, and for how many days each category of attendee is scheduled to be present at the summit.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41890 on 1 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the discussions and outcomes from the COP30 UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil, to inform the finalisation and implementation of its draft Energy Strategy.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41890 on 1 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the total estimated cost to it of its delegation attending the COP30 UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil, broken down by (a) travel, (b) accommodation, (c) subsistence and (d) any other associated costs, and, for each of these categories, what the estimated cost is for (i) ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) officials.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41890 on 1 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether the pilot gull management for the city of Inverness, announced by the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity in his ministerial statement on 1 October 2025, has now been finalised, and, if not, what progress has been made since the statement was made, and whether the pilot will be in place and ready to be implemented prior to the commencement of seagull breeding season in 2026.
Answer
NatureScot continue to engage and further develop the existing management approaches for Inverness with officials from Highland Council.
Through this shared commitment to establish the City of Inverness as a leading example of adaptive urban gull management that protects public health and amenity while safeguarding the conservation status of gull species, their aims and objectives together, are to:
- Have a shared understanding of the impact that an urban Gull population has on the day to day living needs of City residents.
- Minimise conflict between gulls and people in key urban areas.
- Promote coexistence through education, deterrents, and habitat management.
- Ensure compliance with NatureScot guidance and wildlife legislation.
- Support declining gull populations through appropriate sanctuary provision.
This pilot builds on the existing gull management programme led by Inverness BID and funded by the Inverness Common Good Fund and Inverness BID. It will serve as a model for future management plans across other communities in the Highlands.
The aim is to have an area based approach to licensing available for the forthcoming gull breeding season.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Business and Employment has
received any analysis on the net employment impact of floating offshore wind
developments, including any potential displacement of existing jobs.
Answer
Ministers and officials consider a broad range of evidence to assess the economic opportunities and constraints of offshore wind development. This includes analysis as set out in the Offshore Wind Focus paper and the Social and Economic Impact Assessment for the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy.
Together these sources provide the Scottish Government with an overarching understanding of the economic and employment impacts of offshore wind development, informing ministerial advice and decision-making across relevant portfolios.
Offshore wind developers also provide detailed environmental and socio-economic assessments as part of applications for marine licences and consents. These are reviewed by officials and inform recommendations to relevant Ministers.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action the Minister for Business and Employment takes
to ensure that any claims regarding job creation from floating offshore wind
projects are independently verified.
Answer
A comprehensive social and economic impact assessment was carried out as part of the process to update our Sectoral Marine Plan. This assessment included a strategic analysis of potential employment opportunities arising from the ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds.
The work was undertaken by external contractors and independently verified through a rigorous quality assurance process. It was further scrutinized through cross-sector stakeholder engagement and a public consultation to ensure transparency and credibility.
The Scottish Government applies rigorous quality assurance to analytical work it undertakes internally or commissions externally.