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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 MSPs 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-28122

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the deadline is for relevant authorities to publish a Good Food Nation plan.

The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 requires relevant authorities to publish a Good Food Nation Plan within 12 months of the date that Section 10 of the Act comes into force. It is the Scottish Government’s intention to commence this part of the legislation at around the same time as the final version of the national Good Food Nation Plan is published in 2025. Relevant authorities will therefore be required to publish their own Plans in 2026.

Question reference: S6W-27905

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many fish farms have been allowed to continue using the pesticide, emamectin benzoate, at the level set by the 2017 environmental quality standard (EQS), in light of the subsequent interim EQS applying only to new and expanded fish farms.

All farms that discharge emamectin benzoate are being regulated against the previous environmental standard of 763 ng/kg of wet weight sediment or against the revised environmental standard recommended by UKTAG of 272 ng/kg of dry weight sediment.

Farms authorised to discharge emamectin benzoate
	No. farms	No. farms that have used emamectin benzoate at least once between 2017 and 2024
Regulated against previous environmental standard (763 ng/kg of wet weight sediment).	332	194
Regulated against updated environmental standard (272 ng/kg of dry weight sediment) recommended by UKTAG.	22	15

Question reference: S6W-27904

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish an analysis of its consultation on the implementation timescales for a new environmental quality standard (EQS) for emamectin benzoate, as used in fish farms, which closed on 24 July 2023.

Question reference: S6W-27899

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) ScotRail and (b) Transport Scotland regarding the reported 12 extra services per day that would operate on the Aberdeen, Inverness and Elgin route and which have not been included in the new train timetables.

Question reference: S6W-27988

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 11 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is still committed to its policy to promote the translocation of beavers outside of their current range, to reduce or avoid negative impacts and help reintroduce beavers to appropriate areas of the country.

The Scottish Government is committed to expanding the range of beavers in Scotland to maximise the environmental, social and economic benefits that they can bring in consultation with local communities and land managers.

We appreciate that beavers can have negative impacts on agricultural land in certain circumstances. NatureScot have a range of mitigation measures that can reduce impacts and licensed control or translocation remains an option where there are no other satisfactory alternatives.

NatureScot will continue to work through the licensing process to ensure that beavers are reintroduced into appropriate areas where they can help enhance biodiversity and wider environmental gains and avoid potential negative impacts.

Question reference: S6W-27987

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 11 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to NatureScot's reported view that the community engagement process carried out by Trees for Life and Forestry Land Scotland regarding the Glen Affric beaver translocation proposal was above and beyond what is required.

The Scottish Government are aware there has been significant and extended community engagement regarding the Glen Affric beaver translocation proposal, but as NatureScot have not received an application, they have not yet been able to form an opinion of the community engagement in its entirety.

As with all beaver translocation applications, the Scottish Government and NatureScot would expect an application to address the issues highlighted by the community engagement and the work needed to manage or mitigate any legitimate concerns raised.

We understand Trees for Life and Forestry Land Scotland are still considering these aspects.

Question reference: S6W-27900

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Transport Scotland and (b) ScotRail regarding the delivery of hourly train services between Inverness and Aberdeen, as committed to in the first Strategic Transport Projects Review in 2009 and which has not been included in the new train timetables.

My officials at Transport Scotland meet with ScotRail and Scottish Rail Holdings regularly to discuss various matters. ScotRail keeps its services under constant review to ensure they best meet the passenger demand.

Since the publication of the 2009 Strategic Transport Projects Review, the Scottish Government has invested £330 million in delivering journey time improvements and greater connectivity for both passenger and freight services operating on the line between Aberdeen and Inverness. These works were undertaken as part of the Aberdeen – Inverness Rail Improvement Project.

Question reference: S6O-03574

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 June 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider increasing funding for empty homes officers, in light of the First Minister’s reported statement that empty homes are key to tackling the housing emergency.

Question reference: S6W-27803

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to assess the potential cumulative impact of the reported five new proposed developments for pumped storage hydro-electricity generation around Loch Ness in the Highlands, particularly in relation to endangered wild salmon populations and fragile native woodlands.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the merits or impacts of any specific renewable energy proposal.

National Planning Framework 4, approved by the Scottish Parliament in 2023, is making sure the planning system enables the sustainable growth of the renewable energy sector while continuing to protect our most valued natural assets and cultural heritage.

Potential impacts on biodiversity and woodlands, including the cumulative effects of developments, are important considerations in the decision-making process, with all applications being subject to site-specific assessments, including Environmental Impact Assessment where relevant.

Question reference: S6O-03487

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the issuing of licences for scallop dredging activities that may cause harm to priority marine habitats, in light of reports of harm being caused to such habitats, including the herring spawning grounds off North Erradale and Gairloch.