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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-43606

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 18 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the number of birds and other non-target species that have been trapped or died in glue traps since the introduction of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.

Question reference: S6W-43607

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 18 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards implementing a ban on the sale of glue traps, in light of the UK Parliament's completion of the process for applying the UK Internal Market Act's market access principles for the sale of such traps.

In order to ban the supply, and not just the use, of glue traps, the Scottish Government required an exclusion from the Market Access Principles under the Internal Market Act 2020 (“the IMA”).

The United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 (Exclusions from Market Access Principles: Glue Traps) Regulations 2025 was made on 29 January 2026 under section 10(2) of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020. However, the regulations do not come in to effect until 20 February 2026.

We will be communicating to stakeholders and industry our plans to bring into force the ban on use, sale and possession of glue traps in Scotland once the regulations to implement the exclusion from the IMA have come in to effect.

Question reference: S6W-43566

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Home Office regarding its plans for Cameron barracks in Inverness, including clarifications on the expected duration of use, operational arrangements and impacts on local services, and whether it will provide details of any representations it has made.

I met Alex Norris, UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum, on 4 November and 15 December 2025 to seek clarity on Home Office plans to use Cameron Barracks as asylum accommodation.

The Scottish Government has pressed for clear and timely communication with delivery partners, including a timeline for arrivals, public information for the local community, and assurances that any additional costs incurred by NHS Highland and The Highland Council will be met by the UK Government.

An Operational Working Group has been established by the Home Office, involving the Scottish Government, NHS Highland, The Highland Council, and Police Scotland.

Despite repeated requests, the Home Office has not provided a timeline for arrivals, nor confirmed that a final decision on the use of the site has been taken.

Question reference: S6W-43511

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated in 2025-26 to NHS boards to support the development of Good Food Nation plans.

Question reference: S6O-05541

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting apprenticeships for care experienced young people, particularly in rural and island areas.

Question reference: S6W-43507

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated in 2025-26 to support local authorities to develop Good Food Nation plans, and when local authorities will be formally notified of their individual allocations.

Question reference: S6W-43509

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what expectations it has of relevant authorities in relation to the development of Good Food Nation plans prior to the commencement of section 10 of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022.

We are aware that many relevant authorities are already undertaking some preparatory work prior to the commencement of section 10, such as identifying who will lead on this work; which departments or policy areas will need to be involved; and what food policy is already in existence. However, we are also aware that some relevant authorities are waiting for further information before starting work on their Plans. We intend to provide ongoing support to both health boards and local authorities, such as facilitating collaboration, providing information and advice, and providing resources such as guidance documents.

Question reference: S6W-43508

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that relevant authorities have the capacity to make progress on the development of Good Food Nation plans prior to the commencement of section 10 of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022.

Officials have been engaging with the relevant authorities to gain a better understanding of the processes by which local Good Food Nation Plans would be produced in local authorities and health boards. This includes are search project that will help inform how we can most effectively support them in fulfilling their legislative duties under the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022, ensuring that limited resources are used to maximum effect in supporting plan development across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-43510

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it currently expects to commence section 10 of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022.

We intend to commence section 10 in a way that provides relevant authorities 12 months’ advance notice of the 12-month clock. In practical terms, this will provide relevant authorities 24 months to prepare and develop their local Plans. Options in relation to the commencement timeline of section 10 are currently being considered, taking both the 2026 Scottish Parliament election and 2027 local authority elections into account.

Question reference: S6W-43431

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 10 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41364 by Ivan McKee on 28 October 2025, what estimate it has made of the total future electricity demand resulting from expected AI and data centre developments in Scotland, in light of its joint commissioning of a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain, and how this estimate is being communicated to any local authorities that will be responsible for consenting large-scale, energy-intensive infrastructure.

The Scottish Government has not made its own assessment of the total future electricity demand resulting from expected AI and data centre developments in Scotland.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognised in its 2025 Future Energy Scenarios, that up to a fifth of Great Britain’s future data centre demand could be based in Scotland.

While the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain is still under development, NESO recognises that engaging with local stakeholders, including Scottish Local Authorities, is critical to the success of the plan. The Scottish Government is aware of NESO’s engagement with COSLA, and you may wish to contact NESO directly at box.SSEP@neso.energy for any further detail.

Following publication of the SSEP, it is anticipated that NESO’s Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) for Scotland will provide further insight into the forecast future electricity demand from data centres.