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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-20106

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what powers NatureScot has to ensure that landowners employ trapping and translocation on their land, rather than lethal control, following the publication of the beaver licensing figures for 2022.

NatureScot are able to license beaver management activities under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994. However the legislation requires the same tests to be met for trapping (or taking) as for killing a protected species and does not require the use of trapping to be considered before a licence for lethal control is granted.

However, NatureScot recognise the hierarchy of impacts of control methods on populations and individual animals and as such have been proactively working with licence holders over the last four years to encourage the use of trapping and translocation wherever this is feasible. Trapping is carried out by NatureScot at no cost to the licence-holder. In their Beaver Management Report for 2022 NatureScot reported the proportion of beavers being removed by trapping as opposed to lethal control had increased from 28% in 2021 to 42% in 2022. The Code of Practice that accompanies lethal control licences also asks licence applicants to consider whether trapping would be a feasible means of control.

Question reference: S6W-20142

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what total marine area, in km2, of the continental shelf area adjacent to Scotland, as designated in the Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) Order 2013, is covered by one or more designations including a (a) Special Area of Conservation, (b) Special Protection Area, (c) Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area, (d) Ramsar site for wetlands of international importance and (e) Site of Special Scientific Interest.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18168 on 6 May 2023 for details of the total area, in square kilometres, of the Marine Protected Area network designated in the Scottish continental shelf area adjacent to Scotland.

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

Question reference: S6W-19573

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it will do to ensure that its forthcoming Agriculture Bill and future agricultural policy set targets beyond its current stated ambitions, in light of the Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics published on 23 June 2023, which reportedly show that agricultural emissions have increased.

Our Vision for Agriculture clearly states that we will deliver emission reductions in line with our climate targets. A new Agriculture Bill will be brought forward in 2023 to enable the delivery of the Vision and we will establish a robust and coherent framework to underpin Scotland's future agriculture support regime from 2025 onwards. That framework will deliver high quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, and nature restoration.

We recognise that the most recent emissions envelope was missed and we are already taking action. In June, we published the second edition of the Agricultural Reform Routemap and set out what changes recipients of current farm payments will be expected to make from 2025 and beyond. This includes protection for peatlands and wetlands, and linking beef cattle payments to calving intervals to improve efficiency. This is in advance to a new Enhanced payment being introduced in 2026 which will focus on funding targeted actions for reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change, and protect, restore and improve nature.

We have also committed to bring forward a draft of the next Climate Change Plan later this year which will set out our policies, proposals and updated emission envelopes for meeting our statutory targets for climate change, which will include agriculture’s contribution to reducing emissions.

Question reference: S6W-19204

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to progress the Good Food Nation programme of work, in light of the passing of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 a year ago.

The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2023 were laid before the Scottish Parliament on 16 June 2023. These regulations will bring into force most of the provisions in the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 that relate to the national Plan. These include sections relating to the preparation of the Plan and the requirements for inclusive communication, which enables us to go out to public consultation on the first national Good Food Nation Plan this summer.

Other sections that will come into force this December relate to giving Parliament the chance to have its say on the Good Food Nation Plan and will begin the cycle of reporting and reviewing of future Good Food Nation Plans. Finally, Section 6 which relates to the effect of the national Plan, will be commenced in separate regulations at the time of the publication of the final Plan in late 2024.

It remains the Scottish Government's intention to undertake public consultation on the Good Food Nation Plan this summer and to then lay the draft national Good Food Nation Plan before Parliament in 2024. We expect the final version will be published later in 2024, when the Food Commission is to be established. Good Food Nation Plans that are to be prepared by Local Authorities and Health Boards will follow in 2025.

Question reference: S6O-02398

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce compulsory sales orders through its proposed Land Reform Bill, in light of its plans to address the need for effective, efficient and fair land assembly powers for public bodies, as referred to in the Bute House Agreement.

Question reference: S6O-02376

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage other local authorities to roll out 20 mph speed limits in built-up areas, in light of Highland Council’s early adoption of such a policy.

Question reference: S6W-18380

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 6 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its timescale is for launching a consultation to examine the use of cages for laying hens.

The Scottish Government takes the improvement of welfare for all animals in Scotland very seriously and is keen to progress a consultation on the cage use for laying hens, alongside other animal welfare commitments

Consultation on phasing out cage use for laying hens was originally intended to be delivered jointly across the UK. However, progress on a number of important pieces of animal welfare legislation have been significantly delayed due to UK Government timetabling.

I have repeatedly expressed the Scottish Government’s disappointment and the need for urgency on a number important animal welfare issues, where joint working across GB has been previously agreed. Sadly no further clarity has been provided by UK Ministers.

While Scottish Ministers remain committed to introducing joint legislation where it is sensible and logical to do so in the interests of animal welfare, further consideration will be given to how we can best deliver our commitments going forward.

Question reference: S6W-18379

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 6 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its timescale is for reviewing the recommendations contained in the Animal Welfare Committee's updated Opinion on the Welfare of Farmed Fish at the Time of Killing, and whether it will provide an update on when it anticipates the recommendations will be made publicly available.

The Scottish Government is aware of the importance of protecting the welfare of fish at the time of slaughter and takes this very seriously.

We will carefully consider any recommendations made by the Animal Welfare Committee concerning the welfare of fish at the time of slaughter. However, due to a lack of clear communication from the UK Government, we do not yet have a timescale for when the report will be published.

Question reference: S6W-18168

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) total area in km2 and (b) percentage of the continental shelf area adjacent to Scotland, as designated in the Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) Order 2013, is covered by the Marine Protected Area network, after all overlapping designations have been taken into account.

The total area of the Marine Protected Area network designated in the Scottish continental shelf area adjacent to Scotland, as designated in the Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) Order 2013 is (a) 228,118 square kilometres and (b) 37%.

These figures take into account all overlapping designations and capture:

Special Areas of Conservation
Special Protection Areas
Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas
Ramsar sites for wetlands of international importance.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

These figures do not include Historic Marine Protected Areas, Other Area Based Measures, or the Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area.

Question reference: S6F-02180

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2023

To ask the First Minister what priority the Scottish Government gives to protecting Scotland's environment.