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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: S6O-04702

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to improve transport infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands, particularly in response to the reported request from Highland Council for additional support to run its six ferry services.

Question reference: S6W-37298

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Glen Affric beaver translocation proposal having been live since 2022, and NatureScot being in receipt of the Forestry and Land Scotland licence application since January 2025, for what reason NatureScot reportedly decided to undertake further engagement on the proposal one day after the beaver kit dependency period started.

As set out in the answer to S6W-37296 on 13 May 2025, given the legitimate concerns from the local community a decision on the licence application was unable to be made ahead of the beaver kit dependency period.

This period offered an opportunity for further engagement to be undertaken to fully explore these concerns. NatureScot will publicise their decision on the licence once it has been determined.

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-37297

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what role its ministers have in the assessment of translocation licences for (a) beavers and (b) other protected species.

As set out in Scotland’s Beaver Strategy 2022-2045 published by NatureScot. we will support the identification of opportunities to expand beaver populations, and support the expansion of beaver populations through translocations.

Section 16A of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 allows Scottish Ministers to delegate their functions in relation to licenses under section 16 of that Act to NatureScot.

The Scottish Ministers delegated their species licensing functions to NatureScot in June 2011 via written direction. Assessment of licence applications is therefore the responsibility of NatureScot. Scottish Ministers retain the power to modify or revoke a direction. As part of this delegation, NatureScot is also asked to inform Scottish Ministers of any novel or contentious issues that may arise.

Question reference: S6W-37296

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NatureScot describing the two-year public engagement for the Forestry and Land Scotland Glen Affric beaver translocation proposal as "above and beyond" the requirements of the Scottish Beaver Strategy, for what reason it is now undertaking further engagement outside of the accepted local process, and how it will ensure that this additional engagement will represent the full range of views in the community.

The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to expanding the beaver population across Scotland for the benefit of biodiversity, in line with Scotland’s Beaver Strategy.

Whilst we welcome the Glen Affric beaver translocation proposal, it is clear, that there remain concerns about the proposal among the local community.

NatureScot will therefore undertake some additional engagement to ensure the concerns around impact of beavers on land and fisheries managers has been fully explored ahead of any licensing decision. This process is in line with the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations in seeking to ensure there are acceptable mitigations in place.

We understand that there may be frustration around the timeframe for this licencing decision, but with proposals such as this we have to ensure the best chance of success for wildlife living alongside the people and communities most affected.

Question reference: S6W-37289

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29859 by Gillian Martin on 26 September 2024, and in light of the closure of its public consultation on the matter on 7 February 2025, when it plans to publish its revised policy statement on Ramsar sites.

Question reference: S6W-37221

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 210 appeals against SEPA's sea lice control measures, reported active as of March 2025, (a) have been (i) upheld and (ii) dismissed and (b) are still under consideration.

Question reference: S6W-36308

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 8 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly decided to protect Priority Marine Features through the use of Marine Conservation Orders, as opposed to including such conditions within fishing licences.

The final decision on how protections for Priority Marine Features (PMFs) will be implemented will be made by Ministers after the proposed fisheries management measures have been consulted on and the responses analysed.

Whilst the legislation to be used is yet to be decided it cannot be done through the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and use of Marine Conservation Orders (MCOs). MCOs can only be used to implement management measures in specific designated sites. These are nature conservation Marine Protected Areas, demonstration and research Marine Protected Areas, historic Marine Protected Areas and, any European marine site which overlaps these (either wholly or partly), which requires management measures.

The proposed PMF management areas will be fisheries closures with measures being introduced via a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI), allowing for Parliamentary scrutiny.

Question reference: S6W-36945

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what reasons have been given for the need to kill mountain hares in licence applications since 2012, and how many of these licensed activities took place on (a) public and (b) private land in each year.

In responding, I must advise that licence applications to lethally control mountain hare before March 2021 were required for the previous closed season, however following passage of the Animals and Wildlife Penalties, Protections and Powers Scotland Act mountain hares are now a protected species and licence applications are required year round.

Licences to lethally control mountain hare have been issued for the following purposes since 2012; “Preventing serious damage to growing timber”, “Conserving any area of natural habitat” and “Science, research and education”.

Information determining if the land applied to the application is public or private is not held centrally.

Question reference: S6W-37101

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason naturalised beaver populations that arose through illegal release, accidental release or natural dispersion from authorised populations are not considered "within range" by the existing definition of "natural range" for beavers in Scotland.

As set out in their Beaver Management Report it is NatureScot policy to consider authorised populations and catchments where licensed release has already taken place are considered to form beaver’s natural range in Scotland.

Therefore, in considering the definition of ‘within range’ are essentially talking about catchments where there have been licensed translocations or reinforcements, or as in the case of Tayside and Knapdale the population has been officially permitted to remain, i.e. rather than a definition based on current distribution.

Question reference: S6W-37100

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the definition of "natural range" in NatureScot's, Beaver Management Report - January 2023 to April 2024, (a) differs from that in the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations and (b) does not align with the precedent set by the European Commission's 2018 ruling that naturalised populations should be considered "within range" on the River Ebro, Spain.

NatureScot’s Beaver Management Report sets out that, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, beavers released anywhere in Scotland are regarded as a ‘former native’ species outwith their native range and hence their release can only be carried out under licence.

Beavers are European Protected Species in Scotland, but the concept of ‘natural range’ comes from the European Commission Habitats Regulations Guidance, which only recognises populations that have been formally reintroduced.

The Beaver Management Report sets out that it is NatureScot policy to consider authorised populations and catchments where licensed release has already taken place are considered to form beaver’s natural range in Scotland.