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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-37565

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will decide on the award of the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract (CHFS3).

I can announce today that Scottish Ministers have decided that a direct award should be made to CalMac Ferries Limited. The due diligence work has concluded there is no financial, operational or legal impediment to proceeding with a Teckal-compliant direct award of CHFS3.

This is a unique opportunity to change the emphasis from a commercially driven arrangement to a public-focused service wholly directed at meeting the important and particular needs of the communities it serves. Discussions will continue with staff, island residents, businesses and communities and trade unions on the arrangements so that the new contract reflects local needs and interests. Transport Scotland is now working closely with CalMac Ferries Ltd on the necessary arrangements for commencement of the new contract on 1 October 2025. I will ensure that Parliament is kept updated about progress on those new arrangements.

Taken together with our ongoing investment in new vessels and infrastructure, this will improve the overall resilience and capacity of these services, particularly for the future, as set out in the recently published Islands Connectivity Plan.

Question reference: S6W-37093

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 21 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farms are located on land owned by it, and what the total installed capacity, in megawatts, of those wind farms is.

Question reference: S6W-37450

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 21 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of escaped farmed salmon on wild salmon populations in Scottish rivers and coastal waters.

Question reference: S6O-04653

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent reported figures indicating higher than average drug driving offences in the Highlands and Islands.

Question reference: S6W-37092

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the (a) number and (b) installed capacity of wind farms on Scottish Government owned land is community owned.

Question reference: S6O-04624

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting and encouraging diversity in Scotland's businesses, including who leads, owns and works within them.

Question reference: S6O-04598

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support and raise awareness of the health passport scheme for people with a learning disability.

Question reference: S6W-36400

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of (a) data from the Animal Law Foundation suggesting that there have been no prosecutions or care notices issued regarding welfare issues on fish farms and (b) the recommendation by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in its report, Follow-up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland, what steps it plans to ensure that the (i) fish farming industry fully understands and complies with its legal welfare requirements for farmed fish across their entire lifecycle and (ii) welfare law to protect farmed fish is applied.

The Scottish Government, in its response to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (13 March 2025), committed to exploring options for how to best to set welfare standards for production going forward and will update the Committee in September 2025 on progress and next steps.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are responsible for considering welfare complaints and investigating potential breaches in welfare legislation. A lack of prosecution does not equate to a lack of enforcement; actions such as provision of verbal advice, written advice and follow-on visits are also legitimate elements of enforcement.

APHA veterinarians will continue to apply their professional knowledge and training to assess fish welfare against the provisions set out in The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, and use a range of evidence when considering whether obligations have been breached.

Question reference: S6W-36396

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of (a) concerns that relying only on the non-binding Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture has the potential to cause confusion among animal keepers and stakeholders regarding their legal obligations under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and (b) the recommendation by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in its report, Follow-up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland, whether it will consult with the industry regarding (i) reviewing or updating the code and (ii) introducing official guidance.

The Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture is independent of Scottish Government which is not responsible for any review or updates made to the Code.

The Scottish Government, in its response to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (13 March 2025), has committed to exploring options for how to best to set welfare standards for production going forward and will update the Committee in September 2025 on progress and next steps. Appropriate stakeholder engagement will be undertaken as part of this work.

We are currently developing guidance for the welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter taking into account the recommendations made in the UK Animal Welfare Committee report of 2014 and its updated opinion of 2023. We will engage with the industry and other stakeholders, including animal welfare organisations, for their views at the appropriate stage.

Question reference: S6O-04548

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that its work to support and promote Scotland's arts and culture is geographically spread and representative.