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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-40858

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract (CHFS3) will commence.

I am pleased to confirm that the suite of CHFS3 documentation has been signed by all parties and the new arrangements will come into effect on 1 October 2025 for an initial duration of 10 years.

This is the culmination of a significant amount of work over a number of years including a robust due diligence exercise and extensive stakeholder engagement to inform the approach taken.

The new contract will fundamentally change the ethos of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services by moving from a commercial arrangement to a model which is more focused on the delivery of a public service, and which is fully engaged and responsive to the particular needs of the communities served.

The flexibility afforded under these new arrangements, along with our commitment to ongoing stakeholder engagement, will help deliver continual improvement throughout the duration of the contract.

Alongside the Scottish Government’s ongoing significant investment in new vessels and infrastructure, I fully expect CHFS3 to be a catalyst for positive change across the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network.

Question reference: S6O-04985

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Distress Brief Intervention programme.

Since November 2024, the Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) programme has been live in all 31 Health and Social Care Partnership areas across Scotland for those aged 16 and over.

We also have three national referral pathways to DBI - via NHS24; and via call handling centres operated by both the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland. These provide additional options for key services to refer people for DBI support.

As at the end of July 2025, over 95,000 people have been referred to DBI.

With our partners across a range of sectors, we will look to continue to embed and grow the DBI programme across Scotland, building on its considerable success to date.

Question reference: S6O-05004

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its approach to considering a hypermobility pathway for healthcare, in line with that being brought forward in Wales.

Question reference: S6O-04955

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill aims to give school pupils an independent right to opt in, but not opt out, of religious observance.

Question reference: S6W-40453

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 September 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Gillian Martin on 10 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the commitment in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Delivery Plan 2024-2029 and the Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 to develop a blue carbon action plan.

The Scottish Government has today published the Scottish Blue Carbon Action Plan. It can be accessed on the Scottish Government website at https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806430208

The Scottish Blue Carbon Action Plan sets out our priorities for blue carbon habitats, including saltmarsh, seagrass, seafloor sediments and kelp and other seaweeds. Working with the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum, we are investing in research to fill essential evidence gaps to ensure that blue carbon habitats are effectively utilised as part of our strategic approach to tackling climate change. The Plan also highlights important policies and ongoing work to ensure blue carbon habitats are given due consideration as part of protecting and restoring Scotland’s natural environment.

Question reference: S6W-40301

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Scotland's rent adjudication system has resulted in rents raised above that which was requested by landlords, what its position is on whether the system is working as intended, and whether there are any plans to revisit this policy.

Scotland already has some of the strongest rights in the UK for tenants, and we are taking forward measures in the Housing Bill that will strengthen these protections further including the introduction of rent control.

We recognise the concerns raised about how rent adjudication currently operates, particularly the potential for rents to be set at a level greater than that proposed by the landlord. We have taken action through the Housing Bill to ensure the Rent Officer, or Tribunal, cannot raise the rent above that requested by the landlord, should the Bill be passed by Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-40102

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the compatibility of the provision of non-therapeutic male circumcision on the NHS with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024.

Question reference: S6W-38095

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s May 2025 recommendation that statutory codes of practice or official guidance for the welfare of farmed and ornamental fish should be established, in light of the reported finding by the Animal Law Foundation that there have been no known prosecutions in Scotland under existing fish welfare laws, despite reported instances of poor welfare.

The Scottish Government takes the welfare of farmed fish very seriously and has already committed to exploring options for how to best to set welfare standards for farmed fish, as set out in its response to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s recommendations following its Follow Up Enquiry into Salmon Farming in Scotland.

As stated in my response of 10 June we are developing guidance for the welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter, which has been developed with the industry and animal welfare bodies.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are responsible for considering welfare complaints and investigating potential breaches in welfare legislation, and 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.

Question reference: S6W-38378

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 June 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the procurement of replacement freight vessels for the Northern Isles Ferry Service routes from Aberdeen to Orkney and Shetland.

The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to maintaining and improving the ferry links to Orkney and Shetland and better meeting the needs of island residents, businesses and communities. After careful consideration of the outline business case, I can confirm that a competitive process will begin shortly to secure delivery of two new 140m Freight Flex vessels. These vessels will replace the two existing vessels and provide additional freight capacity, higher operating speeds, and provide the ability to carry up to 200 passengers when required.

This procurement will be progressed by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited as the procuring authority. It is expected that the relevant processes will be completed by early 2026, at which point contracts can then be awarded, subject to approval. I will provide further updates to Parliament at key stages of the procurement process.

Question reference: S6W-37799

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36400 by Mairi Gougeon on 22 April 2025, and in light of reports of significant welfare concerns, how it ensures that the enforcement of farmed fish welfare law is consistent and effective, and whether it considers the reported reliance on verbal advice, written advice and follow-on visits to be adequate to uphold the legal protections under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

The Scottish Government takes the welfare of farmed fish very seriously and has committed to exploring options for how to best to set welfare standards for production.

We are developing guidance for the welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter, which has been developed with the industry and animal welfare bodies.

As stated in my previous response the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are responsible for considering welfare complaints and investigating potential breaches in welfare legislation, and 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.