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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-42171

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that it will publish its response to NatureScot’s review of the bird species on schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Question reference: S6W-42136

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the extent to which the Housing Emergency Action Plan is helping to meet its commitment to end homelessness.

Question reference: S6W-42137

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will use the learnings from the Ask and Act pilots to determine budget requirements for the full implementation of the homelessness duties contained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025.

Question reference: S6O-05216

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the assessment by the Scottish Human Rights Commission that disabled and autistic people are not being supported to exercise their right to independent living, as enshrined in Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, what discussions the social justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding action that can be taken to address this.

Question reference: S6W-41660

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to facilitate access to EV charging using home energy tariffs for residents with no off-street parking.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the transition to EVs by ensuring that charging infrastructure is comprehensive, convenient, and accessible to all. I understand the importance of enabling those without access to off street parking to charge their vehicles conveniently, safely and cost-effectively.

Under Section 109 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, local authorities have the power to issue permits for the installation of private apparatus, such as EV home charging points, therefore decisions about permitting cross-pavement charging are the responsibility of Scotland’s local authorities.

The Scottish Government is working closely with the Scottish Collaboration of Transport Specialists (SCOTS) – an organisation that helps councils across Scotland work together to improve roads, transport, and travel services - to develop national guidance to support local authorities, to enable cross-pavement charging by addressing the legal, safety, and practical issues associated with the provision of cross-pavement charging. This guidance is currently being finalised by SCOTS and is due to be published at the end of November.

In August I announced the launch of a new Cross-Pavement Charging Grant, offering up to £3,500 to support the purchase and installation of cross-pavement charging solutions for residents without off-street parking. This scheme is administered by the Energy Saving Trust and is supporting the installation of cross-pavement charging in partnership with a number of local authorities with a view to wider rollout following publication of cross-pavement charging guidance currently being finalised by SCOTS.

Question reference: S6W-40746

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 7 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) percentage and (b) area in km2 of (i) inshore Marine Protected Areas and (ii) other inshore waters have year-round spatial restrictions on (A) scallop dredging, (B) nephrops trawling, (C) both scallop dredging and nephrops trawling, (D) creeling and (E) all commercial fishing.

The area calculated for restrictions is based on where there is a limit on the fishing activity all year round dependent on, for example, vessel size and power usage as well as where there is a complete ban on that type of fishing activity in a designated site as part of the MPA network and other inshore waters. The Scottish Government are currently developing fisheries management measures for MPAs where they are required, but not already in place, and for Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas outside of MPAs and aim to launch a public consultation in November.

The presumption for MPAs is that their use will be sustainable use, therefore fishing gears restricted in MPAs is based on their potential impact on the protected features of the site, usually allowing some fishing to continue. In other inshore waters not all areas are suitable for trawling and dredging therefore there will be areas that have never been considered for restrictions.

(a) The area of Marine Protected Areas where scallop dredging is currently restricted is 4,753 square kilometres. This is 13% of waters in the inshore MPA network.

The area of other inshore waters where scallop dredging is currently restricted is 3,315 square kilometres. This is approximately 6.3% of the inshore area outwith the MPA network.

(b) Nephrops trawling is included in measures restricting trawl, bottom trawl or mobile gear. The numbers presented below reflect this. The area of Marine Protected Areas where nephrops trawling is currently restricted is 5,084 square kilometres. This is 13% of waters in the inshore MPA network.

The area of other inshore waters where nephrops trawling is currently restricted is 3,313 square kilometres. This is approximately 6.3% of the inshore area outwith the MPA network.

(c) The area of Marine Protected Areas where both scallop dredging and nephrops trawling is currently restricted is 4,665 square kilometres. This is 12% of waters in the inshore MPA network. This was calculated in areas where there are overlapping restrictions on both scallop dredging and nephrops trawling not the individual percentage and area for each gear type added together.

The area of other inshore waters where both scallop dredging and nephrops trawling is currently restricted is 3307 square kilometres. This is approximately 6.2% of the inshore area outwith the MPA network.

(d) The area of Marine Protected Areas where creeling is currently restricted is 2,659 square kilometres. This is 7% of waters in the inshore MPA network.

The area of other inshore waters where creeling is currently restricted is 3001 square kilometres. This is approximately 5.7% of the inshore area outwith the MPA network.

(e) The area of Marine Protected Areas where all commercial fishing is currently restricted is 60 square kilometres. This is less than 1% of waters in the inshore MPA network. The presumption for MPAs is that their use will be sustainable use, therefore fishing gears prohibited in MPAs is based on their potential impact on the protected features of the site, usually allowing some fishing to continue.

The area of other inshore waters where all commercial fishing is currently restricted is 6 square kilometres. This is less than 1% of the inshore area outwith the MPA network.

Question reference: S6O-05048

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed ferry route between Rosyth and Dunkirk.

Question reference: S6O-05022

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with residents in Tillicoultry who were evacuated from their homes two years ago when reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete was discovered.

Question reference: S6W-40051

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it has supported residents in Tillicoultry who were evacuated from their homes in September 2023 due to the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Where residents are notified that their home may contain RAAC, we expect their local authority to provide advice on the next steps they can take. It is the responsibility of local authorities to deal with these matters.

Clackmannanshire council assessed the status of RAAC in the blocks and its decision was to decant three of the blocks affected by RAAC.

I recognise that would have been a stressful time for residents. However, Clackmannanshire Council’s primary concern is the safety of all those affected.

Scottish Government officials were and have been in contact with the council as it takes forwards the support it was providing to residents. The Council have recently completed an options appraisal for the affected buildings which are currently subject to dangerous building notices. They are engaging with owners with the outcome of that options appraisal and on the next steps regarding remediation of their properties, which includes repairs or voluntary acquisitions. In the meantime, we expect the local authority to keep those affected up to date, provide them with advice and where possible, facilitate access to allow residents to collect personal belongings.

I convened the first meeting of the RAAC in Housing Leadership Group on 4 September 2025 which brings together senior leaders and officials of local authorities and registered social landlords that are affected by RAAC.

Question reference: S6W-40006

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any progress towards a decision on the Waterborne Freight Grant Application, submitted by DFDS, in relation to the Rosyth-Dunkirk ferry route.

An application from DFDS to the Waterborne Freight Scheme was received by Transport Scotland in January 2024.

A formal decision and an offer of grant can only been made after detailed consideration of the application. Officials had begun work on this matter with the company, however, the Waterborne Freight Scheme was paused in 2024-25 due to budget pressures and has not been reinstated. The application from DFDS therefore has not progressed.

Should budget become available in future years, DFDS would need to resubmit their application for consideration. This is because some, or all, of the data the application contained may be out of date.