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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-31897

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 9 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that Police Scotland designs its Digital Evidence Sharing Capability to enable the public to upload journey-cam footage directly to the police rather than having to report the incident first.

The Scottish Government welcomes His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) highlighting the issue of journey-cam footage in its recent report, the thematic inspection of road policing in Scotland.

The Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) Programme, which is rolling out nationally, will help to enable the ability of a member of the public to submit digital evidence including CCTV, mobile device and computer footage as part of an investigation following a report to the police.

DESC represents an investment by the Scottish Government of £33 million over 10 years, and will deliver significant savings of time and cost in the way that evidence is managed and used.

How Police Scotland use and process the evidence submitted is a matter for the Chief Constable, but I fully expect swifter access to justice and the faster resolution of cases to result from the rollout which will take place across 2025.

Question reference: S6W-31898

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 9 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Police Scotland acts on recommendation 1 of the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland report, Thematic inspection of road policing in Scotland.

I welcome the recent Thematic inspection of road policing in Scotland report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland. The recommendations contained within the report are for Police Scotland to consider and respond, and how they do so is a matter for the Chief Constable.

I note Police Scotland’s statement on the report which highlights that the Service is already taking steps to address the issues raised, including the identification and implementation of a sustainable model for road policing. The Chief Constable has been clear policing must evolve to meet demand, with a focus on enabling frontline officers and staff to deliver for communities.

I look forward to discussing this and other issues when I next meet the Chief Constable.

Question reference: S6W-31888

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 9 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been awarded through Greening payments for the restoration of natural processes in each year since 2015.

The Greening Scheme was introduced in 2015 with the intent to improve the environmental performance of farming. The Scheme delivers thirty per cent of Scotland’s Direct Payment budget as a top up to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Farmers and crofters must comply with the Greening requirements to receive their BPS and Greening payments. For those that meet the eligibility requirements this also includes carrying out Ecological Focus areas (EFA’s) that are beneficial for the climate, environment and biodiversity.

Several of the EFA options encourage land stability and prohibit the use of artificial fertilisers/ chemicals, which create benefits for restoration of natural processes but there is no direct funding link that can be quantified for the “restoration of natural Processes”.

Question reference: S6W-31890

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 9 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing an option for agriculture support to be made available to landholdings where nature restoration is the primary aim.

The Scottish Government is already committed to delivering the ambitions set out in the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture. Scotland will have a support framework that delivers high quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, and nature restoration. This will be delivered thorough the Agricultural Reform Programme (ARP) which will contain a number of Tiers to provide range of targeted support. This will include specific support for businesses which they do their part to deliver Scotland’s climate and biodiversity targets, including measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore and improve nature.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill introduced into Parliament earlier this year further supports nature restoration. It sets out proposals that will change how land is owned and managed in our rural and island communities; it places legal responsibilities on the owners of the very largest landholdings to set out how they use their land and how that contributes to key public policy priorities, like addressing climate change and protecting and restoring nature. It also proposes a new Land Management Tenancy creating a framework for hybrid land management. This will enable people and communities to undertake a range of land management activities that help to deliver net zero, biodiversity and sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

Question reference: S6W-31539

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations of ASLEF's 2024 report, Dignity for Drivers.

Question reference: S6W-31892

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the Weeds Act 1959, in light of all of the “injurious weeds” listed in it reportedly being considered native plants vital to biodiversity.

The Weeds act is referenced by the direct payments regulations in regard to minimum activity rules around region 1 land which is to say that the control of weeds is one of the minimum activities required in the absence of agricultural production from that land.

Whilst enforcement of the weeds act remains active this is largely used in response to complaints predominantly in relation to the control Ragwort for the protection of horses. The Scottish Government can review the Weeds Act as part of the agriculture reform programme and will look at the relevance of the weeds act provisions and if these should be revised.

Question reference: S6W-31716

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29293 by Jim Fairlie on 24 September 2024, whether it will provide more detailed information distinguishing between public and private deer management, and, if so, by what date it will do so.

As stated in the answer to question S6W-29293, NatureScot data does not differentiate between culls undertaken by the private and public sector.

Included below is the information that is held and shows reported culls for the last two years for overall deer cull in Scotland and reported culls for known public owned land. Please note that some areas of public land may be reported through private leases.

Season	Property name	Species	Male	Female	Calves/ Kids	Total
2022-23	Reported Cull - All Properties	all	52317	57385	26409	136111
2023-24	Reported Cull - All Properties	all	52620	57878	28046	138544
2022-23	Total Reported cull - Public	all	16159	13761	9717	39637
2023-24	Total Reported cull - Public	all	18050	15094	11018	44232

Public Owned Land only
2022-23	MOD	all	91	128	17	236
2022-23	RPID	all	54	57	25	136
2022-23	Scottish Water	all	105	88	103	296
2022-23	Crown Estate	all	142	240	142	524
2022-23	NatureScot	all	385	320	123	828
2022-23	FLS	all	15334	12879	9277	37490
2022-23	Perth & Kinross Council	all	7	10	10	27
2022-23	Aberdeen City Council	all	30	25	8	63
2022-23	East Dunbartonshire Council	all	11	14	12	37

2023-24	MOD	all	101	145	25	271
2023-24	RPID	all	91	135	57	283
2023-24	Scottish Water	all	36	86	45	237
2023-24	Crown Estate	all	209	346	186	741
2023-24	NatureScot	all	458	416	177	1051
2023-24	FLS	all	17115	13923	10497	41535
2023-24	Perth & Kinross Council	all	5	9	8	22
2023-24	Aberdeen City Council	all	22	19	8	49
2023-24	East Dunbartonshire Council	all	13	15	15	43

Question reference: S6W-31889

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the classification of wildlife habitats such as marsh, trees, ponds and scrub as "ineligible features" in any future guidance issued in connection with its agriculture support regime.

Question reference: S6O-04050

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the SPCB) on 28 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration has been given to reviewing its parental leave policies.

In accordance with the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme the SPCB is responsible for setting and maintaining minimum terms and conditions for the employment of staff by MSPs and for the terms and conditions of parliamentary service staff. I can confirm that the SPCB plans to review the terms and conditions of staff employed by MSPs early in the New Year. The SPCB regularly benchmarks its terms and conditions with other employers to ensure that they continue to support the objective of attracting and retaining staff.

Question reference: S6O-04074

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it will ensure that all appropriate roads have a safer speed limit of 20mph by 2025.