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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-21977

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on proposals from SSE Renewables to halve the number of gannets harvested in the annual Guga Hunt at Sula Sgeir to compensate for mortalities caused by the Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm.

Scottish Ministers are currently processing applications from SSE Renewables (via its project company Berwick Bank Wind Limited) for the construction and operation of the proposed Berwick Bank offshore wind farm. This process includes consultations with statutory and non-statutory consultees, as well as the opportunity for the public to make representations.

SSE Renewables has also submitted proposals to compensate for the potential adverse environmental impacts of the proposed wind farm, if a derogation under the Habitats Regulations is required. This includes a proposal regarding the guga hunt, which SSE Renewables has submitted on a without prejudice basis.

As this is a live application, it would be inappropriate to comment on the application further.

In determining an application for any project, the Scottish Ministers will consider a wide range of issues, including the environmental impacts it may have and whether a derogation under the Habitats Regulations is required. Any derogation under the Habitats Regulations, will include an assessment of the feasibility of compensation measures.

Question reference: S6W-22149

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported technical issues with MV Loch Bhrusda, MV Loch Alainn and MV Loch Portain, which have left the Western Isles with no inter-island ferry service, whether it will consider accelerating phase 2 of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme.

MV Loch Bhrusda and MV Loch Alainn returned to service on 11 and 12 October respectively. During the recent outage of MV Loch Portain, CalMac moved quickly to charter a vessel to provide replacement services.

Early business case development work for the second phase of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme is underway. Further progress will be made early next year as vessel design and feasibility studies will be undertaken as part of the development of the Outline Business Case.

Question reference: S6W-22221

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 October 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul McLennan on 13 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of the Remote, Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan.

Question reference: S6O-02600

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its housing strategy is supporting people on low incomes to move towards greener energy use in their homes.

Question reference: S6O-02490

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of its proposed Land Reform Bill.

Question reference: S6O-02467

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement by the local government empowerment minister in July, whether it will provide an update on what discussions he has had regarding the roll-out of the Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund.

Question reference: S6W-20514

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Crofting Commission processing times of applications for (a) decrofting, (b) apportionment and (c) registration, and whether processing times have improved in the last five years.

The Crofting Commission publishes its application processing times in its Annual Report & Accounts. The median turnaround times for applications completed during Q1 of 2023-24 is as follows:

Croft House decrofting: 11 weeks

Apportionment: 117 weeks

The croft registration process belongs to Registers of Scotland, therefore these figures are not readily available.

Whilst the Commission’s capacity for processing casework declined in 2021-22, an increase to its budget in the last two years has enabled it to expand its staff resource and improvements are being made. The apportionment cases now being cleared include some of those affected by delays in 2021-22, or earlier.

Question reference: S6W-20404

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the reported shortage of specialist oncologists within NHS Highland.

NHS Highland’s oncology service is currently provided by a mix of substantive staff, locum consultants and some support from consultants based in other boards. This arrangement is ensuring all patients are receiving the treatment they need. Efforts to recruit additional substantive staff are ongoing, however this is difficult because of the current UK national shortage of doctors who are qualified oncologists.

Question reference: S6W-20127

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 July 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to develop a sustainable, diverse, competitive and economically viable aquaculture industry.

Today I am pleased to announce to Parliament the launch of our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture in Scotland.

This Vision sets out the Scottish Government’s long-term aspirations to 2045 for the finfish, shellfish and seaweed farming sectors, and the wider aquaculture supply chain, with the aim of ensuring our industry is sustainable, diverse, competitive and economically viable.

Scottish Aquaculture produces the UK’s biggest food export – Scottish farmed salmon. The sector is already a significant contributor to our economy through trade, employment and investment in infrastructure such as housing, broadband and harbour facilities. It supports a wide range of highly skilled and well-paid jobs across farming operations, supply chain businesses, research institutes and new innovative enterprises. Many of these jobs are located in some of Scotland’s most fragile rural and island communities where they help to underpin valuable economic development. Aligning with our Blue Economy Vision, our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture also sets out our aspirations for the growth of other fish, seafood and seaweed aquaculture.

We have consulted widely across the sector and with other stakeholders to develop our Vision and it includes a series of outcomes that will help drive progress in key areas such as the environment and biodiversity, consenting, community benefit, business and health and welfare.

The Scottish Government will work with all stakeholders, including industry, regulators, government, enterprise agencies, academia, NGOs and communities to deliver our positive Vision for a thriving aquaculture sector in Scotland that is globally recognised as innovative, productive, successful and sustainable.

Question reference: S6W-19495

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul McLennan on 28 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the outcome of the recent summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in Jersey.

On 16 June 2023, the First Minister represented the Scottish Government at the Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council hosted by the Government of Jersey. The meeting was attended by Ministers from seven of the eight of the BIC Member Administrations with Northern Ireland represented by senior officials in an observational capacity.

The Summit meeting was chaired by the Chief Minister of Jersey Kristina Moore, who welcomed delegates to Jersey at a dinner on the Thursday evening ahead of the Summit.

The Summit focussed on “Building for the Future: Green and Affordable” which offered the opportunity to discuss housing challenges faced by all of the BIC member administrations. This included affordable housing, decarbonisation of heat and modern methods of construction and whilst in Jersey, the First Minister attended a site visit to a building project in St Helier which employs offsite construction methods.

This discussion followed on from a meeting of the BIC Housing Ministers on 5 June at which I represented the Scottish Government. I welcome the opportunity that this forum presents the Governments of these islands for closer collaboration and look forward to increased engagement around the common challenges we face.

On the latest Political Developments item, the First Minster reflected on the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the importance of re-establishing political institutions in Northern Ireland. The First Minister highlighted the continued importance of developing measures to help support households and business during the cost-of-living crisis, EU relations intergovernmental relations in the United Kingdom, and voiced continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The First Minister also took the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with the Taoiseach, the Tnaiste, the First Minister of Wales, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and had introductory meetings with the Chief Ministers of the Crown Dependencies.

The Communiqué that was issued by the British-Irish Council after the meeting can be found on its website at: britishirishcouncil.org.