Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-42517

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to (a) develop a dedicated men’s health strategy, similar to that published by the UK Government for men in England, and (b) address any health inequalities affecting men and boys.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving life expectancy and tackling health inequalities across the whole population.

On 17 June 2025, the Scottish Government and COSLA published a Population Health Framework, which sets out a whole-system, cross-government and cross-sector approach to improving population health and reducing inequalities over the next decade.

There are no current plans for the Scottish Government to develop a specific strategy focused on men’s health; however, the Framework contains 30 initial actions, including in those areas that disproportionately affect men. For instance, the Scottish Government's commitment to develop a Healthcare Inequalities Action Plan to improve healthcare access and equity, as well as development of an Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan - building on the progress of the National Mission - which will be published in the new year.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government will shortly be publishing a new Suicide Prevention Action Plan, for 2026 – 2029. In view of the persistent trend of male suicide, the Scottish Government is determined to address and continue to test new, and creative, ways to reach and support men.

Question reference: S6O-05319

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprise housebuilders.

Question reference: S6W-41696

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how much each NHS board will receive from the £25.5 million of additional funds for the NHS that it announced on 3 November 2025.

As announced by the First Minister of 3 November 2025, Health Boards have been allocated an additional £25.5 million this year to allow them to deliver more planned activity for the longest waiting patients.

This funding is focused on Health Boards in the most populated areas and targeted at specialties where it can most effectively reduce the longest waiting times, ensuring the greatest benefit for patients.

This brings total additional funding to £135.5 million for Planned Care in 2025-26.

The following table set out the allocation of the £25.5 million funding by Health Board.

Table 1

Health Board	Total Cost 25-26 £000
NHS Ayrshire & Arran	589
NHS Fife	1,333
NHS Grampian	2,034
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde	10,250
NHS Highland	495
NHS Lanarkshire	133
NHS Lothian	10,458
NHS Shetland	85
NHS Tayside	106
Total	25,482,000

I have also provided a breakdown of this funding by Planned Care speciality.

Table 2

Speciality	Total Cost 25-26 £000
Cardiology	554
Dermatology	5,930
Diabetes & Endocrinology	502
ENT	476
Gastroenterology	696
General Surgery	2,621
Gynaecology	1,692
Maxillofacial Surgery	58
Neurology	593
Neurosurgery	1,079
OMFS	324
Ophthalmology	331
Orthopaedics	7,587
Paediatric Cardiology	33
Paediatric Surgery	238
Paediatrics	27
Pain Service	140
Plastic Surgery	889
Rheumatology	115
Waiting List Initiatives (various specialities)	725
Waiting List Validation (various specialities)	250
Miscellaneous	622
Total	25,482

Question reference: S6W-41355

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 6 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on piloting a community-only deer management leasing scheme that prioritises residents with appropriate qualifications.

Forestry and Land Scotland is currently developing a community stalking, deer management national agreement which could be applied to pilot sites on Scotland’s National Forests and Land (SNFL). This is consequent to recent discussions between FLS and NatureScot to review the results of the NS community stalking project at Creag Meagaidh

FLS is also in the process of identifying suitable locations for potential pilot sites on SNFL.

The pilot sites will provide suitably qualified and motivated local individuals with opportunity to support FLS in the culling of deer to help protect tree crops, restore nature and to enhance biodiversity and climate resilience across the chosen locations.

Question reference: S6W-41028

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether all school staff receive training in recognising anaphylaxis and administering adrenaline auto-injectors.

Schools must arrange specialist anaphylaxis training for staff where a pupil within the school has been diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis. Where this happens, schools should ensure there are a reasonable number of designated members of staff available to provide sufficient coverage, including times when staff are on leave.

Any member of a school’s staff can volunteer to take on responsibilities for administering adrenaline to children or young people, although they cannot be compelled to do so. Where school staff do volunteer to administer epilepsy rescue medication to children and young people, they must be appropriately trained and they should have their epilepsy training refreshed at least every two years.

Information about treating anaphylaxis, and the use of adrenaline auto-injectors, in schools set out in our guidance on supporting children and young people with healthcare needs in schools. This information is available through the following web link: Supporting children and young people with healthcare needs in schools: guidance - gov.scot.

Question reference: S6W-41354

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to protect private water supplies when determining applications for energy infrastructure developments under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Applications are determined in line with the relevant legislation, including the Electricity Works (EIA)(Scotland) Regulations 2017, together with advice from consultees. These processes ensure that potential impacts on the environment, including on private water supplies, are fully considered. Scottish Ministers also impose conditions on the consent which are designed to control the development and ensure it is consistent with the application and the proposed mitigation measures outlined in the application and recommended by consultees.

Question reference: S6W-41353

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update planning or consenting guidance to ensure that the impact on private water supplies are classed as a material consideration in planning applications under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.

The Scottish Government processes section 36 and 37 applications in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks. Our Good Practice Guidance for developers, which is available to view on Scottish Government webpages, sets out procedures and advice for projects requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). As part of the EIA process, developers are required to identify and assess any private water supplies in the vicinity of the proposed development that could potentially be affected by the works.

Question reference: S6W-41357

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration Forestry and Land Scotland gave to alternative lease models, such as a community-only stalking lease, before introducing the policy of exclusive use of paid contractors for deer management.

FLS does not have a policy of exclusive use of paid contractors for deer management.

FLS currently achieves its annual deer cull via:-

FLS Wildlife Rangers (x 50), delivering 24% of cull.
Professional Culling Contractors (x 115), delivering 74% of cull.
Recreational Stalkers (x 50), delivering 2% of cull.

This model was developed over several years and has helped FLS facilitate a 35% increase in its cull from 30,700 deer in 2015/16, to 41,500 deer in 2024/25.

Higher culls result in reductions in deer numbers and associated deer damage impacts.

Across SNFL there are currently 23 recreational deer leases and permissions covering 24,700 hectares.

Question reference: S6W-41356

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Forestry and Land Scotland has reportedly ceased offering sporting leases to the public, and what evidence supports the reported claim that previous leaseholders failed to reduce deer numbers effectively.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has evolved its current deer management model, that has increased the annual cull by 35% since 2015/16. This model—delivered through a combination of Wildlife Rangers, professional contractors, and recreational stalkers—has proven more effective in reducing deer impacts on Scotland’s national forests and land (SNFL), while supporting broader land management goals and protecting public investment.

Sporting leases, often lacked the flexibility and responsiveness needed to manage deer populations effectively, the current model allows year-round culling across varied terrain using specialist equipment. Professional Rangers and contractors ensure a targeted and efficient approach.

Additionally, increasing sporting leases would significantly raise the cost of sporting rates payable by FLS to local authorities along with the increased administrative burden, especially compared to more direct delivery models.

Question reference: S6W-40873

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, what (a) assessment it has made of the potential impact that increased nature restoration targets might have on domestic food production and (b) action it is taking to reduce Scotland’s reliance on food imports.

(a) The introduction of statutory nature restoration targets is key in delivering the vision of restoring and regenerating biodiversity in Scotland by 2045 as outlined in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. The Scottish Government is undertaking a 4-step process for the selection of nature restoration targets which includes engagement with expert groups using the best available scientific evidence and includes carrying out any necessary impact assessments. This process is being underpinned by stakeholder engagement with a range of stakeholders including land managers, farmers, ENGOs and other business. Any targets which are set much be adaptable to the unpredictability of ecological responses and climate impacts.

Within the Biodiversity Delivery Plan Biodiversity: delivery plan 2024 to 2030 - gov.scot it outlines the importance of the Vision for Scottish Agriculture for delivering the 2045 ambition and to transform how we support farming and food production in Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. The Delivery Plan includes actions which will be incorporated into the new agricultural support system to help farmers and crofters transition to practice generating substantial regeneration in biodiversity, ecosystem and soil health and significantly reduce carbon emissions while sustaining high quality food production.

(b) Scotland’s food and farming sectors have a critical role to play in Scotland’s food security, producing food for consumption in Scotland, and increasing our economic resilience through exports of food and drink worth £8 billion in March 2025. Our strong trade relationships are also vital. Our imports ensure the availability of a wide choice of food throughout the year and so we are not reliant on any one country of origin.

High quality food and sustainable production chains are an outcome of the Vision for Agriculture. The Proposed Good Food Nation Plan has outcomes which reflect both the need for Scotland’s food system to be sustainable and contribute to a flourishing natural environment and be food secure and food resilient. A suite of indicators for the Plan were published and can be viewed at: Proposed National Good Food Nation Plan - gov.scot.

Seòmar agus comataidhean