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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-38624

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being offered to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding the reported 14 community fire stations across Scotland that are affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), including Hawick Fire Station.

Question reference: S6W-38620

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in responding to non-fire related incidents, such as flooding, road traffic collisions, and medical emergencies.

The Scottish Government’s assessment of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) response to any incidents is informed by regular engagement (at various levels between SFRS and the Scottish Government), annual and mid-year performance reviews and HMFSI reports.

The Chief Fire Officer has provided assurances to the Scottish Government that SFRS remains ready and able to respond to all relevant non-fire related emergency incidents that may occur across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-38621

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in each year since 2010, broken down by (a) capital and (b) resource budget.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was established on 1 April 2013 so 2013-14 is the first year of funding allocation. The allocations provided to SFRS in the annual budget Acts were as follows:

Year	Resource	Depreciation	Capital	Total
13-14	277.2	22.0	15.3	314.5
14-15	287.5	22.6	22.3	332.5
15-16	259.2	24.7	25.3	309.2
16-17	259.2	24.7	10.8	294.7
17-18	259.2	24.7	32.5	316.4
18-19	264.4	24.7	32.5	321.6
19-20	269.9	24.8	32.5	327.2
20-21	276.0	24.8	32.5	333.3
21-22	284.4	26.0	32.5	343.7
22-23	294.2	26.0	32.5	352.7
23-24	304.2	27.0	32.5	363.7
24-25	317.3	33.0	43.0	393.3
25-26	332.2	33.0	47.0	412.2

Question reference: S6W-38622

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether its ministers have met with representatives of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to discuss the ongoing service delivery review.

Question reference: S6W-38627

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that the mental health and wellbeing of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service staff is supported, in light of the service delivery review proposals.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has had extensive engagement with staff who could be impacted by the Service Delivery options for change. A full 12 week public consultation will take place from the end of June where staff, stakeholders and member of the public will be given the opportunity to express their views.

SFRS takes the mental health and wellbeing of its staff seriously and have a variety of measures in place. Updates have been provided at key stages, supported by intranet resources and newsletters. Potential impacts and options have been discussed, and wellbeing support is available to all staff.

Question reference: S6W-38626

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the fire and rescue coverage in rural areas, and how Scottish Fire and Rescue Service proposals would impact on rural communities.

The provision of fire and rescue activity is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

SFRS will be consulting on a range of options for change as part of its Strategic Service Review at the end of June. As SFRS delivers its services on a national basis, some of these options for change will impact on rural areas and better aligning resources with risk and demand. As part of this consultation, SFRS will publish evidence and rational for the potential changes and it also plans to engage with MSPs and members of the public.

Question reference: S6W-38628

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether a national impact assessment has been conducted in relation to any fire risk of battery energy storage system applications and developments, and what discussions it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding this issue.

Scottish Government holds regular discussions with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) about Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) sites. SFRS continually review and develop their operational response to any new and emerging technology to keep communities safe.

SFRS is responsible for enforcing general fire safety under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, while process-related fire risks at Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) sites fall under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) via the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Monitoring these sites is the duty holder’s responsibility.

No national impact assessment has been conducted in relation to fire risk of BESS applications and developments. Where new development proposals come forward, our Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) ensures the impacts of proposals on communities and nature, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision-making process. All applications are subject to site specific assessments.

Question reference: S6W-38798

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the final code of practice for regenerative agriculture, and when it expects it to be laid before the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-38799

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how often it plans to review its code of practice for regenerative agriculture once published, and how it will engage stakeholders on their views ahead of these updates.

Question reference: S6W-38800

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to accelerate the adoption of soil health measures on farms.