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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-40948

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much it cost to install any instarinse products in the Scottish Parliament building.

Question reference: S6W-40846

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support ocean science and protect endangered species and fragile fisheries in the marine environment.

The Scottish Government continues to support a wide variety of marine science to ensure there is a strong evidence base to support marine management and the Blue Economy Vision. This includes the Scottish Government’s Science, Evidence, Data and Digital Portfolio, as well as directly commissioned science, and collaboration with a strong academic presence in Scotland through the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology Scotland (MASTS), other UK administrations and international partners. This is reflected in the Scottish Government’s Marine Science and Innovation Strategy, which was published in 2024, and the appointment of an independent Chief Scientific Advisor Marine. Furthermore, in 2025 following consultation with Scotland’s academic marine science community, the Marine and Freshwater Areas of Research Interest was published.

This evidence base has been critical in delivering a range of programmes that can also protect Scotland’s iconic marine species. This includes the publication of the Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan, which identifies over 50 priority actions aimed at improving the conservation status of Scotland’s seabirds; and the development of a UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy to address threats to cetaceans in UK waters. Furthermore, work on the Future Catching Policy, Bycatch Mitigation Initiative, marine litter and Marine Protected Areas have all been shaped by a robust evidence base and help to protect internationally important sensitive species including cetaceans, seals, seabirds, and elasmobranchs.

With regard to fisheries, we take an evidence-based approach to its management, with a range of policies and actions focussed on managing marine fish stocks sustainably, and in a way that is supportive of the achievement of the fisheries objectives set out in the Fisheries Act 2020, the Joint Fisheries Statement and other legislative commitments. Alongside delivery partners, Scottish Government is also progressing actions under Scotland’s Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan to ensure the protection and recovery of wild Atlantic salmon populations in Scotland. This work is underpinned by advice from the Wild Salmon Strategy Science and Evidence Board.

Question reference: S6W-41101

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its membership of the Stonewall Diversity Champions scheme represents value for money for the taxpayer.

Question reference: S6W-40952

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what advice and recommendations it has received, and from whom, regarding the proposed Nature Conservation Order to protect the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Achnabobane.

The Scottish Government has received advice and recommendations from NatureScot and Scottish Forestry with respect to the proposed Nature Conservation Order to protect the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Achnabobane. The NatureScot advice reflected local discussions between The Highland Council, Scottish Forestry and Police Scotland which sought to address damage to the SSSI.

Question reference: S6W-40857

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential (a) environmental and (b) economic impact on Scotland of any breakdown of the Gulf Stream and its associated currents, and what action it has carried out to prepare for any such eventuality.

The Scottish Government works to address a wide range of current and potential future impacts of climate change on Scotland. The actions and policies it is committed to delivering to build resilience and adapt to climate change are set out in the Scottish National Adaptation Plan (SNAP3). As established in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2008, this is a five-year cycle, with each new Adaptation Plan responding to the latest climate risk evidence base provided through technical advice and risk assessments published by the Climate Change Committee and UK Government. With regards to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), the most recent Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3) from the CCC does not factor AMOC into the underlying evidence base of climate risk and opportunities. The CCRA3 notes that a shutdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is considered very unlikely this century and is therefore not included in the specific evidence base on which SNAP3 has been designed to respond.

Question reference: S6W-41031

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the Tay Cities Region Deal is supporting manufacturing firms.

Question reference: S6W-41013

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support college staff wellbeing, in light of Audit Scotland’s findings in its recent report, Scotland’s Colleges 2025, that workforce reductions and curriculum changes have increased workloads and stress.

Colleges are responsible for operational matters, such as managing workforce restructuring and curriculum changes. This includes ensuring they meet their obligations as an employer, including providing appropriate support to protect the health, safety and overall wellbeing of staff.

The Scottish Government acknowledges the impact funding constraints, that to a significant extent flow from UK Government decisions, and associated workforce restructuring decisions will have on staff. The Scottish Government has been consistently clear that such decisions must be informed by Fair Work principles, following meaningful engagement with staff and trade unions.

Question reference: S6W-41128

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the visit to Japan by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy in September 2025 to lead a delegation from Scotland's offshore wind sector, on what date the cabinet secretary agreed informally to go on the visit, and to whom this decision was given.

Question reference: S6W-41125

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the visit to Japan by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy in September 2025 to lead a delegation from Scotland's offshore wind sector, on what date the visit was confirmed in the cabinet secretary’s diary.

Question reference: S6W-41124

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the visit to Japan by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy in September 2025 to lead a delegation from Scotland's offshore wind sector, on what date the visit was provisionally entered in the cabinet secretary’s diary.