Chamber and committees

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-22438

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on the marine environment in Scotland, what its position is on the reported response from the Marine Management Organisation, to a Freedom of Information request from the World Cetacean Alliance, stating that it only holds bycatch data on the only UK-registered super trawler, not on foreign-owned super trawlers, in light of it being a requirement for all vessels operating in UK waters to report all incidences of marine mammal bycatch.

All vessels authorised to operate in Scottish waters do so under the appropriate licences, and are obliged to follow Scottish domestic management rules. This includes a mandatory requirement for all vessels, including EU vessels, operating in UK waters to report any incidental injury or mortality (bycatch) of marine mammal to the Marine Management Organisation.

We take any infringements of fishing vessel licence conditions seriously, including those relating the reporting of marine mammal bycatch. We continue to remind masters of their obligation to record and report incidental mortality and serious injury (bycatch) of marine mammals in accordance with their licence condition and will investigate any reports where there is evidence which suggests this condition is not complied with.

While the management of Scottish waters is an area of devolved competency, the Scottish Government continues to work with the UK Government and other devolved administrations through the delivery of the Marine Wildlife Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI) which is a joint plan for tackling bycatch across the UK with the aim of minimising, and where possible eliminating, bycatch of sensitive marine species.

Question reference: S6W-22439

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on the marine environment in Scotland, whether it will make further representations to the UK Government and Marine Management Organisation on implementing improved measures for monitoring bycatch from all vessels operating in UK waters, including foreign-owned super trawlers.

While the management of Scottish waters is an area of devolved competency, the Scottish Government continues to work with the UK Government and other devolved administrations through the delivery of the Marine Wildlife Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI) which is a joint plan for tackling bycatch across the UK to minimise, and where possible eliminate, bycatch of sensitive marine species. This includes an objective to improve our understanding of bycatch through monitoring, which we continue to do through our observer programmes.

Sustainability, support for biodiversity, and consideration of the wider ecosystem is at the heart of how we manage Scotland’s fisheries and protect our marine environment. For this reason, actions contained within both Scotland Fisheries Management Strategy and in the Blue Economy Vision for Scotland, sets out our ambition for the sustainable management and shared stewardship of Scotland’s seas and coasts.

The Future Catching Policy will take concrete action to support fishers to avoid bycatch of fish and other sensitive marine species – the aim is to reduce waste and increase the sustainability of the Scottish fishing fleet. As a first priority, we will take firm measures to increase selectivity by introducing additional technical measures were required to reduce unwanted catch, working with stakeholders to explore and deliver solutions.

Question reference: S6W-22504

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to improve timely reporting by Salmon Fishery Boards of wild salmon catch statistics, including penalties for boards that are very late in publishing statistics.

There are no obligations on District Salmon Fishery Boards to report or publish wild salmon catch statistics.

The Scottish Government requires proprietors or occupiers of salmon fisheries to provide it with information each year relating to the fishery. Refusal to comply with the request for information or providing false information is an offence.

Official Statistics on the Scottish salmon and sea trout fishery are published annually. Statistics for the 2022 season are available at - Scottish salmon and sea trout fishery statistics 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-22503

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering steps to reduce recreational fishing for (a) wild salmon and (b) trout, in light of the species’ reported decline.

The Scottish Government is not considering steps to reduce recreational fishing for salmon or trout in Scotland.

Recreational fisheries for salmon and trout are regulated by a body of legislation that determines where and when fishing can take place, by what method and whether any fish caught can be retained or must be returned to the water.

The Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016 prohibit the retention of salmon caught in coastal waters and specified inland waters. The regulations are amended annually to take account of the latest assessment of the conservation status of salmon.

As a result of statutory and voluntary measures, the practice of catch and release has increased in recent years. In 2022, catch and release accounted for 97% of the total rod catch of salmon and 91% of the total rod catch of sea trout.

Question reference: S6W-22572

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to press the Scottish Information Commissioner to issue a decision on a complaint (Case ID: 202200650) about the non-disclosure by SEPA of environmental information relating to salmon farming, which was requested on 12 January 2022.

Question reference: S6W-22222

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when local authorities will receive an update on any new responsibilities and obligations on local government arising from the national Good Food Nation plan.

The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 ("the Act") requires Scottish Ministers, local authorities, and health boards to publish Good Food Nation Plans. Local authorities will be encouraged to share their views on the national Plan during the forthcoming consultation. Following the consultation process, the proposed national Plan will be laid before the Scottish Parliament. Local authority and health board Plans will be published after the national Plan, as they must have regard to the content of the national Plan in the preparation of their own Plans. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of engaging with local authorities during the development and delivery of the Good Food Nation Plans. Officials have regular meetings with COSLA to provide progress updates on the national Plan and to discuss the duties on local government arising from the Act. The Scottish Government will continue to engage with local authorities and COSLA throughout the Good Food Nation work.

Question reference: S6O-02623

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to cultural organisations that are operating in rural areas.

Question reference: S6W-21757

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it can offer to car sharing organisations that work to support the National Transport Strategy aim to promote car and ride sharing in preference to single occupancy car use, in light of reports that such work is being undermined by insurance premiums increasing by more than 100% in a single year.

Transport Scotland provide funding sources, such as the Smarter Choices Smarter Places Open Fund, to encourage people to change their behaviours to drive less and to walk or cycle as part of their everyday short journeys or to use public transport for longer journeys for which shared transport projects, including those supporting car clubs, are eligible.

The cost of motoring through vehicle excise duty, fuel duty and motor insurance is subject to legislation fully reserved to the UK Government.

Question reference: S6W-22269

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-21850

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to ensure that any electric vehicle (EV) chargers installed at Scottish Government agency locations across Scotland are made available for the wider public through the ChargePlace Scotland system, as is the case with the SEPA EV chargers in Elgin.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is owned by many different executive agencies and other public bodies (such as SEPA) which are funded by the Scottish Government, as well as a small proportion owned by the Scottish Government directly. Each individual organisation is responsible for managing their own charge point assets and for making decisions about whether they should be designated for staff, visitors and/or fleet vehicle usage or for general public access. Not all charge point sites are suitable for general public access, for example those in secure staff car parks or in fleet vehicle depots.

There are no plans to centralise the management of EV charging infrastructure across all Scottish Government agencies or public bodies.

Since 2011, the Scottish Government has provided £65 million to support the installation of over 2,600 public charge points across Scotland, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive public EV charging networks in the UK. The Scottish Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund aims to provide a further £60 million of public and private sector investment to increase the number of public charge points to 6,000 by 2026.