Parliamentary questions
Beatrice Wishart
693 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Soil Association’s review statement regarding standards for organic farmed salmon, and what it is doing to encourage and facilitate innovation in the sector.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is considering the Soil Association’s review of their farmed salmon organic standards and is engaging with them in dialogue.In response to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee inquiry on salmon farming in Scotland, we set out …
2 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its national thrombectomy services and stroke improvement plan and provision for island and rural communities.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service. We have invested £39 million to date on expanding access to thrombectomy. While we continue to face significant financial challenges, we a…
28 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to business travel to island communities, and whether the Air Discount Scheme review will give consideration to necessary travel for apprentices to access learning and the reintroduction of business travel to support island economies.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Ministers have no plans to consider business travel under the Air Discount Scheme, as this would be in breach of current State Aid compliance.Ministers are currently considering the scope and structure of the Air Discount Scheme review, including how the view…
23 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its Marine Directorate is aware of reports that the fishing vessel, Genesis II, left 45 miles of ghost fishing gear on the seabed to the north of Shetland when it was towed to Lerwick harbour on 3 May 2025, and what action it will take to investigate any such reports.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is aware of the situation with a UK registered gillnet fishing vessel which had broken down and was towed to Lerwick, leaving its gear in the water. Officers from the Marine Directorate worked with the owners of the vessel as soon as i…
23 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) is possible to speed up the approval process for Seafish training schemes and (b) will commit to funding such courses to begin every June.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Initial discussions have taken place over the opportunity for financial assistance through the Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) to support Seafish to deliver safety training through the approved Scottish providers. Once a full application has been received, we will…
23 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be any Seafish training schemes in the current financial year, and, if so, when such schemes will (a) open for registration and (b) begin.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Seafish are responsible for delivering sea fisheries safety training schemes through the approved Scottish providers. Their opening for registration and when these schemes begin, are a matter for Seafish.
22 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the potential (a) disruption and (b) health implications resulting from low-frequency noise emissions for people who are sensitive to them.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Disturbance by low frequency sound is typically described as hearing a low rumble, and it can be distressing, due to sleep disturbance and other symptoms. In some instances the low-frequency noise complaint can be traced to a sound source. If the source can b…
22 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28903 by Jim Fairlie on 19 August 2024, when the Highlands and Islands Air Discount Scheme review is expected to report, and what engagement is taking place with (a) passengers and (b) other stakeholders regarding the operation of the scheme.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Ministers are considering the scope and structure of the review, including how the views of stakeholders can best be taken into account.
13 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Northern Isles Ferry Service between Aberdeen-Kirkwall-Lerwick, when a decision will be made on funding for the two proposed new "Freight Flex" vessels.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Funding has been identified in the 2025-26 budget for a potential contract start on NIFS Freighter replacements. The outline business case work has identified a Freight Flex option as the preferred concept for the two replacement vessels, with higher freight …
17 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the letter from the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health to Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP on 14 April 2025, which states that a pathway for the diagnosis and management of postural tachycardia syndrome has been withdrawn pending a review, when it expects the r…
Answer · Jenni Minto: This is a matter for NHS National Services Scotland, which established the national Long Covid Strategic Network and requested that Health Improvement Scotland perform the evidence review.
17 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to any patients from island communities that have been diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome.
Answer · Jenni Minto: This is a matter for NHS Boards, which the Scottish Government expects to provide high quality, person-centred care and support for everyone, including people with postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS). Support is often provided via primary care, with referral…
17 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients living in island communities have been diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome in the last five years.
Answer · Jenni Minto: This is a matter for NHS Boards. The information requested is not held centrally.
16 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be a Marine Fund Scotland grant scheme this financial year, and when such a scheme might open.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Significant planning work has been undertaken for the Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) for 2025-26 and we hope to be able to confirm arrangements shortly. Potential applicants should provide their details to [email protected] if they wish to be added to the mailing list.
8 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Marine Directorate plans to review restrictions on squid fishery.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Ministers have granted a limited trial to undertake a pilot project with a number of inshore vessels to help gather further information to support a longer-term policy development on fishing for squid under the North Sea Cod Avoidance Plan (NCAP).The…
8 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the squid fishery bycatch research that is being carried out by the Marine Directorate.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Government officials have been working in collaboration with stakeholders from industry and eNGOs as part of a co-management group to develop a squid fishing trial; this includes representatives from Shetland.The inshore squid fishing season is yet t…
8 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what distance from homes and public buildings is considered optimum to avoid low frequency noise disturbance, in light of reports that wind turbine sound emissions can have an impact on health.
Answer · Ivan McKee: All applications are determined on their individual merits and are subject to site specific assessments. Our Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) ensures that impacts on communities and nature, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations i…
8 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its planning policy is developed to ensure that there is no negative impact on people's health as a result of wind turbines.
Answer · Ivan McKee: National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, supported by a range of impact assessments, and was approved by the Scottish Parliament prior to its adoption in February 2023.NPF4 Policy 11 (energy) requires that w…
8 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reviewing its planning policy on wind turbines to encompass any health impacts of living, working or learning near to wind turbines, and the potential impact that the distance between buildings and turbines could have on health, including shadow flicker and low f…
Answer · Ivan McKee: Our Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) was published and adopted following extensive consultation and engagement and approval by the Scottish Parliament. Having an established and consistent policy framework enables confidence in the planning system an…
8 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider greater community control over established wind turbines to ensure that they are turned off to avoid instances of any negative health impacts from issues such as shadow flicker and low frequency noise emissions.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The grant of planning permission does not confer any right to ignore, or remove any responsibility to comply with, other legislation, such as noise and statutory nuisance legislation. This would be a matter for the relevant local authority to consider and for…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the final version of the Islands Connectivity Plan will be published.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) Strategic Approach and Vessels and Ports Plan were published for public consultation and community engagement last year, with the consultation report and Transport Scotland’s Initial Responses published in September 2…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently working on the Islands Connectivity Plan.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Most work on the Islands Connectivity Plan is being done by Transport Scotland’s Ferries Strategy Team, with support from other teams, stakeholders and, when necessary, commissioned externally.As of 28 March 2025 there are 6 people working in the team.
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed review of the NHS Scotland patient travel scheme will include the impact of local authority visitor levies on NHS patients travelling for treatment.
Answer · Neil Gray: While the Scottish Government provides the overarching guidance for patient travel expenses reimbursement, NHS Boards are responsible for developing local policy to best meet the needs to their populations, and for assessing eligibly for financial support and…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29010 by Neil Gray on 28 August 2024, when it will confirm a start date for the review of the NHS Scotland patient travel scheme.
Answer · Neil Gray: A start date for the review is not confirmed at this time – it is important that the scope and timing of the review is considered within the context of wider reform on access to health care, which is already underway.It is recognised that transport to h…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will change the booking system for travel on the Northern Isles Ferry Service, to ensure a continual rolling system, as part of the next Northern Isles Ferry Service contract.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Preparatory work is now underway for the NIFS4 contract but this remains at an early stage. No decision on the detailed requirements of the contract has been taken but the views of stakeholders and operational feasibility will inform the approach taken. This …
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Northern Isles Ferry Service booking system will open for bookings for dates beyond 31 December 2025.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I fully appreciate the need to get bookings released in good time so that businesses and individuals can plan ahead. The Northern Isles Ferry Services contract stipulates that the May CPI rate, which is normally published in June, is used as the basis for the…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will require the return of the option of shared cabins for passengers on the Northern Isles Ferry Service as part of the next Northern Isles Ferry Service contract.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The current NIFS contract is due to expire on 30 June 2028. Preparatory work to deliver the next generation of these services remains at an early stage. The detailed service requirements will be informed by a combination of stakeholder views alongside conside…
7 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Norwegian company, SalMar Aker Ocean, about an exposed offshore salmon farm development off the east coast of Shetland, in light of its current work on the consenting process for aquaculture developments such as this.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I visited Salmar Aker Ocean’s Ocean Farm One, the world’s first offshore salmon farm, in Norway in August 2023, where I learned about high farmed fish survival rates, alongside reduced environmental impacts, made possible through farming in higher…
4 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35262 by Mairi Gougeon on 3 March 2025, how it will monitor and enforce the use of remote electronic monitoring for (a) Scottish vessels and (b) non-Scottish vessels, after these requirements come into force on 7 March 2026.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate routinely inspect Scottish and non-Scottish vessels based on risk. Under remote electronic monitoring for pelagic vessels, this will include analysis of catch data compared with vessel capacity. Additionally,…
3 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government with regard to Walls, Hillswick and Bressay fire stations in Shetland, which were served with improvement notices by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), what discusssions it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) regarding how this situation arose, and how it wi…
Answer · Siobhian Brown: I discussed the subject of the HSE improvement notice at a meeting with the SFRS Chair and Chief Officer on 6 March. I received and welcome the reassurances provided that SFRS is committed to addressing the concerns raised through the formation of a working g…
25 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the mandatory remote electronic monitoring requirements for pelagic fishing vessels come into force and how these apply to (a) Scottish and (b) non-Scottish vessels operating in the Scottish zone.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Mandatory remote electronic monitoring (REM) requirements for pelagic fishing trips come into force on 7 March 2026. The legislation can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2024/165/contents/madeFrom this date Scottish pelagic vessels covered by th…