Parliamentary questions
Ariane Burgess
706 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is planning to facilitate the use and management of common grazings in alignment with supporting sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The changes to legislation proposed in the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill, in relation to undertaking environmental projects on common grazings, will strengthen the role of grazings committees and encourage crofters and their communities to have a grea…
27 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it will do to support crofter-led environmental initiatives, including woodland creation and peatland restoration on common grazings, as set out by the provisions proposed in the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: We want to encourage productive use of common land, whether that is led by the grazing committee and crofters, the landowner, or through a joint venture. Environmental uses of common grazings are a key priority. Current legislation puts a number of barriers i…
27 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which measures in the Rural Support Plan will address the barriers highlighted in the study on Less Favoured Areas, including (a) small scales, (b) insecurity of tenancy agreements, (c) high investment cost and (d) inadequate advice.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40154 on 17 September 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…
27 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what conclusions it has drawn from the study commissioned on the uptake of sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices in Less Favoured Areas.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government commissioned a study to support understanding of the challenges facing less favoured areas and to support future decision making in this area. This forms part of the evidence base that will inform on-going work within Agricultural Refo…
14 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on what the recorded landings were, by weight, of (a) haddock, (b) whiting, (c) cod and (d) saithe at west coast fishing harbours in (i) 1986, (ii) 1996, and (iii) 2006, and what the recorded returns were for wild salmon for the same harbours and years.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The available information on the recorded landings of UK vessels by species and district landed into Scotland in 1986 are published in table 6 of the Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 1986:https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/s…
7 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what processes are in place to ensure that farmed salmon producers comply with Scottish Government Guidance on Welfare at the Time of Killing in Salmon Farming.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government have required the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to undertake visits to slaughter facilities since 2022 to monitor operations and ensure welfare of salmon at time of killing. The Scottish Government’s guidance on Welfare a…
6 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made regarding removing the three hectare condition from the eligibility requirements for farm income support payments, as legislated for in the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024, and how else it is supporting small-scale food growers.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to supporting small producers and empowering them to play a key role in making our Vision for Agriculture a reality. This year, up to £1 million is being invested through the Small Producer Pilot Fund to …
4 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on the roll-out of (a) Fisheries Management Plans and (b) fisheries management measures for Marine Protected Areas.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: A significant amount of work on the 21 Scottish-led Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) has been completed. This work is complex and requires further stakeholder engagement and consultation. The Marine Directorate has undertaken pre-consultation with stakeholde…
4 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its commitment to introduce mandatory remote electronic monitoring (REM) for pelagic vessels from March 2026, what the current status is of the REM roll-out in the (a) pelagic sector and (b) wider Scottish fishing industry.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government’s Fisheries Management Strategy sets out actions to support the fishing fleet to modernise, and for appropriate use to be made of new and additional technology, including remote electronic monitoring (REM). The Scottish Governmen…
4 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent introduction of mandatory remote electronic monitoring (REM) for scallop fishing vessels, what the current levels of compliance are among these vessels.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: There are currently 80 Scottish registered fishing vessels and a further 21 vessels from other UK and Isle of Man administrations targeting scallops and fitted with Remote Electronic Monitoring equipment. Between 14 June 2024 and 13 August 2025 analysis has b…
29 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out regarding the banning of peat usage in commercial horticulture.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Following our 2023 consultation Ending the Sale of Peat in Scotland, we organised a series of workshops and have conducted regular engagement and site visits with industry stakeholders to gather views. This will inform the scope and timing of a ban on the sal…
29 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with its work on reforming the National Performance Framework, and what plans it has to include sustainable, affordable, healthy food in the updated framework.
Answer · Kate Forbes: We are making positive progress towards a reformed National Performance Framework (NPF), and we intend to launch a reformed framework in the new parliamentary session following the 2026 Scottish Election.We are currently engaging with a range of experts and s…
25 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment made in the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 to provide financial support to the wool sector, what it is doing to fund crofter wool production and manufacturing businesses.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: We continue to provide Scotland’s farmers, crofters and land managers with the most generous package of direct support in the UK, investing over £660 million in support to agriculture. Support schemes such as the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme…
25 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work and actions it has undertaken to reform the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme, and how it is transitioning the fund to support crofters to move towards sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Currently, grants are available to bring about distinct and durable improvement in the quality of permanent pasture. Soil analysis is also eligible for grant aid as part of an acceptable scheme.Throughout 2024, officials worked with stakeholders on the CAGS S…
25 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) and its evolution, in light of the four-tier model, and what consideration it has given to improving the accessibility of these schemes to crofters and small farmers.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Agricultural businesses, including crofters and small farmers, which are registered on the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Services website may apply to the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS). The scheme has now closed for applications in 2…
25 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out or commissioned into supporting (a) abattoirs and (b) mobile abattoirs in rural and island settings.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government provides various forms of support to Scotland’s abattoirs, including those in remote and island areas.We remain committed to supporting small producers, and empowering them to help deliver our Vision for Agriculture. One way we a…
25 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that farmers and land managers are being rewarded for delivering public goods.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: We are supporting farmers and crofters to realise the vision for agriculture and the 2025-26 budget allocates more than £665 million for the purpose of supporting farmers, land managers, rural communities and rural businesses . We are continuing to co-d…
21 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported decision to grant a licence for the culling of gannet chicks as part of the Guga Hunt, what assessment it has made of any impact of this practice on any vulnerable seabird populations, particularly in light of avian flu outbreaks.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: In determining an application for a licence, NatureScot must consider whether the hunt is sustainable, in that it would not have an adverse effect on the conservation status of the species concerned, namely gannets.In the case of the Guga Hunt licence issued …
17 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent (FTE) staff it estimates there are in each relevant agency and central government who are currently involved in the regulation of salmon farming and smolt production, including fish health, human safety, food standards, planning, environmental, fisheries int…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We are unable to provide this information in the format requested. The various agencies involved in the regulation of aquaculture which includes finfish, shellfish and seaweed sectors, undertake a wide range of duties in relation to aquaculture including gove…
17 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated annual cost to the public purse is of governing the salmon farming industry, including smolt production, in Scotland.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We are unable to provide the information requested. The aquaculture sector is governed by multiple agencies in both Scotland and the UK, for example APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency). These agencies provide different legislative functions and charging sch…
17 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for translating the guidance, Scottish Government Guidance on Welfare at the Time of Killing in Salmon Farming, published on 17 July 2025, into legislation, as recommended by the Animal Welfare Committee and the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government’s guidance on Welfare at the time of Killing in Salmon Farming is based on the recommendations made by the UK Government's Animal Welfare Committee and developed in conjunction with the Scottish farmed salmon industry, Animal Pla…
17 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38478 by Mairi Gougeon on 23 June 2025, and the statement that Seafood Scotland is the “national trade and marketing body for the Scottish seafood industry”, how Seafood Scotland contributes to its goals and duties towards prioritising s…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Seafood Scotland plays a pivotal part in the portrait of Scottish success. It offers invaluable support to businesses across the entire seafood supply chain - from wild caught fisheries to aquaculture producers, processors to retailers. It is also vital in su…
9 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it proposes following the publication of the April 2024 consultation analysis on mandatory planning training for elected members, and when it will bring forward regulations under section 45 of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government is currently developing the mandatory planning training for elected members. This includes commissioned research by Planning Aid Scotland to inform the development of the content and roll-out of the training, working with stakeholders …
8 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish a definitive list of irreplaceable habitats in Scotland, and, if so, whether species-rich meadows will be included within that list.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Under s.2(4) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, the Scottish Ministers are required to publish a list of habitats and species of principal importance within 12 months of the publication of a Scottish biodiversity strategy, known as the Scottish B…
7 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the draft islands connectivity plan strategic approach to revisit the Freight Fares Review in the medium to long term, what work has been undertaken on this, and what the anticipated timescale is for the completion and implementation of a revised freight far…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: As confirmed in the recently finalised Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach, we will revisit the Freight Fares Review in the medium to long term.Further details on revisiting the Freight Fares Review to explore ferry freight issues in more detail, con…
2 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to engage with community-led initiatives, such as the Kyles Coastal Community Group’s campaign for clean seas, to ensure that local knowledge and priorities are reflected in marine protection and wastewater management policies.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Protecting our marine environment is a shared responsibility and the Scottish Government welcomes community-led initiatives. The Kyles Coastal Community Group is a member of the Coastal Communities Network that engages directly with the Scottish Government on…
2 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider supporting a pilot scheme for decentralised, community-scale sewage treatment systems in rural areas, such as the Kyles of Bute, in light of reports that such systems may offer more environmentally sustainable and cost-effective solutions than traditional mains i…
Answer · Gillian Martin: The EU published a recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive which came into effect on January 2025. Article 4, in particular places requirements in relation to Individual Systems – more commonly known as Private Wastewater Treatment Systems. The Scot…
2 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve the monitoring and public reporting of sewage discharges into coastal waters, particularly in rural communities such as those around the Kyles of Bute and Loch Riddon, in light of reported concerns regarding the frequency and impact of untreated sewage enteri…
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to questions S6W-36642 on 2 May 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/w…
24 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the Wild Wrasse Fishery report that covers 2023.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We intend to publish this report in autumn this year.
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many wrasse have been taken from Loch Sunart since the wrasse fishery was regulated.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: ICES statistical rectangle is the finest spatial resolution data that the Scottish Government hold on the number of individual wrasse extracted from an area. ICES statistical rectangles are approximately 30 nautical miles by 30 nautical miles in size.Loch Sun…