Ariane Burgess

19 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking in rural areas, particularly in the Highlands, to improve (a) mental health services for vulnerable people and (b) adult social support.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government recognise that people in rural areas, particularly those who are vulnerable, can experience particular challenges in relation to their mental health, wellbeing and social care support.Decisions around the provision of mental health ser…

19 Mar 2025 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the composition is of the single-use coffee cups and lunch boxes used in the Parliament, and where the location is of the facility for composting such single-use packaging.

Answer · Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB): Takeaway meal containers (lunch boxes) and single use coffee cups in the Garden Level Restaurant are fully compostable, made from a fibrous by product of sugar cane.  Single use coffee cups at the coffee bar are made from paper, paperboard and recyclable…

19 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, other than the Single-use Plastic Products (Scotland) Regulations 2021, what action it (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to reduce the use of plastic packaging and single-use plastics, and what specific policies or initiatives are or will be aimed at (i) reducing waste and (ii) promot…

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government is undertaking a wide range of actions to tackle single use plastics and plastic packaging beyond the Environmental Protection (Single Use Plastics Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packag…

12 Mar 2025 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what measures it is taking to support any LGBTQ+ staff whose welfare may be negatively impacted by any increase in the use of language in the Chamber and committees that may be perceived as trans-exclusionary.

10 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research by the University of Cambridge and University of the Highlands and Islands showing that a pledge by UK shooting organisations to replace lead shot with non-toxic alternatives by 2025 has failed, how it plans to protect (a) wildlife and (b) game meat consumers from l…

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is aware of the research by the University of Cambridge and the University of the Highlands and Islands and recognises that the use of lead in ammunition continues to pose risks to human health, wildlife, and the environment. We priori…

10 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its statement in the National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2) consultation documents that "zonal planning for fisheries in NMP2 is not currently appropriate as there are a range of policies in development", for what reason it proposes to separate fisheries from zonal marine planning, a…

Answer · Gillian Martin: The National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2) is a planning tool that informs and provides guidance on marine use decisions covering where, when, if and how development takes place. The regulation and management of marine activities including fishing are covered by secto…

7 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31545 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2024, whether it has received any response from the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland with regards to the proposed order under section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998 relating to changing marri…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We have received a reply from the Secretary of State for Scotland. This reply gives in-principle agreement to the proposed section 104 Order.Scotland Office has asked for further information on what the Order could cover. The Scottish Government will write to…

6 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) can take and (b) is taking to ensure that there is clear labelling that distinguishes between farmed and wild Scottish salmon, as well as imported salmon, in order that consumers can make informed choices, in light of a recent survey, which reportedly found that 41% of…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The commercial harvesting of wild Atlantic salmon in Scotland is now very limited consequent to conservation measures. It is unlikely that wild Atlantic salmon from Scotland will appear in UK supermarkets.Whether farmed or wild caught, the origin of unprocess…

6 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments in the Highlands and Islands region.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has allocated £123 million to Health Boards this year to improve the quality and delivery of mental health and psychological services, including neurodevelopmental services, for both adults and Children and Young People.We are ta…

4 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission report into the treatment of cleaner fish in salmon farms is due to be published, and for what reason the report's publication has reportedly been delayed.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission is aiming to publish its report on the welfare of cleaner fish used in the Scottish salmon industry by the summer. It had been hoped that the report would be ready by the end of 2024, but research has taken longer than o…

4 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce a decision on the review into banning lead ammunition, and whether it plans to provide an update and information to the Parliament or the relevant committee on (a) how the decision was reached and (b) its rationale for the decision.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government recognises that the use of lead in ammunition continues to pose risks to both human health and the environment. We prioritised work under assimilated law in 2021 to propose a restriction for lead in ammunition, in agreement with the We…

3 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of inshore fisheries and conservation authorities in England as a potential model for inshore fisheries management in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Recent work has been undertaken to review different models of inshore fisheries management, including the model in England using Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities. This work, along with wider evidence submitted during our Inshore Fisheries Manage…

3 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will (a) publish and (b) respond to the findings from the call for evidence on the Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement programme, which concluded on 18 February 2025.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We intend to publish the results to the call for evidence in line with Scottish Government consultation good practice guidance for Scottish Government consultations, typically within 12 weeks of the closing date.Following analysis of the responses, policy pro…

3 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has commissioned or undertaken into the toxicity of manmade materials and chemicals used in the construction and insulation of housing in Scotland.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The regulation of manmade materials and chemicals that are present or can be used in the production of construction materials is complex and largely reserved to UK Government. The Construction Products Regulation lays down rules to ensure products perform to …

3 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to expand the supply chain for natural construction materials, such as hemp and wood fibre.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is working with industry through the ministerially-led Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) to support the green energy transition, embracing the opportunities to grow Scotland’s economy, and as part of this work to explore natura…

3 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to explore any reforms of the energy performance certificate (EPC) regime in (a) general and (b) relation to the EPC appraisal of (i) cavity walls and associated insulation measures and (ii) energy efficiency improvement recommendations, and what advice it has…

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government has undertaken an extensive range of work in pursuit of reforming the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regime in Scotland.This has included three recent consultations to scope and refine the approach to EPC reform.Domestic Energy P…

27 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the announcement by the UK Government on 27 February 2025 that it will work to increase the use of domestic timber in construction will have on Scotland, and what dialogue concerning domestic timber it had with the UK Government prior to this.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We welcome the UK government’s Timber in Construction road map since this should increase the market for Scottish timber in England. There is considerable scope to increase the use of timber frame house building methods in England unlike in Scotland whe…

25 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the analysis of the consultation conducted on the A96 Corridor Review, which closed on 21 February 2025.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: During the Roundtable meeting I held in Parliament on 4 February, I advised members of my intention to provide an update on the public’s response to the consultation as soon as possible. However, this will depend on the time required to review the consi…

19 Feb 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is, regarding any potential impact on the environment, to reports that Mowi Scotland, a multi-national fish farming company, has purchased Sanda Island in Argyll and Bute.   

6 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's proposal to transition 14% of England's agricultural land to nature recovery and net zero outcomes, what percentage of Scotland's agricultural land the Scottish Government proposes should be prioritised for (a) nature recovery and (b) net zero outcomes in…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Through Scotland’s Land Use Strategy, our Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement and Natural Capital Framework, we have in place an established set of principles, objectives, protocols, and guidance. This helps our farmers, crofters and other land o…

5 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been committed in its 2025-26 Budget to bringing empty homes back into use; how local authorities can access this funding, and how much resource has been specifically allocated to support (a) local authority empty homes officers and (b) the Empty Homes Partnership.

Answer · Paul McLennan: We will invest £2 million next year financial year to help local authorities unlock barriers, develop a targeted approach and embed empty homes work across their services to bring more privately owned empty homes back into use through the Scottish Empty…

4 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve maternity services in Caithness, to reduce any need for individuals to travel to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for childbirth and other maternity-related care.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government expects all NHS Boards to provide maternity services that are delivered as close to home as practicable and to offer a full range of birth place options within their region. Service planning and delivery is the responsibility of NHS Bo…

30 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31025 by Alasdair Allan on 12 November 2024, by what date it will publish the Nature Conservation Order to protect the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Achnabobane.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Both the drafting of the proposed Nature Conservation Order for Achnabobane, within the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the associated Land Register of Scotland and General Register of Sasines searches, are at an advanced s…

29 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's decision to bring forward secondary legislation that would allow the Genetic Technologies (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 to take effect, what it anticipates the potential impact on Scotland will be in relation to (a) devolved competencies (b) (i) regional …

Answer · Jim Fairlie: We are aware of the UK Government’s planned secondary legislation following its Genetic Technologies (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 and are looking carefully at the implications of their proposals. As our closest trading partner, any changes in England m…

8 Jan 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to work with NHS boards and patient transport providers to ensure that access to healthcare is fair, equitable and efficient for island residents.

17 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed reduction to land reform funding in its draft Budget 2025-26, how it plans to meet its commitment to increase the Scottish Land Fund to £20 million per year by the end of the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting community ownership to increase the diversity of land ownership and, despite severe financial pressures, we have maintained an allocation of £7.1 million for the Scottish Land Fund in 2025-26. We will s…

12 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had (a) internally, (b) with public bodies and (c) with stakeholders regarding supporting fruit and nut orchard development, and what its position is on (i) establishing a bespoke orchard grant to support the setting up of new fruit and nut orchards and (ii) refor…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Through the Agriculture Reform Programme, and in collaboration with Scottish Forestry and NatureScot, we are considering opportunities to improve how we support farmers to integrate trees. The integration of trees on farms can take a variety of forms, with th…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure the sustainability and future of GP practices, particularly in rural and island areas, and to address the funding issues raised by the increase in employer national insurance contributions, including at the Skerryvore practice in Orkney.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises that primary and community care services should be developed to meet the needs of distinct localities, including those in our rural areas and islands. We have a range of levers to support rural and island areas, including Sc…

5 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Tree Planting Task Force announced on 28 November 2024, and whether the task force will also consider the need to enhance biodiversity and plant native trees, rather than funding further expansion of Sitka Spruce plantation…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The first meeting of the Tree Planting Taskforce took place on 28 November with Ministers representing the Scottish, UK, Welsh and Northern Ireland Governments in attendance. The Scottish Government outlined the importance of forestry in Scotland, and our rec…

5 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new Register of Ancient Woodlands, to be delivered in 2027 as outlined in the Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan, will (a) facilitate a designation for Scotland's ancient woods, similar to that for ancient monuments, as part of its commitment to protect at least 30% of land …

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: NatureScot and Scottish Forestry are currently putting together a project plan to build on the existing Ancient Woodland Inventory to develop the new National Register of Ancient Woodlands. The scope of the project has therefore yet to be fully agreed, but in…