Parliamentary questions
Ariane Burgess
706 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many release sites there are for non-native gamebirds in Scotland.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The release of non-native common pheasant and red-legged partridge for shooting purposes is permitted under Section 14 (2A) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. There is no statutory requirement un…
2 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of released non-native gamebirds are from captive bird operations that are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The information requested is not held by Scottish Government In Great Britain, you are legally required to register your birds if you keep 50 or more poultry. Keepers with less than 50 birds are strongly encouraged to register voluntarily. It is also a legal…
2 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many non-native gamebirds are released in Scotland each year.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The release of non-native common pheasant and red-legged partridge for shooting purposes is permitted under Section 14 (2A) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. There is no statutory requirement un…
31 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what grants or other routes to investment in line with its climate change commitments, such as the Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme, are available for low-carbon transport solutions.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government’s Budget prioritises a just transition to a net zero, climate resilient and biodiverse Scotland, with over £2.2 billion of investment in 2023-24. The Scottish Government’s public sector climate funding map , highlighting funding opp…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it can give to Highland Council's Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme to replace the two ageing ferries currently operating on the busiest ferry route with electric vessels, and what its position is on whether Highland Council's Scheme to replace the ferries align…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: At the request of the Scottish Government, CMAL is providing assistance to The Highland Council through our Small Vessel Replacement Programme. CMAL engages regularly with The Highland Council and partners, and continues to provide assistance with the vessel …
11 Jan 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with community housing enablers, such as the Communities Housing Trust in the Highlands and Islands region, to support the delivery of its commitments regarding rural homes.
20 Dec 2022 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on engagement with social landlords regarding the approach to rent setting for 2023-24 in light of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: We have been clear since the introduction of our emergency legislation that we would work with the social rented sector to seek an agreed way forward as an alternative to the continuation of the rent cap in the social rented sector beyond March 2023. To suppo…
19 Dec 2022 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what actions the Scottish Government will take forward as a result of COP15, the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
13 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislative requirements regarding the stunning of farmed fish at slaughter, which would be the equivalent to the requirements that already exist for terrestrial animals.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13235 on 20 December 2022. The UK Animal Welfare Committee is currently considering the welfare of farmed fish at slaughter and we will explore the need for any changes to current practice or legislation once t…
13 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the merits of introducing mandatory CCTV in fish slaughterhouses, in line with the Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses (Scotland) Regulations 2020, which, under the Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009, mandates the use of CCTV in …
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government takes the welfare of all farmed animals very seriously. The UK Animal Welfare Committee is currently considering the welfare of farmed fish at slaughter and we will explore the need for any changes to current practice or legislation on…
13 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the criteria that the Animal Plant and Health Agency uses to assess farmed fish welfare during inspections at fish processing sites in Scotland.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government does not currently hold this information. The Animal and Plant Health Agency has been asked by Scottish Ministers to visit farmed salmon slaughter facilities in Scotland and to assess the need for further inspections. This will be care…
8 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is investigating any risks to food production, biodiversity and human health from per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), or so-called "forever chemicals", accumulating in agricultural soil and seeping into rivers due to the spreading of sewage sludge on land.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: There is ongoing work related to identifying and monitoring risks from PFAS. The environmental regulator SEPA has been working with partners in recent years to understand the sources, environmental concentrations, and risks of perflourinated compounds in the…
8 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, when considering European Protected Species Licence applications, whether it will reject calculations to determine how many cetaceans would be disturbed or injured by an Acoustic Deterrent Device (ADD) if those calculations are based on an incorrect assumption that cetaceans are evenly …
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13105 on 23 December 2022. 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…
8 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, when considering European Protected Species Licence applications, whether it will reject calculations to determine how many cetaceans would be disturbed or injured by an Acoustic Deterrent Device (ADD) based on a model that can only predict how many will be disturbed at one moment in ti…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: All applications for EPS licences are considered on a case by cases basis and it is expected that applicants use appropriate models and calculations such as those set out in the Marine Scotland guidance document - faq_adds_and_eps_including_annex_1_and_annex…
8 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Marine Scotland will accept the findings of peer-reviewed scientific literature when the area of disturbance and injury to cetaceans from an Acoustic Deterrent Device (ADD) or Acoustic Startle Device (ASD) is estimated by the peer-reviewed scientific literature as being much grea…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Marine Scotland bases its decisions on the best available scientific evidence at any particular time including any relevant peer reviewed literature. Any such literature is subject to a critical review to determine its applicability. Marine Scotland’s decisio…
8 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a fish farm company application for a European Protected Species Licence to use Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs) or Acoustic Startle Devices (ASDs) would be refused unless the applicant has provided strong and robust evidence that all alternatives such as fitment of double skinn…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: A licence to disturb European protected species (“EPS”) can only be granted if three licensing tests are met, including that there is no satisfactory alternative to the proposed action. Marine Scotland has published a document that provides guidance and advi…
30 Nov 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeframe for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2016 Sludge Review into the spreading of sewage sludge on land.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Recommended actions from the 2016 sludge review already completed include publication last year, of the James Hutton Institute's report on the impacts on human health and the environment arising from the spreading of sewage sludge to land, and implementation …
28 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is taking forward recommendation 75 of the Deer Working Group, regarding a short committee inquiry into the use of section 7 control agreements under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 in the Caenlochan area.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Recommendation 75 of the Deer Working Group report was that “the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee of the Scottish Parliament should consider holding a short inquiry into the use of section 7 Control Agreements under the Deer (Scotland) …
16 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding would potentially be released, which could be used to meet the goals of its Vision for Agriculture, in the event that current direct payments made through the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening payments to each Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) claimant …
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12369 on? 2 December 2022. 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…
16 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to implement any capping, front-loading and/or tapering of base-level agricultural payments.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12369 on? 2 December 2022. 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…
16 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be a public consultation on any proposals to cap, front-load and/or taper base-level agricultural payments.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12369 on? 2 December 2022. 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…
16 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its commitment in the Programme for Government to explore capping and/or tapering base-level agricultural payments, how this work will be taken forward.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As committed to in the Programme for Government, we are currently exploring the possibility of capping or tapering base level payments, to release additional funding to meet the goals of our agricultural vision, including the urgent actions required to reach …
16 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether exceeding the headline advice for stocks with precautionary advice meets the precautionary, scientific, ecosystem and sustainability objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Fisheries Act 2020 outlines that sustainable fishing means environmental, economic, and social considerations are appropriately balanced when managing our fisheries to benefit present and future generations. To ensure we are achieving this balance, we wil…
8 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11056 by Mairi Gougeon on 30 September 2022, what number of each type of vessel is fitted with the specified capability.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The previous answer detailed the percentage of vessels fitted with the specified capability, this has been amended to include the number of vessels. Vessel Monitoring System Electronic Logbook Remote electronic monitoring system (minimum of GPS and sensor…
3 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a carbon assessment of the policies in the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) has been undertaken, and, if so, whether this assessment will be made publicly available.
3 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the carbon emissions generated from new house building, and whether estimates for new housing given in the draft fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) have been assessed against Scotland’s carbon budget.
27 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a carbon assessment has been undertaken of the policies in the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), and if this is the case, whether the assessment will be publicly available.
Answer · Tom Arthur: In keeping with our statutory and other assessment requirements we published our Integrated Impact Assessments (IIA) alongside Draft NPF4, and invited comment. This included an Environmental Report, setting out the likely significant environmental effects of …
27 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the carbon emissions generated from new house building, and whether estimates for new housing in the draft fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) have been assessed against the Scottish carbon budget.
Answer · Tom Arthur: An explanation of how the Minimum All-Tenure Housing Land Requirements (MATHLR) for each planning authority in Scotland have been arrived at is set out in the Housing Land Requirement Explanatory Report, which was published alongside Draft NPF4 and is availab…
18 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in securing increased and backdated wages for Robertson Facilities Management staff who work at New Craigs Hospital in Inverness, and what correspondence has the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care had with NHS Highland since the health board's report…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government have been in dialogue with NHS Highland on the matter raised. NHS Highland have confirmed that they will honour the two tier agreement in respect of facilities management colleagues working on behalf of NHS Highland at New Craigs Hospi…
3 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s care services, in light of the reported loss of 30 staff since the start of 2022.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: There are more than 1,200 social care providers across Scotland, with local authorities responsible for providing or commissioning services. Local authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships will wish to ensure that, in providing a range of services, …