Parliamentary questions
Ariane Burgess
646 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) whether it plans to provide targeted funding or support for communities affected by racially motivated incidents, and (b) what discussions it has had with relevant organisations regarding measures to promote community safety and wellbeing.
Answer · Kirsten Oswald: The Scottish Government condemns all forms of racially motivated harassment, intimidation and violence and is clear that communities affected should feel safe, supported and resilient.Since 2021 we have invested £6.3 million to support race equality and…
19 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what immediate steps it is taking to ensure the safety and wellbeing of East and Southeast Asian residents in Scotland who report experiencing racially motivated harassment, intimidation or threats.
Answer · Kirsten Oswald: The Scottish Government condemns all forms of racially motivated harassment, intimidation and threats and recognises the importance of ensuring that East and Southeast Asian communities feel safe, supported and resilient.We are continuing to work closely with…
19 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the nature of advice given to individuals experiencing racially motivated harassment, including any guidance that may encourage them to remain at home or limit their movements.
Answer · Kirsten Oswald: The Scottish Government is clear that everyone should be able to go about their daily lives free from harassment and fear, and that those experiencing racially motivated harassment should feel supported to report incidents and seek assistance.Decisions on the…
19 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government’s decision to close the UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, what consideration has been given to establishing an equivalent scheme in Scotland to support listed places of worship with the cost of VAT on repairs and maintenance.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Following the UK Government’s announcement of the closure of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, the Scottish Government has met with representatives of the UK Government, Church groups and the Church of Scotland.The Scottish Government was not i…
17 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce marine litter in Scotland.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is tackling marine litter with actions detailed in our Marine Litter Strategy, which aims to address the amount of litter entering the marine environment, to achieve ecological, economic and social benefits. Our Strategy and action pla…
17 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what rationale it used to set the £50,000 household income threshold for support for home electric vehicle (EV) charging point installation, and whether it plans to review this to ensure that such support is accessible to a wider range of households.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The fund has been refocused to target low and middle-income households with a total income of £50,000 or less, as they are less likely to able to meet the upfront cost of installation. Eligibility criteria is reviewed on an annual basis.
17 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will commence section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 came into force on 16 March 2026.
17 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-00298 by Mairi McAllan on 8 June 2026, what discussions it has had with the Highland Council regarding reports that 47 pupils at Rosebank Primary School share two toilet facilities and that none are dedicated for staff, and what assessment it has ma…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: While responsibility for managing and maintaining the school estate sits with local authorities, Scottish Government officials continue to engage closely with The Highland Council and remains clear about the importance of ensuring facilities meet relevant sta…
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the work that it has previously carried out regarding the standard of housing used by seasonal agricultural workers, what plans it has to implement a set of national standards for the sector.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government recognises the challenges faced by seasonal workers and their employers are complex, and further work is required to develop bespoke national standards. Local authorities are expected to use existing powers to introduce byelaws suited …
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the maximum £50,000 payment under the recently announced voluntary compensation scheme for salmon farm escapes provides a sufficient deterrent to escape incidents, and for what reason it has not introduced statutory financial penalties for suc…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Escaped farmed fish are in no one’s interest.This new agreement, developed by Fisheries Management Scotland and Salmon Scotland, builds on the ambitions of the Salmon Interactions Working Group to introduce a proportionate scheme with the ultimate aim o…
12 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-00635 by Maree Todd on 8 June 2026, how many detainees were transferred between Inverness and Kittybrewster custody suites in order to access methadone or other opioid substitution therapy in the last 12 months, and how many det…
Answer · Maree Todd: NHS Grampian has advised that no detainees were transferred between Inverness and Kittybrewster custody suites in the last 12 months specifically to access methadone or other opioid substitution therapy. While such transfers may be considered where clinically…
12 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve women’s health outcomes in the Highlands and Islands, including access to (a) timely diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) specialist care for conditions such as (i) endometriosis and (ii) adenomyosis, and how it is addressing any geographical inequa…
Answer · Maree Todd: The Women’s Health Plan sets out the Scottish Government’s ambition for Women’s Health which is that ‘women and girls enjoy the best possible health, throughout their lives’.Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan, published i…
12 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current waiting times are for gynaecology (a) outpatient appointments, (b) diagnostic procedures and (c) surgical treatment for (i) endometriosis and (ii) adenomyosis within (A) NHS Highland, (B) NHS Western Isles, (C) NHS Orkney and (D) NHS Shetland, and how these compare with …
Answer · Maree Todd: Waiting to access gynaecology related treatment can cause women anxiety and delays are unacceptable. Last year we allocated £13 million of additional funding to health boards to target long waits for gynaecology. We are beginning to see the impact of th…
10 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect and improve designated core public paths for walking, cycling and general access.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Part one of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 requires local authorities and National Park Authorities (“access authorities”) to take the lead role in delivery of non-motorised outdoor access, and in relation to core paths. Access authorities ha…
10 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on its review of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has made continued progress on its review of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS). Work has focused on engaging with key stakeholders to identify current strengths and opportunities to support the development of the …
10 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its decision in the previous parliamentary session not to proceed with planned legislation to incorporate international human rights treaties into Scots law, what (a) work it is currently carrying out, or plans, in this area and (b) consideration it has given to implementing…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Advancing human rights is central to every mission of Government. This ambition will underpin our work to deliver prosperity, fairness and security for the people of Scotland.In July 2025, the Scottish Government published a discussion paper setting out propo…
10 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent research published in Nature Geoscience characterising the 2025 Dava Moor Wildfire as the UK's first megafire, what assessment it has made of the role of landscape-scale engineering by keystone species, such as Eurasian beavers, in creating natural wetlands that serve…
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government recognises the positive role that Eurasian beavers can play as a native keystone species, and we remain supportive of their managed expansion in appropriate areas, as set out in Scotland’s Beaver Strategy 2022–2045.Beavers …
10 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will respond to data, which reportedly shows that 85% of emissions from the 2025 Dava Moor megafire resulted from subsurface soil dryness, and whether it will put in place a plan to transition towards large-scale hydrological re-saturation and natural habitat succession in areas v…
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government’s Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires sets out a coordinated approach to preventing, preparing for and responding to wildfires, including through national initiatives to strengthen resilience to all climate-related hazards as outl…
10 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent research published in Nature Geoscience characterising the 2025 Dava Moor Wildfire as the UK's first megafire, what steps it is taking to accelerate large-scale hydrological restoration and peatland re-saturation, outside of existing deep-peat work, to prevent carbon …
Answer · Gillian Martin: Restoring degraded peatlands involves taking measures such as drain blocking, creating bunds and reprofiling gullies in order to reinstate the site’s natural hydrology, raise the water table and increase wetness. This plays an important role in halting …
8 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports regarding the Bakkafrost Loch Torridon marine salmon farm site, where fish were allegedly found after the site had been declared fallow and weekly sea lice records were reportedly retrospectively altered, what assessment it has made of whether official…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: It is an offence under Section 2 of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 (‘the 2007 Act’) if an aquaculture business fails to comply with the requirements of the Fish Farming Businesses (Reporting) (Scotland) Order 2020 in respect of sea …
2 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is currently taking, or plans to take, to improve financial oversight and consumer protection in relation to care home providers, in light of concerns reported by the recent BBC Disclosure programme, Cashing in on Care, regarding families seeking to recover upfront fees an…
Answer · Alison Thewliss: The Scottish Government is concerned by the reports raised in the BBC Documentary “Cashing in on Care” and sympathises with the families involved however deposit fees form part of the private contract between the provider and the individual - the …
2 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to establishing an independent body to investigate complaints regarding the financial practices of adult social care providers, with a role similar to that played by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in England.
Answer · Alison Thewliss: The Scottish Government are not currently making any considerations to establish an independent body to investigate complaints regarding the financial practices of adult social care providers.Scotland has in place the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO)…
29 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any barriers that the current costs and legal requirements associated with obtaining a Power of Attorney create for (a) low-income households, (b) older people and (c) disabled people, and whether it will consider introducing officially approved standard te…
Answer · Maree Todd: Work is underway to modernise the Adults with Incapacity system in Scotland, including Powers of Attorney, with a specific focus on enhancing the rights and protections of people affected by incapacity law. We are working collaboratively with an Expert Workin…
28 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter of 11 February 2026 by the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Sport to the Convener of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee regarding PE1900 (Access to prescribed medication for detainees in police custody), whether NHS Grampian now …
Answer · Maree Todd: NHS Grampian has confirmed that arrangements are in place to support access to prescribed medication, including controlled drugs, within its current service model. Individuals are clinically assessed on entry to custody and prescribed medication is provided w…
28 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring is being undertaken of NHS board compliance with the recommendations of the rapid review into healthcare provision in police custody.
Answer · Maree Todd: As I set out in my letter of 11 February 2026 to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee regarding Petition PE1900, NHS boards are asked to provide annual updates each November on progress in addressing the issues identified through the rapid…
27 May 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported growing number of people swimming in Scotland's open waters, what consideration it is giving to introducing legislation equivalent to the Clean Water Bill that is being brought forward by the UK Government.
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the statutory site assessments required to launch the consultation on fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas and Priority Marine Features have now been finalised, and if so, when the Scottish Government plans to bring the public consultation forward.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Developing evidence-based and effective fisheries management measures for more than 160 sites and areas within the inshore region has been a challenging process.The statutory social, economic and environmental assessments are nearing completion, and the publi…
25 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the potential particulate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions associated with diesel and gas backup generation that might be required for hyperscale AI data centres proposed in Scotland.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has not undertaken a separate national assessment of emissions associated with gas and diesel back up generation for hyperscale data centres. An assessment of environmental impacts is undertaken aspart of the planning process for indiv…
25 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that greenhouse gas emissions analysis underpinning its “green data centre” policy might not fully account for hyperscale AI data centres, what plans it has to review these figures.
Answer · Tom Arthur: To support preparation of National Planning Framework 4, the then Scottish Government commissioned independent research on the Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of NPF4 proposed National Developments. This was first published in 2021 and updated in October 2…
25 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of data centres applying for gas connections, how many such applications it is aware of in Scotland, and what its position is on gas-fired power generation for data centres.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government is not routinely sighted on applications for gas connections, but we are aware there are emerging data centre proposals that may have a gas component. The Scottish Government policy position is that new AI infrastructure developments s…