Parliamentary questions
Ariane Burgess
706 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what statutory or regulatory measures are currently in place to ensure the welfare of live decapod crustaceans during transport within and from Scotland.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: There are currently no statutory or regulatory measures protecting decapod welfare during transport within and from Scotland. In its statutory review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Act 2020 the Scottish Government committed to…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government, or other devolved administrations, regarding the possibility of restricting or prohibiting the transportation of live decapod crustaceans through postal services.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Scottish Ministers wrote to the previous UK Government to raise the issue of decapod welfare, including highlighting concerns about live transport through the postal service, and proposing joint working to address these issues.In its statutory review of the A…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any welfare impacts associated with the transportation of live decapod crustaceans.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: To date, no assessment has been undertaken. In its statutory review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Act 2020 the Scottish Government committed to undertaking, in collaboration with Defra and other devolved administrations, a ga…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with industry, scientific and animal welfare stakeholders regarding the development of welfare standards for the humane handling and slaughter of decapod crustaceans.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government is working with the UK Government to develop Guidance for the decapod welfare at time of killing. In order to inform the development of this Guidance we have collectively met with industry bodies including Seafish, the Shellfish Associ…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the welfare implications of the live boiling of decapod crustaceans and, if so, whether it is considering any legislative or regulatory changes.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has not undertaken any assessment focussed on the welfare implication of live boiling. However, we have previously acknowledged and recognise that the live boiling of decapods is regarded as an inhumane slaughter method. We continue to…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing a statutory duty of care for individuals responsible for the keeping, handling or transportation of decapod crustaceans.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: To date, no consideration has been given to the introduction of such a code. The Scottish Government has, however, committed to continue to examine the evidence and need for future measures, regulatory or otherwise, to improve the welfare protections for deca…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the recognition of decapod crustaceans as sentient animals gives rise to any need to amend or update the provisions or operation of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government recognised in its statutory review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Act 2020 that decapods are recognised as sentient; currently have no general welfare protection under the 2006 Act; and that this is an …
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to amend the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to extend statutory animal welfare protections to decapod crustaceans, including crabs, lobsters and prawns.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to amend the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to extend statutory animal welfare protections to decapod crustaceans.The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) is currently carrying out a review…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is currently taking to protect wild Atlantic salmon after they leave freshwater and enter Scotland’s marine area, and what further measures it plans to introduce.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government is taking a range of actions to support the protection of wild Atlantic salmon during their migration through Scotland's marine environment. The Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy and associated Implementation Plan provide the framework for…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its Wild salmon strategy: implementation plan 2023 to 2028 is on track for delivery by the end of 2028, and when it will publish the 2025 annual progress report.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering the actions set out in the Wild Salmon Strategy: Implementation Plan 2023-2028. Good progress has been made across a range of priority areas, including improving our understanding of marine survival thro…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will undertake a public consultation on its draft conservation commitment report to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), in light of the reported failure to submit a draft report by February 2026, in accordance with the timetable agreed by all NASCO partie…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government does not plan to undertake a public consultation exercise on its draft conservation commitment report (CCR) to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO). We continue to engage with stakeholders, including the Wild Sal…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains on track to meet its objective of easing barriers to fish migration so that 99% of water bodies meet "good or better" condition for fish migration by 2027, as set out in the River Basin Management Plan for Scotland 2021 - 2027, and, if not, what percenta…
Answer · Gillian Martin: In 2021, River Basin Management Plan 3 (RBMP3) identified 244 potential fish barriers that needed an ecological assessment and/or work to ease these barriers to achieve the objective of 99% of water bodies meeting good or better condition for fish migration b…
30 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to enhancing opportunities and support for community right to buy and ownership, how and when it plans to implement the findings of its community right to buy review.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The review of Community Right to Buy concluded at the end of 2025 and the previous Cabinet Secretary accepted those recommendations in full.The Government is currently exploring legislative options to take forward the recommendations in light of manifesto com…
30 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to making land ownership transparent and implementing robust anti-avoidance measures, whether it plans to increase land data transparency and accessibility for the public.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Supporting transparency of who owns and controls land in Scotland is at the heart of our land reform objectives.We are working with relevant partners, including Registers of Scotland, to explore options for further supporting transparency of land information.
30 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported closure of 142 school play areas in the Highland Council area pending inspection, and what discussions it has had with Highland Council regarding any impact on children's wellbeing and levels of physical activity.
29 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the outcome of its consultation into phasing out cages for gamebirds and laying hens.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has undertaken two consultations on the issue of phasing out cages for laying hens. The first, a Scotland-only one, which took place in 2024, is currently being analysed and results will be published in the coming months. The second, c…
26 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make representations to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and/or the UK Government to request the routine publication of all APHA fish welfare inspection reports relating to Scottish aquaculture sites.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: At present, the Scottish Government has no plans to ask the Animal and Plant Health Agency or the UK Government to routinely publish fish welfare inspection reports.However, the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate Fish Health Inspectorate publishes…
26 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the current enforcement regime for farmed fish welfare is adequate, in light of reports that the Animal and Plant Health Agency took no enforcement action following inspection reports recording mass mortality incidents Scottish fish farms, including…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government takes the welfare of farmed fish seriously and expects full compliance with legislation, quality assurance schemes and industry standards.The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is operationally independent and has a range of enforce…
25 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the (a) content and (b) rollout of its communications strategy around the upcoming ban on using and supplying rodent glue traps, as referenced in the letter sent to the Member by the Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands on 25 March 2026.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: A press release regarding the upcoming ban on rodent glue board traps in Scotland was issued on 24 June 2026 to the Press Association and included our main national media, local media and environment lists. Stakeholder organisations were notified as reference…
25 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what efforts have been made to communicate the upcoming ban on using or supplying rodent glue traps to major online sellers, including those such as Amazon and eBay.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government notified key stakeholder organisations of the upcoming commencement of the ban on using, supplying or possessing rodent glue traps on 2 March 2026.Follow-up correspondence was issued to Amazon, Ebay and the Post Office to confirm recei…
25 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to grant any exemptions to the ban on using or supplying rodent glue traps under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 includes the option to introduce an authorisation scheme through regulations as set out in Section 5 of the Act, to allow the use, supply or possession of glue traps. However, we have received no eviden…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with representatives of the poultry industry regarding alternatives to the maceration of live male chicks.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: No discussions have been had at this time. We will, however, continue working with industry and to review updated scientific evidence in order to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare are met.
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of public attitudes towards the maceration of live male chicks.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: No assessment has been made of public attitudes towards the maceration of live male chicks.
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to phase out or prohibit the maceration of live male chicks, and, if not, for what reason.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Very little routine killing of male chicks takes place in Scotland, with the main commercial hatcheries supplying Scotland’s egg industry being located in England. The current methods of killing chicks, such as Maceration/Instantaneous Mechanical Destru…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to phase out or prohibit the maceration of live male chicks, and, if so, what timetable it has established for doing so.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: At this stage the Scottish Government has no plans to phase out or prohibit the maceration of live male chicks. The current methods of killing chicks, such as Maceration/Instantaneous Mechanical Destruction, are considered to be acceptable by the Humane Slaug…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how permitting the culling of live male chicks by maceration aligns with its stated commitment to maintaining high animal welfare standards.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government takes the welfare of all animals extremely seriously at all stages of their lives. The killing of surplus chicks which are less than 72 hours old, and embryos in hatchery waste is regulated by Schedule 11 of The Welfare of Animals (Sla…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of practices by countries or jurisdictions that have prohibited, restricted or phased out the culling of live male chicks by maceration, and what consideration it has given to adopting similar measures in Scotland.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has not made an assessment of the practices by other countries or jurisdictions. The current methods of killing chicks, such as Maceration/Instantaneous Mechanical Destruction, are considered to be acceptable by the Humane Slaughter As…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken any assessment of the animal welfare implications of the culling of live male chicks by maceration.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government takes the welfare of animals at slaughter very seriously, including that of male chicks. The current methods of killing chicks, such as Maceration/Instantaneous Mechanical Destruction, are considered to be acceptable by the Humane Slau…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of male chicks that have been culled by maceration in Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has made no assessment of the number of male chicks culled by maceration in Scotland in the last five years. Most egg producers in Scotland buy in pre-sexed chicks and there are insufficient numbers of producers hatching eggs to make a…
19 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms ensure compliance with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code in cases of alleged land damage, and which body is responsible for investigating or taking enforcement action in cases of repeated breaches.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Local authorities and National Park Authorities (“access authorities”) take the lead role in managing access to the countryside. Cases of irresponsible behaviour by those purporting to exercise access rights may be raised with the access authority…