Parliamentary questions
Ariane Burgess
706 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting apprenticeships for care experienced young people, particularly in rural and island areas.
5 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards implementing a ban on the sale of glue traps, in light of the UK Parliament's completion of the process for applying the UK Internal Market Act's market access principles for the sale of such traps.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: In order to ban the supply, and not just the use, of glue traps, the Scottish Government required an exclusion from the Market Access Principles under the Internal Market Act 2020 (“the IMA”).The United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 (Exclusions…
5 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the provisions in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 to ban glue traps, what measures it will put in place to ensure that online retailers do not circumvent the ban by continuing to ship traps to customers in Scotland.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Section 2 of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 makes it an offence for a person to supply or offer for sale a glue trap, or to knowingly cause or permit an unauthorised person to do so.These offences are liable on summary conviction to …
5 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the number of birds and other non-target species that have been trapped or died in glue traps since the introduction of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The information requested is not held centrally.
4 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Home Office regarding its plans for Cameron barracks in Inverness, including clarifications on the expected duration of use, operational arrangements and impacts on local services, and whether it will provide details of any representations it has made.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I met Alex Norris, UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum, on 4 November and 15 December 2025 to seek clarity on Home Office plans to use Cameron Barracks as asylum accommodation.The Scottish Government has pressed for clear and timely communication with …
2 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated in 2025-26 to NHS boards to support the development of Good Food Nation plans.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Funding has not been allocated in 2025-26 to NHS boards for this purpose.
2 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what expectations it has of relevant authorities in relation to the development of Good Food Nation plans prior to the commencement of section 10 of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We are aware that many relevant authorities are already undertaking some preparatory work prior to the commencement of section 10, such as identifying who will lead on this work; which departments or policy areas will need to be involved; and what food policy…
2 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that relevant authorities have the capacity to make progress on the development of Good Food Nation plans prior to the commencement of section 10 of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Officials have been engaging with the relevant authorities to gain a better understanding of the processes by which local Good Food Nation Plans would be produced in local authorities and health boards. This includes are search project that will help inform h…
2 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it currently expects to commence section 10 of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We intend to commence section 10 in a way that provides relevant authorities 12 months’ advance notice of the 12-month clock. In practical terms, this will provide relevant authorities 24 months to prepare and develop their local Plans. Options in relat…
2 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated in 2025-26 to support local authorities to develop Good Food Nation plans, and when local authorities will be formally notified of their individual allocations.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Funding has not been allocated to local authorities in 2025-26. Discussions around in-year funding are continuing and we are giving thought in relation to the commencement timeline of section 10, taking both the 2026 Scottish Parliament election and 2027 loca…
28 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support access to specialist assessment and management for people with suspected or diagnosed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government expects NHS Boards to provide high-quality, safe and effective person-centred care and support for all people, including those with postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS). Support is often provided in primary care, with specialist referr…
28 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41364 by Ivan McKee on 28 October 2025, what estimate it has made of the total future electricity demand resulting from expected AI and data centre developments in Scotland, in light of its joint commissioning of a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSE…
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has not made its own assessment of the total future electricity demand resulting from expected AI and data centre developments in Scotland.The National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognised in its 2025 Future Energy Scenarios, that …
28 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41364 by Ivan McKee on 28 October 2025, whether it received the full regional dataset underpinning the National Energy System Operator’s modelling of data centre demand in its 2025 Future Energy Scenarios, including the location-specific scena…
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government does not hold the regional dataset that underpins the National Energy System Operator’s modelling of data centre demand in its 2025 Future Energy Scenarios (FES) publication.NESO does not break down the FES data centre demand dat…
28 Jan 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether voluntary reporting of mortality data in the salmon farming industry provides sufficient transparency and animal welfare protection.
21 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, what assessment it has undertaken regarding any impact on rural communities, where a higher proportion of patients typically travel by car to appointments, prior to introducing changes to the General Ophthalmic Services fee structure, effective from 1 August 2025, linking higher fees fo…
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government negotiated the new General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) fees with Optometry Scotland with the data available at the time. A joint review of the impact of these changes will be undertaken with Optometry Scotland in due course. These discus…
21 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider the case for providing financial support for horse-logging as a low-carbon, low-impact timber harvesting method, and what assessment it has made of any potential environmental benefits, including the protection of rivers, burns and biodiversity, arising from expa…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The UK Forest Standard (UKFS) defines the requirements and guidelines on how to practice Sustainable Forest Management in the UK, and ensures the protection of water, soil and biodiversity. It also promotes the benefit of low-impact harvesting to protect sens…
19 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40703 by Mairi Gougeon on 1 October 2025, what proportion of the Forestry Grant Scheme funding allocated to native woodlands has been spent on (a) native woodland planting and (b) restoration of existing native woodlands, in each year sinc…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Forestry Grant Scheme has committed £69.8 million of support, in the period 2021-22 to 2024-25, for native woodland creation and native woodland management. £64.6 million of this funding has been provided to create new native woodland, with &p…
19 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40703 by Mairi Gougeon on 1 October 2025, how much money from the Forestry Grant Scheme has been spent on (a) natural regeneration of native woodlands and (b) invasive species control, in each year since 2021-22.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Forestry Grant Scheme has committed the following sums, in each complete financial year since 2021-22, for the natural regeneration of native woodlands and invasive species control. FGS Commitments for Natural Regeneration of Native Woodland (£…
19 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what feedback it has received from planning authorities regarding the clarity and consistency of the evidence report gate check process for Local Development Plans.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has received a range of feedback from planning authorities on the clarity and consistency of the evidence report gate check process for Local Development Plans. Planning authorities have raised concerns which have been shared directly …
19 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used during the evidence report gate check process for Local Development Plans, and how these criteria are weighted when assessing the adequacy of proposed housing land targets.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The criteria used in the evidence report gate check process for Local Development Plans are set out in relevant legislation and Scottish Government guidance. These include the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as amended by the Planning (Scotland)…
19 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Local Development Plans have been rejected during the evidence report gate check stage to date, and for what reasons.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The following table lists the 12 insufficient evidence reports that have been returned to date.Case ReferenceAuthorityCase ReporterDate of DecisionDecision DescriptionGATE-400-1West Lothian CouncilKatrina Rice07-Nov-25Evidence Report InsufficientGATE-200-2Eas…
19 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the transfer of funds from the General Fund into the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Fund, when it anticipates that Part 6, Section 78 of the Housing Act (Scotland) 2025 will come into effect, and under what circumstances local authorities will be permitted to transfer…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Statutory Instrument for the commencement for the removal of the requirement for local authorities to gain Ministerial consent before transferring funds to HRA came into force 12 January 2026.https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2025/408/madeIt wil…
16 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce mandatory publication of site-level cull numbers, alongside mortality figures, within a fixed reporting timeframe at salmon farms.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce further mandatory reporting and publication of losses of farmed salmon as the data already available are sufficient for regulatory purposes.I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43168 on 2 February …
16 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what independent audit processes exist to ensure that losses recorded as culls or stock adjustments are not excluded from external reporting at salmon farms.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government does not collect and publish complete information on the number of fish culled fish on salmon farms.I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43168 on 2 February 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available…
16 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects complete data on the number of fish culled on salmon farms and, if so, (a) where and (b) how such figures are published in relation to mortality data.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government does not collect complete data on the number of fish culled at salmon farms as this information is primarily a result of commercial decisions and is not required for the Fish Health Inspectorate’s surveillance programme for aquat…
15 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any implications of antibiotic use in salmon farming for antimicrobial resistance and public health.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Regulation of veterinary medicines is a reserved matter for the UK Government. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for enforcing Veterinary Medicines Regulations and undertaking appropriate monitoring in fulfilment of their regulatory du…
15 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to introducing independent auditing of antibiotic use data submitted by the salmon farming industry.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Regulation of veterinary medicines is a reserved matter for the UK Government. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is responsible for enforcing Veterinary Medicines Regulations and undertaking appropriate monitoring in fulfilment of their regulatory duties.I…
15 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement mechanisms are in place in situations where inaccurate or potentially misleading information on antibiotic use is provided to regulators by salmon farming companies or representative bodies.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The regulation of veterinary medicines as a reserved matter for the UK Government and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for market authorisation of antibiotics, including publication of antibiotic sales and sectorial usage statistics, …
13 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39465 by Jim Fairlie on 29 July 2025 and in light of the announcement by the UK Government that it will consult on slaughter legislation for farmed fish, whether it will revisit its decision to rely on guidance rather than regulations in relation to…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43010 on 27 January 2026. 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-committe…
13 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in light of the announcement by the UK Government that it will consult on slaughter legislation for farmed fish, whether it will carry out a similar consultation on this matter in Scotland.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: As per my answer to your question S6W-39465 on 29 July 2025. The welfare of fish at the time of slaughter is assured by the requirement at Article 3.1 of retained Council Regulation (EC) 1099/2009 that ‘animals shall be spared any avoidable pain, distre…