Parliamentary questions
Tim Eagle
1,487 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it measures the efficacy of its investment in rainforest restoration through the Nature Restoration Fund.
Answer · Gillian Martin: NatureScot have adopted a range of rainforest-specific metrics for both the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) and other funding for rainforest restoration. These include: areas of existing rainforest under appropriate herbivore management; the number of jobs crea…
17 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding from the Sea Eagle Management Scheme was awarded to applicants in each year since 2021.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The total funding support, through NatureScot Management Agreements, awarded to participating holdings in the Sea Eagle Management Scheme in each year since 2021 are as follows:YearParticipating HoldingsTotal Funding Support2021137£227,008.432022158&pou…
17 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it measures the efficacy of its Sea Eagle Management Scheme.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: As part of the reporting requirements of the Sea Eagle Management Scheme, participating holdings are required to submit annual Flock Management Log returns which collect data on flock performance in individual years and provide an opportunity for farmers and …
17 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any of its ministers have met with Offshore Solutions Group Limited in each year since 2021, and, if so, whether it will provide details of such meetings.
Answer · Gillian Martin: No meeting have been held between Scottish Ministers and Offshore Solutions Group Limited in the time period specified.
17 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much of the £150 million that it announced on 12 December 2024 to "support the growth of the offshore wind sector" has been distributed, broken down by how much each organisation has received.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Our strategic investment of up to £500 million over five years is supporting supply chain and ports across Scotland including at Nigg, Lerwick, Stornoway, Montrose and Kishorn – and creating jobs in our offshore wind sector across the country. Due…
17 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29052 by Jim Fairlie on 27 August 2024, whether it will provide an update of the number of licence applications that NatureScot received for the culling of (a) greylag, (b) pink-footed and (c) Canada geese in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26, broken down…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The information which you have requested is as follows:RegionYearGreylag goosePink-footed gooseCanada gooseAberdeenshire2024030 2025000 Angus2024100 2025000 Argyll and Bute2024200 202520…
17 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22193 by Gillian Martin on 26 October 2023, whether it will outline what changes it made to the (a) Sea Eagle Management Scheme and (b) White-tailed Eagle Action Plan following its review.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Following the Stakeholder review of the Sea Eagle Management Scheme in 2024, the Scheme was revised for 2025 with an uplift of £300 for all holdings in receipt of Standard Measures support, meaning a new minimum payment in this support tier of £80…
17 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has established an offshore wind hub in the north east, as announced in the 2025-26 Scottish Budget.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government Offshore Wind Hub in Aberdeen/the North East comprises a multi-disciplinary team including expertise in consenting, planning and offshore wind development. The aim is for the hub to provide a single Scottish Government front-door for d…
17 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £5.3 million that it announced on 28 January 2025 to support individuals released from prison following short-term sentences has been spent in 2025, and how many people have received such funding.
Answer · Angela Constance: Grant funding of £5.3 million for the financial year 2025-26 was awarded to Upside, a partnership of eight third-sector organisations, to deliver national voluntary throughcare support to individuals leaving short-term prison sentences and periods of re…
17 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its work to support the historic environment, whether it will provide an update on its involvement in the regeneration of Grant Lodge in Elgin.
14 Dec 2025 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the partial collapse of the Spey Viaduct, including what support it can offer to Moray Council in responding to the immediate consequences and the next steps for the local community.
11 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many trunk road bridges have been placed into so-called managed decline in each year since 2021.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: No bridges on the trunk road network have been placed into managed decline. All trunk road bridges and structures are subject to thorough inspection and maintenance programmes. Maintenance works are prioritised to ensure public safety, network availability an…
11 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has modelled any possible consequences for local (a) hospitality and (b) retail sectors in the event of visitor numbers declining due to reduced accommodation capacity as a result of the draft 2026 revaluation of non-domestic rates for self-catering properties.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Draft rateable values for the 2026 revaluation were published on 30 November 2025 but may be subject to change. The final valuation roll will come into effect on 1 April 2026 and the Scottish Government will publish its report on changes in rateable values on…
11 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) VisitScotland and (b) enterprise agencies regarding any potential impact of the draft 2026 revaluation of non-domestic rates for self-catering properties on farm diversification and crofting enterprises reliant on tourism income.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42536 on 22 December 2025. 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-committ…
11 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will assess any potential knock-on effects on local supply chains, including (a) housekeeping, (b) tradespeople and (c) food producers, should a proportion of self-catering businesses become unviable as a result of the draft 2026 revaluation of non-domestic rates on self-…
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42536 on 22 December 2025. 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-committ…
11 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential effect of the draft 2026 revaluation of non-domestic rates on self-catering properties' accommodation availability during peak and shoulder seasons in (a) rural and (b) island areas.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Draft rateable values for the 2026 revaluation were published on 30 November 2025 but may be subject to change. The final valuation roll will come into effect on 1 April 2026 and the Scottish Government will publish its report on changes in rateable values on…
9 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to enforce the construction of affordable housing as a mandatory requirement for planning application considerations of onshore renewable energy developments in island communities.
Answer · Ivan McKee: All planning applications should be determined in accordance with the terms of the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise, with each proposal being considered on its own merits. Where a proposed development would create a direct ne…
9 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will require transmission operators to underground new distribution overhead lines in island communities.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Legislation and regulations relating to electricity networks are reserved to the UK Government, with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) responsible for the strategic approach to the development of the electricity system across Great Britain.The Scotti…
9 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to devolve consenting powers to local authorities for applications for the (a) construction, (b) extension and (c) operation of electricity generating stations with capacity in excess of 50 megawatts.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has published a consultation on increasing the current threshold of 50MW for applications for onshore electricity generating stations to be considered by local authorities. All responses received will be carefully considered before any…
9 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings of the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council took place in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025, and how many of these were attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy.
Answer · Gillian Martin: In 2024, there were seven meetings of the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC). In 2025, there were a further seven meetings of SOWEC. I attended two SOWEC meetings in 2024 in my role at the time as Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work …
9 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to enforce community (a) benefit payments and (b) equity ownership from onshore renewable energy developments as a mandatory requirement for planning application considerations.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Powers to mandate community benefits and shared equity ownership are reserved to the UK Government. We continue to press the UK Government to use its reserved powers to mandate community benefits and shared ownership for mature onshore technologies, so commun…
4 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communication plans are in place for (a) registered and (b) unregistered bird keepers in the event of an avian influenza control zone being established.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: When a notifiable animal disease is confirmed at a premises by the Scottish Government, the Declaration, which legally confirms the premises as an infected one, and applies disease control zones in the area, is posted on gov.scot. The gov.scot avian influenza…
4 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what surveillance is in place to detect avian influenza in the wild bird population, and whether it plans to increase this following the recent confirmation of the presence of avian influenza at a farm in South Lanarkshire.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: At an international level, APHA monitors any major, notifiable or new and emerging animal disease outbreaks worldwide on behalf of all GB administrations. We do this as an early warning to assess the risk they may pose to the UK, in particular those diseases …
4 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place for carcass testing for avian influenza in the wild bird population throughout winter 2025-26.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: In Scotland (and across Great Britain) the GB Dead Wild Bird Surveillance Scheme, administered by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on behalf of the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and Defra (England), allows members of the public to report …
4 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking, including what funding it is making available, following the recent confirmation of the presence of avian influenza at a farm in South Lanarkshire.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: On suspicion and subsequent confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at the infected premises near Lanark, South Lanarkshire, the Scottish Government, in conjunction with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) activated its robust contingen…
4 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with other UK administrations following the recent confirmation of the presence of avian influenza at a farm in South Lanarkshire.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: During, and outwith, the current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, representatives of the Scottish Government Animal Disease Control Branch have daily interactions with Defra, the Welsh Government, and often with DAERA (NI) officials,…
3 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to amend tax thresholds in the next Scottish Budget.
2 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions Transport Scotland has had with Argyll and Bute Council regarding the Craignure Ferry Terminal Project, and what the outcomes were.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland is a member of the Craignure Pier Development Working Group chaired by Argyll and Bute Council; as well as being a member of the Craignure Marine Infrastructure Liaison Group (CMILG). Transport Scotland provides advice and support to the de…
2 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what alternative (a) funding mechanisms or (b) private-sector investment options were considered by Scottish Enterprise before its decision to provide financial support to Offshore Solutions Group, and what assessment was made of the necessity for public funding for the Moray FLOW-P…
Answer · Kate Forbes: As this is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, I have asked its Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie to respond to you directly.
2 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of any (a) financial or (b) non-financial support provided by Scottish Enterprise to Offshore Solutions Group, including the (i) value, (ii) type of support, and (iii) the criteria used to approve such support.
Answer · Kate Forbes: As this is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, I have asked its Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie to respond to you directly.