Parliamentary questions
Tim Eagle
1,487 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to upgrade the (a) Highland Main Line and (b) Far North Line to include more double tracks.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00272 on 3 June 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-committees/w…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses were awarded funding from the Islands Business Resilience Fund in 2025-26, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Island Business Resilience Fund issued awards to a total of 444 businesses across four island local authority areas. The local authority breakdown is as follows:Argyll and Bute – 206Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – 98Highland – 15North Ayrshi…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the opening of the new Nairn Academy campus has been delayed until September 2026, and whether it has held any discussions with the Highland Council regarding any potential further delays.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Highland Council has confirmed that the new Nairn Academy campus will open to pupils following the October holidays in 2026. This decision was taken following a short delay to the completion of construction works and to allow sufficient time to for the Co…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what investment it plans to make to increase the average speeds of trains on the (a) Highland Main Line and (b) Far North Line.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: In regards to a) Highland Main Line, I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-27087 on 7 May 2026.In regards to (b) Far North Line, the Scottish Government granted authority and funding for enhancements to the Radio Electronic Token Block signalling s…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the number of passing loops on the (a) Highland Main Line and (b) Far North Line.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00272 on 3 June 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-committees/w…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress regarding the introduction of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) on Dunoon-Gourock ferry services provided by (a) CalMac Ferries and (b) Western Ferries.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: There is no further update at this time and this remains a complex matter, as previously indicated in the answer to S6W-27329 on 17 May 2024. Any introduction of RET on Gourock to Dunoon routes would require careful consideration of a number of issues, includ…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Islands Business Resilience Fund were unsuccessful in 2025-26.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: There were two application rounds for the Islands Business Resilience Fund (IBRF). In round one there were 248 applications received, with 215 approved and 33 unsuccessful, and in round two there were 255 applications received, with 229 approved and 26 unsucc…
20 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Bracken Working Group will next meet, and how frequently it plans to meet during this parliamentary session.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Bracken Working Group will next meet on the 22 June 2026. The frequency of the meetings varies; it is dependent on the actions being pursued and the need for input from the group as well as availability of members.Minutes from the Scottish Bracke…
20 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Bracken Working Group has conducted any analysis on the growth of bracken following the decision not to authorise the use of Asulox in 2023.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has pursued two approaches to assess Scottish bracken area since the HSE decision not to authorise the emergency use of Asulox in 2023. The first was to commission the creation of a Scottish bracken map to provide a baseline from which…
20 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the status of the Scottish Bracken Mapping Project.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The last update was provided to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in late February 2026. An external contractor, funded by the Scottish Government, has completed the creation and validation of the Scottish Bracken Map and the project is now in the final…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many homes have been acquired via its Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers fund to date since the scheme was announced.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Since the demand-led Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund was announced in April 2023, of the 43 homes approved 30 homes have been reported as completed through the scheme.These homes have been delivered across the following local authority areas.Highl…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much of the Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers fund has been spent to date since the scheme was announced.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Since the fund's launch in April 2023 to 21 May 2026, a total of £4.489 million has been spent through the Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund. The Fund is demand-led, with expenditure dependent on project progress and delivery milestones. …
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the significant demand in the first round of funding of the Future Farming Investment Scheme, for what reason it has reduced the proposed funding available ahead of the second round of funding.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: £14 million was originally allocated to the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) in 2025-26, as the Scottish Government piloted delivering up-front capital funding to support farmers and crofters to deliver the Scottish Government’s Vision for …
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on (a) its commitment to increasing the number of GPs across Scotland by at least 800 by 2027, and (b) the current number of GPs who have been recruited since this commitment was made.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government remains fully committed to delivering on its commitment to increase the number of GPs in Scotland by 800 by 2027. Since 2017 GP headcount has increased by 526 and there are 5,423 GPs now working in Scotland.As part of the 3-year (2026-…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the R100 broadband upgrade programme will be completed by 2028.
Answer · Tom Arthur: While delivery under the R100 North contract was previously scheduled for completion in 2028, aligning deployment with Project Gigabit presents a unique opportunity to optimise coverage across some of the most rural communities in the Highlands and Islands.Fo…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many investigations were carried out in each of the last two years under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021; how many led to a report being made to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and how many subsequent (a) prosecutions and (b) convicti…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Please see the following data from both the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish Government’s Justice Analytical Service. Please note that The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force …
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been invested in the maintenance of the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, broken down by cost category, in each year since 2007.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The following table provides the A83 Rest and Be Thankful maintenance spend per year since 2007. It should be noted that The Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested because financial information prior to financial year 201…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many premises (a) have been connected and (b) are waiting to be connected to broadband through Project Gigabit in the Highlands and Islands region, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Tom Arthur: There are currently two Project Gigabit in Scotland contracts that are in their delivery phase which intersect with the Highlands and Islands Parliamentary Region – the regional contract awarded to GoFibre which covers the North East of Scotland and the…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the highest (a) fine and (b) custodial sentence imposed were in each of the last two years under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021; how many people received these and, in each case, how this compared with the maximum sentence that was available.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: We welcome the fact that in Scotland we have tough legislation in place to deal with livestock worrying. The Scottish Government supported Emma Harper’s member’s bill when it was introduced, to provide Police Scotland and the courts with greater p…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update its Respiratory Care Action Plan 2021-2026.
Answer · Maree Todd: Our Programme for Government for 2026-27 will be put to the Parliament in due course. The Scottish Government published the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework (SRF) in July 2025. The first Major Change of the SRF includes a specific focus on lon…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many renewable energy applications in the Highlands and Islands region that were rejected by local authorities were subsequently given consent by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division, in each year since 2021.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Since 1 January 2021, a total of 10 planning appeals for renewable energy developments in the Highland and Islands region have been allowed.The breakdown of that total by year and by planning authority are set out in the following table. The information inclu…
14 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the reported rises in non-domestic rates that came into effect on 1 April 2026.
Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The valuation of all non-domestic property is a matter for the Scottish Assessors who are independent of central and local government and are accountable to the courts. Proposals (the first stage of the appeals system) against revaluation can be lodged with t…
14 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reopen the Local Bridge Maintenance Fund.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Budget 2026-27 contains no provisions to reopen the Local Bridge Maintenance Fund and no requests from any MSPs and opposition parties were received in developing the budget.
14 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to dual the (a) A96 and (b) A9, including what budget has been committed to both projects, and the up-to-date timeline for completion.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: As outlined in our pledge over the first 100 Days of a new government and as set out in the Scottish Budget 2026-27, Scottish Spending Review 2026 and the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline 2026, published on 13 January, the Scottish Government is fully committ…
14 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to support NHS Grampian in increasing bed capacity at Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin.
Answer · Angela Constance: The member has previously raised this issue, and the position remains as set out in our earlier response, it is for NHS Boards and their planning partners to design and deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of the local population, in line with nat…
14 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position on the proposed Moray FLOW-Park development.
Answer · Stephen Gethins: On 7 April 2026, the Scottish Government adopted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening opinion in relation to Moray Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW)-Park. This screening opinion requires that the project must undertake an EIA and comply with require…
18 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that NHS Grampian is looking to save £177 million over the next five years, what impact this will have on the board's staff and services, and, in particular, on Dr Gray's Hospital.
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding from Screen Scotland’s Professional Development Fund has been awarded to applicants based in the Highlands and Islands region, in each year since 2021.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Screen Scotland’s Professional Development Fund has awarded the following sums to applicants based in the Highlands and Islands region, in each year since 2021:2021-22 - £02022-23 - £2,4352023-24 - £1,0152024-25 - £1,3872025-26 &…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding from Screen Scotland’s Film Development and Production Fund has been awarded to filmmakers based in the Highlands and Islands region, in each year since 2021.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Screen Scotland’s Film Development and Production Fund has awarded the following sums to filmmakers based in the Highlands and Islands region, in each year since 2021:2021-22 - £639,1582022-23 - £84,0002023-24 - £02024-25 - £0202…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on any action it has taken following the 2025 seagull summit in Inverness.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: NatureScot has taken forward a range of actions following the 2025 Gull Summit in Inverness. This has included hosting four regional roundtable events to gather information to support local management approaches and inform further guidance.In addition to this…