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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-14758

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the available data on the numbers of gamebirds released, and number and locations of release sites, is adequate for the purposes of (a) effectively (i) assessing and (ii) controlling the spread of diseases from gamebirds to wildlife, and (b) monitoring any other environmental impacts of gamebird releases.

Question reference: S6W-14879

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out its own analysis of the potential environmental impact of a new semi-closed salmon farm in Loch Long, and whether this analysis includes (a) energy use, (b) percentage of solid and aqueous waste that will be captured, (c) chemical effluent, (d) stocking density and any implications for animal welfare and disease transmission, (e) any risks to wild salmon from potential escape events and (f) reliability of the technology, in light of it not having been tested in Scotland.

An appeal has been lodged with Scottish Ministers on behalf of Loch Long Salmon Limited against the decision by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority to refuse planning permission for a marine fish farm and associated development at Beinn Reithe, Loch Long. A reporter has been appointed to consider this appeal and is currently assessing what if any further information is required to fully consider this appeal. The planning authority has been asked to submit its response to the appeal, which will include copies of all information submitted on the application. This will include any consultation responses, including those from Marine Scotland, submitted on the planning application. Given this is a live appeal it would not be appropriate to comment on the merits or otherwise of the proposal.

Question reference: S6W-14883

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) tests have been conducted for (a) wild and (b) poultry birds in Moray, since the local outbreak of HPAI began in November 2022.

(a) The current outbreak season started on 1 October 2022. As of 17 February 2023, 12 wild birds in Moray were tested for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) under the GB dead wild bird surveillance scheme. Of these, 10 were positive and consisted of one Pink footed goose, four Herring gulls and five gulls for which the species could not be specified. The two birds that tested negative were a Kestrel and a Cormorant.

(b) HPAI was confirmed at a premises in Forres, Moray, on 14 December 2022. Within the Protection Zone around the infected premises near Forres two veterinary surveillance visits were made. Both were to the same premises and sampling was carried out. On each occasion, 14 ducks were sampled, giving a total of 28 samples which all tested negative for HPAI.

Question reference: S6W-14884

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the number of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) tests that can be conducted on wild bird populations in Moray is constrained by any shortage of (a) funding, (b) personnel and (c) capacity.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out year-round avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds on behalf of the Scottish Government to inform the disease risk for domestic poultry and captive birds.

Reports of dead wild birds are triaged and not all birds will be collected. The triage process allows the Scottish Government to understand the levels of risk to poultry, other captive birds and public health and what relevant mitigation measures may be adopted commensurate to the level of risk. It was not designed to help understand how the disease impacted wild bird populations from a conservation perspective.

The Scottish Government have consulted with NatureScot and they are not aware of any resource constraints affecting HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) testing of dead wild birds in Moray. Since 16 November 2021, a total of 46 wild birds of nine species have tested positive for HPAI in Moray. Nearly all of these birds have been collected under APHA’s contract with UK Farmcare. NatureScot staff have only swabbed two birds in Moray, a pink-footed goose which was in a relatively inaccessible location and a cormorant, which NatureScot prioritised for testing and the test came back negative.

Wild bird surveillance is under review as part of the development of a Scottish HPAI wild bird response plan by NatureScot.

Question reference: S6W-14863

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether its vision for sustainable aquaculture includes new salmon farms in national parks, in light of reported attempts by developers to create a salmon farm in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

The Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture is in the final stages of development in advance of publication and the contents will be available for all to consider when it is published. The Vision is intended to describe the long term ambitions that the Scottish Government has for aquaculture, with enhanced emphasis on environmental protection and community benefit. The Vision will be compatible with the planning policies on aquaculture contained in Scotland’s National Marine Plan and National Planning Framework 4.

Question reference: S6W-14697

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what grants or other routes to investment in line with its climate change commitments, such as the Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme, are available for low-carbon transport solutions.

The Scottish Government’s Budget prioritises a just transition to a net zero, climate resilient and biodiverse Scotland, with over £2.2 billion of investment in 2023-24.

The Scottish Government’s public sector climate funding map , highlighting funding opportunities in a range of areas including transport, heat and waste, is available on the Sustainable Scotland Network Website.

On the specific question on Highland Council's Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13974 on 31 January 2023. 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/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-14763

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is assessing the potential risk of future high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) transmission from released non-native game birds in Scotland to wild mammals including foxes and otters.

To date nine mammals including four seals, four otters and one fox have tested positive for influenza of avian origin H5N1 in Scotland. APHA (Animals and Plant Health Agency) routinely undertakes diagnostic testing of wild animals found dead under the GB wildlife surveillance scheme. The detection of the virus does not mean that it was the cause of death of these animals. This is an unusual event and infection of mammals with influenza of avian origin remains an uncommon infection, including in humans. The risk of the H5N1 strain to non-avian UK wildlife remains low.

Of the nine mammals that have tested positive for influenza of avian origin, there are no known links to the release of non-native game birds. The Scottish Government continues to monitor the outputs the GB wildlife surveillance scheme and assess any future risks.

Question reference: S6W-14760

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the Risk Assessment on the spread of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) to wild birds from released, formerly captive gamebirds in Great Britain, which was published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in December 2022.

The Scottish Government is examining the risk assessment conclusion in detail given the serious impact of HPAI (High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza) on wild and kept birds and will monitor risk levels and carefully consider its response over coming months.

The release of game birds is prohibited within an avian influenza protection zone and surveillance zone.

When kept there is a legal requirement to report suspicion of notifiable avian disease in game birds.

Where Special Protected Area (SPA)/Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) are designated for vulnerable species consent from NatureScot is required for release of game birds.

Question reference: S6W-13974

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 31 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can give to Highland Council's Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme to replace the two ageing ferries currently operating on the busiest ferry route with electric vessels, and what its position is on whether Highland Council's Scheme to replace the ferries aligns with recommendation 24 of the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 (STPR2) on ferry vessel renewal and replacement and progressive decarbonisation.

At the request of the Scottish Government, CMAL is providing assistance to The Highland Council through our Small Vessel Replacement Programme. CMAL engages regularly with The Highland Council and partners, and continues to provide assistance with the vessel concept design, feasibility and infrastructure studies, as well as exploring key areas such as low emissions technologies.

STPR 2 recommendation 24 relates only to the Clyde & Hebrides and Northern Isles ferry services networks that Scottish Ministers are directly responsible for.

Any proposals to decarbonise ferries are to be welcomed, however, decisions around procurement of these new ferries and funding are entirely a matter for The Highland Council.

Question reference: S6O-01801

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with community housing enablers, such as the Communities Housing Trust in the Highlands and Islands region, to support the delivery of its commitments regarding rural homes.