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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-04644

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 7 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the provision of "additional support for rural and islands homes which require bespoke and targeted advice", as set out in its Shared Policy Programme with the Scottish Green Party, how rural and island residents and communities can apply for the support; which organisations will be resourced to deliver the support, and whether the support will include (a) additional finance for home owners and (b) subsidised training and accreditation for engineers, plumbers and electricians in areas where there are currently very few companies that install renewable heating systems and appropriate insulation.

The Scottish Government will consult on a draft Islands Energy Strategy in 2022, setting out its approach to supporting island residents and communities to develop renewable energy solutions that can promote resilience, enhance sustainability, and meet their energy needs now and in the future. As part of this work, we will review the evidence base and options for an "islands uplift" across our delivery programmes as part of our commitment to provide additional support for rural and island homes for heat and energy efficiency.

Support is available to all householders across Scotland, including in rural and island areas, through Home Energy Scotland (HES), funded by the Scottish Government. HES offers free, bespoke advice on measures appropriate to homes, and on the funding available for all domestic energy efficiency and renewables measures, including zero emissions heating. Loans are available of up to a maximum of £15,000 for energy efficiency measures (attracting up to 45% cashback grant (£6,000) and a maximum £17,500 for renewables measures (attracting up to 75% cashback grant (£7,500)).

Rural and island community groups and organisations can access advice and funding support to explore their renewable energy options through the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) delivered by Local Energy Scotland (LES).

The Scottish Government's investment of at least £1.8 billion will strengthen demand and support an increase in jobs and skilled workers right across Scotland. We will work with industry to co-produce a ‘Heat in Buildings Supply Chain Delivery Plan’ by Summer 2022 which will include a focus on developing local supply chains, attracting inward investment and securing local jobs, training and skills, particularly in our islands and remote communities.

Question reference: S6W-04543

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 2 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review the impact of the sections in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 regarding occasional licences.

The Scottish Government consulted in 2019 on a number of areas associated with the legislative regime for occasional licences. This included the level of fees and whether or not there should be a limit on the number and duration of occasional licences for premises/personal licence holders. The views offered in response will help inform further consideration of issues in this area in due course.

Decisions about the granting of occasional licences are for independent licensing boards within the framework of the 2005 Act. Each licensing board is required to produce a licensing policy statement explaining how they will approach the operation of licensing within their area in line with the five licencing objectives. This can include details about policy on the granting of occasional licences.

Question reference: S6W-03982

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent Court of Session judgement on beaver licences issued by NatureScot, what steps it is taking to ensure that all other species licences are legally compliant.

The Scottish Government and NatureScot are currently considering the wider implications of the Court of Session judgment in relation to licences issued for the purposes of beaver management.

Of the five complaints under consideration by the Court, four were rejected entirely. The fifth point, which was accepted by the Court, relates to the inclusion of a statement of reasons for licences issued. This finding will be reflected within licensing procedures going forward and reasons will now be published with all beaver and other European Protected Species licences issued.

Question reference: S6W-04139

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 11 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to update COVID-19 guidance on international school trips.

Question reference: S6W-03817

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many companies in the Highlands and Islands are currently accredited to carry out work to insulate homes.

As of 28 October 2021 the Scottish Government is aware of four companies based in the Highlands and Islands who are currently approved to carry out insulation work to the BSI retrofit standards.

These companies are certified to install insulation as per the British Standards Institution (BSI) Publically Available Specification (PAS) 2030. There are a larger number of companies accredited to BSI standards to install insulation that operate in the Highlands and Islands. For our example, our national fuel poverty scheme, Warmer Homes Scotland has 12 approved sub-contractors covering the Highlands and Islands.

The Scottish Government is working with industry to co-produce a new 'Heat in Buildings Supply Chain Delivery Plan' by Summer 2022 specifically focussed on strengthening the broad supply chains needed to deliver at the pace and scale we need.

Question reference: S6O-00295

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 October 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering a scheme to support and incentivise social housing providers and homeowners to retrofit and refurbish long-term empty homes and bring them back into use as zero emissions housing.

Question reference: S6W-03075

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 4 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many responses were received to the Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) consultation on the expansion of Inverness Airport, and, of these, how many were (a) supportive, (b) opposed and (c) neutral.

Question reference: S6W-02159

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with community councils to inform its proposals for the National Planning Framework 4.

We are committed to encouraging interest and wide public involvement in the preparation of Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4). In preparing NPF4, we want to engage with a wide range of stakeholders in the community, public, voluntary and private sectors.

Our programme of engagement so far has provided opportunities for community councils to contribute, starting with the initial Call for Ideas. This was supported by a range of resources, including a roadshow visiting 13 communities around Scotland plus a community grant scheme. Subsequently we published the Position Statement in November 2020. Community Councils were among those responding to the Position Statement. We have also supported open discussion sessions targeted at communities to explore the issues raised in the position statement.

Question reference: S6W-01133

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish National Party's manifesto commitment to provide an additional "£500 million in our natural economy", when this will be delivered, and whether it will include further targeted funding for countryside rangers.

Last year due to restrictions on international travel we saw an increased number of visitors and campers to the countryside. With restrictions ongoing, for this year only, we are supporting local authorities, National Parks and communities with an additional £2.75M to put in place temporary solutions for 2021, such as additional ranger posts, temporary car parks and toilets.

Our primary method in supporting sustainable tourism in rural areas remains the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund which was doubled to £6.2M this year, bringing our total investment to £15M. This has supported the development of car parks, toilets and motorhome waste facilities at some of Scotland’s most popular rural areas.

The Scottish Government is committed to investing £500M in our natural economy over the course of this Parliament to help tackle the biodiversity crisis. We will work with NatureScot, the National Parks, and local authorities to determine where our funding can have the most positive effect and deliver the best value for money.

Question reference: S6W-00946

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it will monitor the amended permitted development rights for aquaculture, under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development and Use Classes) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020, and what the environmental impact of the alterations will be.