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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-43170

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 2 February 2026

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.

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 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/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6O-05470

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 February 2026

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.

Question reference: S6W-43231

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 January 2026

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 expanding its use on sensitive forestry sites.

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 sensitive sites. Approval for a felling permission from Scottish Forestry is subject to planned operations being UKFS compliant on the specific site.

Those applying for a felling permission can decide which UKFS compliant harvesting option they use. They may choose to use horse logging, where it supports their management objectives, and contributes to the delivery of the approved grant scheme option. There is no financial support offered for different harvesting methods in the grant scheme. Scottish Government have not specifically assessed the benefits of an expansion in use of horse logging.

Question reference: S6W-43180

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 January 2026

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 since 2021-22.

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 £5.2 million provided for the management of native woodland. The annual breakdown of this funding is show in the following table.

	FGS Commitment for Native Woodland Creation and Management (£ millions)	FGS Commitments for Native Woodland Creation (£ millions) (%)	FGS Commitment for Native Woodland Management (£ millions) (%)
2021-22	£14.9	£13.4 (90%)	£1.5 (10%)
2022-23	£12.5	£11.3 (90%)	£1.2 (10%)
2023-24	£23.4	£21.9 (94%)	£1.5 (6%)
2024-25	£19.0	£18.0 (95%)	£1.0 (5%)
Total	£69.8	£64.6 (93%)	£5.2 (7%)

Question reference: S6W-43179

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 January 2026

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.

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 (£ millions)	FGS Commitments for Invasive Species Control (£ millions)
2021-22	£0.125	£0.892
2022-23	£0.084	£0.891
2023-24	£0.131	£1.038
2024-25	£0.251	£0.471
Total	£0.591	£3.292

Question reference: S6W-43173

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 28 January 2026

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 funds.

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/made

It will be for individual councils to set their policy on the transfer and use of contributions from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account.

The Chief Finance Officer, as the proper (section 95) officer with responsibility for managing the financial affairs of the authority, must be satisfied that the transfer and use of contributions from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account is prudent, affordable and sustainable.

Question reference: S6W-43010

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 January 2026

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.

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, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations.

We are satisfied that existing legislation and the guidance developed in partnership with the industry and NGO’s provides robust protection for the welfare of farmed fish at time of slaughter and have no current plans to consult on further legislation.

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-43011

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 January 2026

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 the slaughter of farmed fish.

Question reference: S6W-43174

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2026

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.

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 with Planning Officials and me, about perceived contradictions and a lack of clarity in the various sources of guidance. Planning authorities are unclear what constitutes sufficient evidence which causes uncertainty and makes evidence report preparation more resource intensive and time-consuming than expected. These issues were highlighted both through ongoing engagement with Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS) and in discussions with individual councils.

I took part in the gate check summit on 8 December, during which planning authorities reiterated these concerns and noted that aspects of guidance produced by PARD and the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) appeared unclear or inconsistent. This feedback has informed subsequent work to produce updated and clearer guidance for authorities, and I continue to engage with Planning Officials on this matter.

From the DPEA perspective, having a small, dedicated team of reporters contributes to consistency in assessments. DPEA has also adapted the format of gate check reports and letters to improve clarity and focus on key issues. Pre-submission meetings have been offered to all authorities which allow those working on evidence reports to seek guidance on matters of uncertainty. Additionally, follow-up meetings have been held with authorities after the return of evidence reports to support understanding and next steps.

Question reference: S6W-42878

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is monitoring the (a) number and (b) energy capacity of data centres that are currently in the Scottish planning system.

The Scottish Government does not hold a centrally maintained dataset specifically identifying developments as data centres within the planning system.

Planning applications are submitted, assessed and determined by planning authorities, and information on the type, scale and energy demand of proposals is recorded through local authority planning registers and associated supporting documentation.

The Scottish Government engages with planning authorities, the energy sector and wider stakeholders to understand emerging development trends, including those associated with digital infrastructure and data centres.