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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6O-03787

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reported concerns that the licensing scheme introduced by the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 is acting as a loophole in the fox hunting ban.

Question reference: S6O-03773

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture secretary has had with the Music Venues Trust regarding the introduction of a ticket levy, on a voluntary or statutory basis, for stadium and arena shows, to support grassroots culture venues.

Question reference: S6F-03322

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6O-03656

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to implement the policy announced in March 2022 in regard to companies maintaining trade links with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

Question reference: S6W-28716

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the final Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan will be published.

Question reference: S6W-28755

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 9 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current rules on the use of netting on buildings to prevent birds from nesting or roosting are appropriate.

There is no legislation that specifically sets out rules on the use of netting on buildings to prevent birds from nesting or roosting. However, anyone obstructing or preventing any bird from using its nest during the nesting season through the installation of netting, would be committing an offence under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside (Scotland) Act 1981.

Bird netting can be an effective and lawful measure when used correctly. Guidance is available on the RSPCA webpage , the NatureScot webpage , and the RSPB webpage on how and when to use bird netting.

Question reference: S6W-28756

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 9 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it enforces the current rules on the use of netting on buildings to prevent birds from nesting or roosting.

There is no legislation that specifically sets out rules on the use of netting on buildings to prevent birds from nesting or roosting. However, it is an offence to obstruct or prevent any bird from using its nest during the nesting season, under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside (Scotland) Act 1981, and this would include the use of netting to prevent access to a nest.

Enforcement of the law in relation to wildlife crime is the responsibility of Police Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-28754

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 9 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the current rules on the use of netting on buildings to prevent birds from nesting or roosting, with a view to requiring the use of alternative approaches and reducing harm to wild birds.

Question reference: S6W-28715

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 6 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, how its proposed climate compatibility assessment for new oil and gas licences, and the methodology that it uses, will demonstrate alignment with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.

Gillian Martin: Offshore oil and gas licensing is reserved to the UK Government.

The Scottish Government’s focus continues to be on meeting Scotland’s energy security needs, reducing emissions in line with Paris Agreement goals and ensuring a just transition for our oil and gas workforce as North Sea resources decline.

We have, through our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, called for a robust Climate Compatibility Checkpoint to be applied to licence applications for new North Sea oil and gas developments. The draft set out for consultation a range of proposals on aspects of Checkpoint design and application, including in relation to alignment with Paris Agreement goals Independent analysis commissioned by the Scottish Government in support of the draft Strategy also included consideration of what tests could potentially make up such a Checkpoint which could form the basis for UK wide and international discussion on this issue, despite the Scottish Government having no formal role in the licencing of new offshore oil and gas fields.

Question reference: S6W-28717

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 6 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether the final Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan will set out further detail about the proposals of the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy for supporting an approach to licensing of oil and gas exploration on a case-by-case basis, and how calculations will be made regarding climate compatibility and energy security.

Offshore oil and gas licensing is reserved to the UK Government.

The Scottish Government would be a willing partner in collaborative efforts, at UK and international levels, to further develop the detail of how robust and transparent Climate Compatibility Checkpoints could help support licensing decisions, despite the Scottish Government having no formal decision making powers in this area.

As part of this approach, our finalised Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan will set out the Scottish Government’s views on key elements which could form the basis of an enhanced Climate Compatibility Checkpoint that could be used by the UK Government, and form the basis of international discussions on this issue.