- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 18 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given at the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 4 November 2025, how many times the sustainable aviation fuel expert working group has met, and on what dates.
Answer
Answer expected on 18 November 2025
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 4 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported growing body of research on the harmful effects of microplastics, including crumb rubber, on human health and the environment, whether it will adopt the EU approach to precaution and public health, which promotes zero plastic use and supports sustainability and circular economy goals, which crumb rubber reportedly cannot meet, and whether it will therefore ban the use of crumb rubber in 3G sports pitches.
Answer
We understand these concerns, and we are committed to working with the key stakeholders to explore alternative artificial pitch systems and more sustainable infill products to reduce the spread of microplastics in the environment.
Artificial grass pitches play an important role in the delivery of sport and physical activity across Scotland, helping the nation to lead more active, healthy lives. Well maintained artificial pitches allow for year-round, intensive use and can provide significantly more playing hours than traditional grass pitches.
sportscotland, our national agency for sport continue to engage with sporting bodies, educational bodies, and key partners across the sporting sector in the development of synthetic pitches and surfaces.
EU legislation designed to protect the environment from exposure to microplastics means that, from 2031, rubber crumb infill material will no longer be available for use on artificial pitches within the EU.
While preparation of a restriction proposal under UK REACH has not been taken forward at this time, we are still in discussions with Welsh Government and UK Government on next steps.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 4 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of crumb rubber in Scotland, in light of the research report on Options to Reduce Intentionally Added Microplastics Emissions (UK), which was commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and identified that artificial sports pitches were the main source of intentionally added microplastic pollution in the UK.
Answer
Artificial grass pitches play an important role in the delivery of sport and physical activity across Scotland, helping the nation to lead more active, healthy lives.
The Scottish Government works with Welsh and UK Governments under the preliminary Common Framework on Chemicals and Pesticides, to identify and address chemical issues across Great Britain under relevant regulations, including UK REACH.
Microplastics was identified as a priority issue for consideration under the UK REACH restriction process in 2021. We agreed with UK Government and Welsh Government that an evidence project would be undertaken, led by Defra, on the risks and possible mitigation measures for the use of intentionally added microplastics in Great Britain.
Following the publication of the report earlier this year, we are still in discussions with Welsh Government and UK Government on next steps.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for delivering a just transition in Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government on the working paper, Community benefits and shared ownership for low carbon energy infrastructure, which was published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in May 2025.
Answer
The Scottish Government engages regularly with the UK Government on community benefit and shared ownership policy and continues to press for a mandatory scheme for mature onshore technologies, alongside a robust GB-wide voluntary framework for emerging technologies.
On 26 June 2025, I co-chaired a joint ministerial roundtable with the UK Minister for Energy to discuss the UK Government’s working paper and consider how policy can deliver fair outcomes for communities and build capacity while supporting investment in net zero. Officials continue to work closely with UK Government counterparts to ensure Scotland’s priorities are reflected and aligned with the refresh of our Good Practice Principles, to be published in the latter half of 2026.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it has allocated the Barnett consequential funding it received as a result of the UK Government’s announcement on 22 March 2025 that it was committing £10 million of new funding in 2025-26 for trading standards in England to tackle underage sales of tobacco and vapes, prevent sales of illicit tobacco and nicotine products, and fund up to 80 new apprentice enforcement officers.
Answer
The majority of funding to Scotland is not ring-fenced by the UK Government, with decisions on how money is spent in Scotland made through the Scottish Budget process including in-year Autumn and Spring budget revisions.
In line with the principles of the Verity House Agreement, the Scottish Government does not ring fence funding it provides to local government.
The 2025-26 budget delivered record funding of over £15.1bn for Local Government, who are responsible for the enforcement of existing legislation on underage sales, illicit tobacco and vapes. This a real terms increase of 5.5 per cent.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported staffing shortages in trading standards teams across Scotland, in light of reports that this is resulting in fewer than half of local authorities being able to participate in test purchase programmes to monitor the sales of tobacco and vapes to underage children.
Answer
The 2025-26 budget delivered record funding of over £15.1 billion for Local Government, a real terms increase of 5.5 per cent compared to 2024-2025. In line with the Verity House Agreement the Scottish Government does not ring-fence or direct local government funding.
Local Government have responsibility for ensuring local budget decisions deliver local and national priorities, including the enforcement of existing legislation, such as tackling underage sales
The Scottish Government works closely with the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS), including funding a National Coordinator, to support enforcement of Tobacco and Vaping legislation including checks on sales of tobacco and vapes to under 18s.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how much it received in Barnett consequential funding as a result of the UK Government’s announcement on 22 March 2025 that it was committing £10 million of new funding in 2025-26 for trading standards in England to tackle underage sales of tobacco and vapes, prevent sales of illicit tobacco and nicotine products and fund up to 80 new apprentice enforcement officers.
Answer
At the UK Spending Review the Scottish Government received a Barnett share of the net changes to UK departmental budget allocations, which ultimately fed into the total settlement. This is not broken down by programme, with any new of additional spending allocations in 2025-26 forming part of the overall allocation to the Scottish Government.
The 2025-26 budget delivered record funding of over £15.1 billion for Local Government, a real terms increase of 5.5 per cent compared to 2024-2025. Local Government have responsibility for ensuring local budget decisions deliver local and national priorities, including the enforcement of existing legislation, such as tackling underage sales and illicit tobacco and vapes.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent UK-Faroe Islands fisheries negotiations and regarding any impact on cetacean populations in Scottish waters, what assessment it has made of any potential merits of including animal welfare and wildlife protection clauses in future fisheries agreements with the Faroe Islands.
Answer
International negotiations and membership of organisations such as International Whaling Commission (IWC) are a reserved matter for the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government is fully committed to the protection of iconic marine wildlife such as whales, dolphins, and porpoise. We therefore fully support the UK Government and IWC in seeking to secure a permanent worldwide ban, and in continuing to call on all countries who practice any form of whaling, to cease these operations and enforce the worldwide ban.
As part of the annual UK-Faroe Islands fisheries negotiations, officials continue to work with the UK Government and raise this topic with Faroe Islands officials.
As outlined in the UK/ Faroe Islands Fisheries Framework Agreement ‘The Contracting Parties shall cooperate with a view to achieving the objective of ensuring the long-term conservation and sustainable use of marine living resources and, in doing so, safeguarding the ecosystems in which these resources occur’
As part of the annual fisheries agreement, when Faroese vessels fish in the UK waters they must comply with all relevant UK/Scottish legislation. This includes compliance with legislation governing Marine Protected Areas and Future Catching Policy, and the protection of cetacean populations.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK-Faroe Islands fisheries negotiations 2025 and regarding any impact on cetacean populations in Scottish waters, what recent discussions it has had with UK Government ministers regarding whale and dolphin hunts in the Faroe Islands.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not had any recent discussions with UK Ministers regarding whale and dolphin hunts in the Faroe Islands, although officials do have engagement on this and other matters.
International negotiations and membership of organisations such as IWC are a reserved matter for the UK Government. However we fully support the UK Government and International Whaling Commission (IWC) in seeking to secure a permanent worldwide ban, and in continuing to call on all countries who practice any form of whaling, to cease these operations and enforce the worldwide ban.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, ahead of the Wildfire Summit on 14 October 2025, and in light of the reported increase in wildfires in 2025 and the associated challenges faced by landowners, what educational initiatives it is currently undertaking to encourage responsible outdoor behaviour in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Answer
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) provides guidance for the public on how to exercise their access rights responsibly. Having a fire or BBQ is an activity covered by access rights in certain circumstances. However, the circumstances are limited and the SOAC clearly sets out when and where it would not be considered responsible to have a fire, including:
- when - such as periods of high or extreme fire risk; and
- where - such as in woodlands, on peat soils, and on farmland;
and guidance on how to have a fire responsibly.
NatureScot, the National Access Forum (NAF) and the national Visitor Management Co-ordination Group also undertake other activity to promote responsible behaviour with respect to fires and BBQs, such as:
- A fires messaging framework to ensure national consistency in messaging which includes very clear “no fires” at times of high or extreme fire risk.
- Fires and BBQs in the outdoors guidance for managers, rangers and land managers
- Media campaigns annually promoting the SOAC and fires messaging at times of high or extreme fire risk.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Wildfire Forum also provide Wildfire Danger Assessments which help prioritise communication and engagement activity.
