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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: S6W-40848

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 7 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to develop best scientific practice in marine and coastal restoration activity.

Many restoration projects around Scotland are already working with universities and researchers to pioneer new methods and develop best practice in data collection and monitoring. We are currently consulting on a draft marine and coastal restoration plan which sets out key objectives to help us understand restoration opportunities and priorities. The draft plan also proposes actions to stimulate innovation, standardise monitoring, and encourage knowledge exchange. The draft plan was developed with advice from NatureScot and Marine Directorate scientists, as well as input from a range of stakeholders including research institutions. Best practice guidance for restoration activities is already available on the websites of NatureScot and the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund, among others.

Question reference: S6W-40959

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the reported 20% real-terms reduction in funding for colleges between 2021-22 and 2025-26 on (a) learners, (b) college staff and (c) the economy.

Question reference: S6W-40942

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the designation of green data centres as a national development in the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), what its position is regarding whether NPF4 is consistent with local authority approval being given for data centres for AI and related purposes without sufficient associated renewable generation to meet their future needs.

Question reference: S6W-40943

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the AI Growth Zones initiative, as set out in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26: progress report 2024 to 2025, will require all data centres for AI and related purposes that are supported by it, to be what it considers "green data centres".

Question reference: S6W-40944

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether its commitment set out in the March 2021 paper, Green Datacentres and digital connectivity: vision and action plan for Scotland, to "position Scotland as a leading zero-carbon, cost competitive green data hosting location, which can contribute towards our ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2045" means that ministerial planning approval will only be given to those centres for AI and related purposes that are zero carbon.

Question reference: S6W-40825

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40443 by Ivan McKee on 17 September 2025, and in light of reports that NatureScot has advised that the development would damage an internationally important Ramsar site and a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), whether it has engaged with the Ramsar secretariat as part of the consultation process on the proposed development of an 18-hole golf course at Coul Links, and if so, what the outcome of any such engagement was.

The Scottish Government has not engaged with the Ramsar Secretariat on the planning application at Coul Links. NatureScot serves as a statutory advisor to the Scottish Government on developments that may affect Ramsar sites, offering expert ecological guidance to assess environmental impacts. The Ramsar Secretariat, based in Switzerland, is responsible for the day-to day co-ordination of convention activities. Whilst the Secretariat provides guidance, technical advice, and support to member countries to help ensure Ramsar sites are protected within their national planning processes, the Secretariat does not have a direct role in specific planning applications.

Question reference: S6W-40877

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether, at the COP30 climate conference in Brazil in November 2025, it will make new commitments to the Climate Justice Fund in support of the communities most affected by climate change in the Global South.

Question reference: S6W-40876

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government who will make up its delegation to the COP30 climate conference in Brazil in November 2025, and what their priorities will be.

Question reference: S6W-40878

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to engage with the (a) Under 2 Coalition and (b) Regions 4 network at the COP30 climate conference in Brazil in November 2025, and how such involvement could help it to achieve its goals in relation to climate change.

Question reference: S6W-40879

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet representatives of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Campaign at the COP30 climate conference in Brazil in November 2025.