Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-35595

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its statement in the National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2) consultation documents that "zonal planning for fisheries in NMP2 is not currently appropriate as there are a range of policies in development", for what reason it proposes to separate fisheries from zonal marine planning, and how the range of policies in development will interact with NMP2.

The National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2) is a planning tool that informs and provides guidance on marine use decisions covering where, when, if and how development takes place. The regulation and management of marine activities including fishing are covered by sector specific regulations outside of planning.

The NMP2 will support the outcomes set out in the fisheries management strategy, and guide decision makers to consider how fisheries management will interact with decisions. This includes supporting improvements in the collection of spatial data, and the requirements for consideration of this data in planning decisions.

Question reference: S6W-35597

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research by the University of Cambridge and University of the Highlands and Islands showing that a pledge by UK shooting organisations to replace lead shot with non-toxic alternatives by 2025 has failed, how it plans to protect (a) wildlife and (b) game meat consumers from lead contamination.

The Scottish Government is aware of the research by the University of Cambridge and the University of the Highlands and Islands and recognises that the use of lead in ammunition continues to pose risks to human health, wildlife, and the environment. We prioritised work under assimilated law in 2021 to propose a restriction for lead in ammunition, in agreement with the Welsh and UK Governments, to address these ongoing risks.

We have been working with UK and Welsh Governments to reach a decision following the publication of the Health and Safety Executive’s Opinion on this restriction proposal in December 2024. Once a decision has been agreed between the UK Government, Scottish, and Welsh Ministers, the UK Government will publish a decision report on its website. The Secretary of State must then seek the consent of Scottish and Welsh Ministers to a UK statutory instrument to make this decision law.

Question reference: S6W-35566

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) can take and (b) is taking to ensure that there is clear labelling that distinguishes between farmed and wild Scottish salmon, as well as imported salmon, in order that consumers can make informed choices, in light of a recent survey, which reportedly found that 41% of people in Scotland are confused about the origin of the salmon that they are purchasing.

The commercial harvesting of wild Atlantic salmon in Scotland is now very limited consequent to conservation measures. It is unlikely that wild Atlantic salmon from Scotland will appear in UK supermarkets.

Whether farmed or wild caught, the origin of unprocessed and certain types of smoked fish, including imported salmon, should be included on the product label or on display if sold loose. There is a general requirement that food information must not mislead consumers as to the characteristics of the food, its nature, identity, country of origin or place of provenance, method of manufacture or production.

Question reference: S6W-35571

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31545 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2024, whether it has received any response from the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland with regards to the proposed order under section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998 relating to changing marriages to civil partnerships.

We have received a reply from the Secretary of State for Scotland. This reply gives in-principle agreement to the proposed section 104 Order.

Scotland Office has asked for further information on what the Order could cover. The Scottish Government will write to Scotland Office accordingly and will also work with them to agree a timetable.

It may still take some time for the work on the Order to be completed. Scottish Government officials will keep people who have expressed an interest updated on developments.

Question reference: S6O-04479

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what measures it is taking to support any LGBTQ+ staff whose welfare may be negatively impacted by any increase in the use of language in the Chamber and committees that may be perceived as trans-exclusionary.

Question reference: S6W-35436

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce a decision on the review into banning lead ammunition, and whether it plans to provide an update and information to the Parliament or the relevant committee on (a) how the decision was reached and (b) its rationale for the decision.

The Scottish Government recognises that the use of lead in ammunition continues to pose risks to both human health and the environment. We prioritised work under assimilated law in 2021 to propose a restriction for lead in ammunition, in agreement with the Welsh and UK Governments, to address these ongoing risks.

We have been working with UK and Welsh Governments to reach a decision following the publication of the Health and Safety Executive’s Opinion on this restriction proposal in December 2024. Once a decision has been agreed between the UK Government, Scottish, and Welsh Ministers, the UK Government will publish a decision report on its website. The Secretary of State must then seek the consent of Scottish and Welsh Ministers to a UK statutory instrument to make this decision law. At this point I will write to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee to seek the agreement of the Scottish Parliament to Scottish Ministers consenting to this instrument, the details of which will be notified to the Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-35384

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 12 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to explore any reforms of the energy performance certificate (EPC) regime in (a) general and (b) relation to the EPC appraisal of (i) cavity walls and associated insulation measures and (ii) energy efficiency improvement recommendations, and what advice it has sought regarding any EPC reforms.

The Scottish Government has undertaken an extensive range of work in pursuit of reforming the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regime in Scotland.

This has included three recent consultations to scope and refine the approach to EPC reform.

Domestic Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) reform: consultation - gov.scot

(23 July 2021)

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform: consultation - gov.scot (25 July 2023)

Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register Lodgement Fees and Penalty Charges - Questions - Energy Performance Certificate reform – lodgement fees and penalty charges: technical consultation - gov.scot (12 February 2025)

These consultation documents have been complemented by public events and workshops.

More generally, the Scottish Government has, and continues to, engage intensively with all major stakeholders in EPCs, seeking their views in taking forward our reforms. The Scottish Government regularly convenes a Strategic Advisory sub-Group and an External Reference Group focused on EPC reform. Stakeholders include representatives of Approved Organisations, local authorities (in their enforcement role), consumer groups; EPC assessors; surveyors; the UK Government; the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; private letting agencies; and many others. We have also engaged with other European countries including Denmark and the Republic of Ireland.

In taking forward our reform of EPCs, we have been receiving advice from the Climate Change Committee, the UK’s statutory adviser on tackling climate change, and other advisory bodies including Historic Environment Scotland.

In relation to the EPC’s appraisal of cavity walls and associated insulation measures, and other energy efficiency improvement recommendations, we acknowledge concerns raised over the ability of the EPC to identify when such measures are technically suitable. In response, we are creating a short term industry group to advise on how the reformed EPC will select measures for potential improvement. We are also carrying out further user testing on how best to present this information on the certificate, in particular ensuring that it signposts the need to have detailed technical advice before installing any measures. In parallel, we are currently scoping the development of a methodology to assess the technical suitability of measures as a step beyond the EPC.

Question reference: S6W-35393

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of inshore fisheries and conservation authorities in England as a potential model for inshore fisheries management in Scotland.

Recent work has been undertaken to review different models of inshore fisheries management, including the model in England using Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities. This work, along with wider evidence submitted during our Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement programme call for evidence, will help inform development of policy proposals for a new framework for managing Scotland’s inshore fisheries.

Question reference: S6W-35392

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will (a) publish and (b) respond to the findings from the call for evidence on the Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement programme, which concluded on 18 February 2025.

We intend to publish the results to the call for evidence in line with Scottish Government consultation good practice guidance for Scottish Government consultations, typically within 12 weeks of the closing date.

Following analysis of the responses, policy proposals for a new framework for managing our inshore fisheries will be drafted, with input from key stakeholders. There will then be a full public consultation.

Question reference: S6W-35242

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the analysis of the consultation conducted on the A96 Corridor Review, which closed on 21 February 2025.

During the Roundtable meeting I held in Parliament on 4 February, I advised members of my intention to provide an update on the public’s response to the consultation as soon as possible. However, this will depend on the time required to review the considerable number of responses received.

The 12-week consultation period ended last month with over 1,400 responses received.

This feedback, which is now under active consideration by Transport Scotland, will help inform the Scottish Government’s final decision on how best to take forward improvements to the A96 whilst also balancing the demands of the challenging economic climate and the climate emergency.

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