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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

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Question reference: S6W-42188

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the public consultation as part of Fisheries Management Plan measures, when it expects the management plans to come into force.

The fisheries policy authorities intend to deliver the Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) according to the timescales set out in Annex A of the Joint Fisheries Statement.

The current public consultation on 11 draft FMPs for demersal fish stocks will run for 16 weeks, closing on 11 March 2026. Following the consultation, responses will be analysed and FMPs will be amended ahead of publication later in 2026.

A significant amount of work on the remaining Scottish-led FMPs, including two Nephrops and eight pelagic stocks, has already been completed and consultations will be launched next year.

Question reference: S6W-42032

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the Deer Code was used to inform action under section 8 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 at Loch Choire Estate in Sutherland.

As required by the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 (the Act) NatureScot must have regard to Deer Code of Practice when exercising their functions under the Act, including when exercising functions under section 7(1) (control agreements) and section 8(1) (control schemes).

The documentation relating to this case explicitly states that regard was had to the Deer Code when exercising their section 7 functions. This documentation was published at the following link: Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 - section 8 control scheme: Loch Choire Estate - gov.scot.

Question reference: S6W-42030

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether NatureScot will carry out a review of the current Deer Code and how effective its implementation has been by the agency before a new Deer Code is produced, as proposed by part 4 of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill.

NatureScot has begun work to carry out a review of the Deer Code and has set up Steering Group to help with this task, the Group began meeting in November 2025. Membership of this group is taken from a wide range of deer experts in Scotland and reflects the spectrum of opinions that exist.

Previously NatureScot published a Commissioned Report: SNH Research Report 1095: Review of compliance with the Code of Practice on Deer Management in 2019 which reviewed compliance with the Code.

Question reference: S6W-42033

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the financial cost has been of damage by deer populations to areas of peatlands that have been restored under the Peatland Action Fund.

Question reference: S6W-42031

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Deer Code has been used to inform action of the ground by NatureScot to reduce deer (a) numbers and (b) damage.

NatureScot have been informed by the Deer Code in every section 7 (control agreement) intervention it has taken since the publication of the Code in 2011, as required under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996.

NatureScot has also had due regard to the Code in undertaking its actions under section 6A (deer management plans) since 2011 and considers it in much of their advisory work with Deer Management Groups, landowners and occupiers as it necessarily informs their approach.

The approach set out in the Code is also used as part of their deer authorisation functions regarding out of season and night shooting.

Question reference: S6W-41965

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 27 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the revised Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) methodology will recognise the contribution of solar thermal installations to energy efficiency.

Our updated response to the 2023 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform consultation and 2025 technical consultation sets out the timeline for introducing a new calculation methodology called the Home Energy Model (HEM) which is under development by the UK Government.

HEM is a modular EPC methodology which will allow greater flexibility to account for new technologies. The UK Government’s documentation for HEM currently includes reference to solar thermal systems associated with reducing energy use for domestic hot water (document HEM-TP-09). We will continue working with UK Government as they develop the final version of HEM, and expect that contributions from solar thermal systems will be recognised within HEM.

The reformed domestic EPC will contain a new Heating System Rating. We expect solar thermal systems will largely operate as part of a hybrid system with other technologies. This will be reflected in the rating awarded. Our intended Heating System Rating bandings were published in the updated Government Response.

Question reference: S6O-05253

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-41958

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to improve broadband reliability in rural Scotland ahead of the switch-off of the Public Switched Telephone Network, in light of the fact that digital landlines depend on internet connectivity.

In the past decade, Scottish public sector-led digital infrastructure programmes have enabled over one million faster broadband connections. Through the Reaching 100% (R100) and Project Gigabit in Scotland (PGiS) programmes, we are continuing to accelerate access to future-proofed full fibre broadband for those who need it most, despite Scotland having some of the most challenging terrain in which to deploy digital infrastructure in Europe.

The switch-off of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) in the UK is industry-led, with oversight from the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), reflecting that telecoms legislation is reserved.

Question reference: S6W-41800

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Oceana UK's recently published research into the impact of offshore oil and gas projects on marine life, what steps it is undertaking to ensure that Scotland's Marine Protected Areas network is protected from any future disturbances by new oil and gas developments.

The regulatory regimes for offshore oil and gas licensing and consenting are matters currently reserved to the UK Government. As part of these arrangements, the UK Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) has responsibility for regulating environmental activity for offshore oil and gas operations on the UK continental shelf.

All public bodies have an obligation to consider the conservation objectives of MPAs within their decision making and ensure these are furthered.

Question reference: S6W-41801

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Oceana UK's recently published research into the impact of offshore oil and gas projects on marine life, whether it plans to oppose any proposed new oil and gas developments in Scotland's seas.

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