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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.

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Question reference: S6W-44414

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 24 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding from Screen Scotland’s Production Growth Fund has been awarded to production companies that undertake their (a) post-production and (b) VFX work in the Highlands and Islands region, in each year since 2021.

The Production Growth Fund aims to draw large-scale film and TV productions into Scotland; it does not directly target post-production or VFX work. Recent projects which were attracted to locate some or all of their production in the Highlands and Islands via the Production Growth Fund include the Netflix drama Department Q (which filmed partly in Caithness) and the feature film Jack of Spades (Argyll & Bute).

Post-production and VFX work is supported through Screen Scotland’s recently launched Project Post. This initiative was designed to help Scotland-based post-production facilities secure work that might otherwise go elsewhere. Screen Scotland is actively promoting the fund internationally to attract more business to Scotland. Any Scotland-based post-production or VFX facilities, including those in the Highlands and Islands, are encouraged to contact Screen Scotland to discuss how the Project Post fund could support their growth.

Question reference: S6W-44412

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it works with (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards to encourage greater use of venison and other game products.

Whilst menu content will be decided locally, there is much work underway by Scottish Government to facilitate the uptake of venison across the public sector.

This includes a successful pilot with Wild Jura, Argyll and Bute Council and Food for Life Scotland to supply venison into six primary schools. Officials are working collaboratively to explore opportunities to increase demand for venison and develop options to increase supply by helping the sector make the most of various routes to markets such as wholesale and framework agreements used widely across public sector.

In February 2026, the Scottish Government provided £45,000 to SAOS and Scottish Venison to undertake activity to help build capability within the venison sector and drive increased consumption of venison from Scotland. This includes work to improve and establish new supply chains, build skills and develop resources for use within schools.

Officials will continue to work collaboratively with the Scottish Venison Association, Scotland Food & Drink as well as other key stakeholders to ensure opportunities are available within the public sector to enjoy venison.

Question reference: S6W-44287

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many passengers (a) arrived at and (b) departed from train stations in (i) Elgin, (ii) Forres and (iii) Keith in each year since 2021.

Question reference: S6W-44410

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to the promotion of Scottish-landed (a) fish and (b) shellfish, in each year since 2021.

Question reference: S6W-44286

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many members of the CMAL board live in island communities.

Question reference: S6W-44291

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP appointments were conducted (a) in-person, (b) by telephone and (c) virtually in the Highlands and Islands region in each year since 2021, broken down by NHS board.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on how many GP appointments were conducted (a) in-person, (b) by telephone and (c) virtually in the Highlands and Islands region in each year since 2021.

PHS publishes information relevant to this question using GP encounters data as part of the General Practice in-hours activity visualisation publication. Encounters are not the same as appointments as not all encounters will be recorded on an appointment booking system. Further information on the limitations of this data can be found on the publication website.

NHS Board / HSCP	Year	In-Person	Virtual
NHS Board / HSCP	Year	In-Person	Telephone Consultation	E-consult and Video Consult
NHS Highland*	2021	868,446	324,857	848
	2022	867,843	251,858	398
	2023	916,085	197,036	508
	2024	948,075	207,380	1,134
	2025	921,642	184,412	2,129
NHS Orkney	2021	77,793	19,998	678
	2022	77,274	15,626	555
	2023	79,690	12,430	415
	2024	77,845	10,091	270
	2025	74,667	8,988	5
NHS Shetland	2021	55,927	26,307	3,753
	2022	56,115	23,379	3,472
	2023	59,639	19,077	2,124
	2024	57,251	17,529	1,742
	2025	63,881	17,667	1,927
NHS Western Isles	2021	50,470	32,892	1,644
	2022	47,269	30,887	2,334
	2023	50,988	28,193	2,402
	2024	66,471	17,952	1,348
	2025	62,322	17,595	122
Moray HSCP**	2021	80,552	122,929	19,180
	2022	95,733	88,557	15,640
	2023	112,575	69,815	17,051
	2024	140,347	62,772	18,838
	2025	148,494	61,762	15,480

* Not all of the NHS Highland area is within the Highland and Islands electoral region.

** Not all of the Moray HSCP area is within the Highland and Islands electoral region.

Question reference: S6O-05708

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that NHS Grampian is looking to save £177 million over the next five years, what impact this will have on the board's staff and services, and, in particular, on Dr Gray's Hospital.

Question reference: S6W-44284

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 18 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the most up to date total cost is of the (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) MV Glen Rosa, including ongoing repairs.

Question reference: S6W-44289

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it can offer to Moray Council to help expedite the safe reopening of Lea Bridge in Forres.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads and associated infrastructure in their area and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic.

As part of the record funding package for Local Government, in 2026-27, Moray Council will receive £246.3 million to fund local services which equates to an extra £12.3 million or an additional 5.3% compared to 2025-26 alongside full discretion over decisions on Council Tax.

The vast majority of funding available to councils is provided by means of a block grant from the Scottish Government. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them, including on maintenance of local roads and bridges, on the basis of local needs and priorities

Question reference: S6W-44282

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 18 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any economic analysis of delays to the conclusion of missives between buyers and sellers of residential properties.