Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 1311 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-43322

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the MV Glen Sannox is expected to re-enter service following its scheduled drydocking.

Question reference: S6W-43306

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland remain separate entities.

A report was laid before the Scottish Parliament in June 2024 regarding the operation of the administrative arrangements that the Scottish Ministers have made for the carrying out of their forestry functions under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018. A copy of the report can be found here: Administrative arrangements made by Scottish Ministers for the carrying out of their functions under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 | Scottish Forestry

The report sets out the history and reconfirms the arrangements for and operation of the two separate executive agencies, Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland, including their respective duties and functions.

Question reference: S6W-43373

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the total budget allocated towards the production of its We are Scotland campaign.

The total production cost was £149,459.88, correct at time of writing.

This cost includes rates for services procured by the Creative Services agency, and approved by the Scottish Government. These rates for distinct services and elements of production cannot be disclosed by the Scottish Government as they represent commercially-sensitive information. Marketing Spend for the Scottish Government is reconciled at the end of each financial year and published annually here: Marketing spend - gov.scot.

Question reference: S6W-43375

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government who had ministerial oversight for the (a) production and (b) approval of its We are Scotland campaign.

Question reference: S6W-43219

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what legal advice it has received on the legal status of the sheep of St Kilda, including whether they are considered wild animals, livestock, or fall within any other legal classification, and what implications this advice has for their ownership, management and welfare.

The content of any legal advice is confidential. By long-standing convention, successive Scottish and Westminster Governments have not disclosed the source or content of legal advice other than in the most exceptional circumstances.

The Scottish Government’s position has been established for several years and reflected in submissions to the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee. The sheep on St Kilda are regarded as an unowned and unmanaged population of wild animals. They are protected under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 when brought under human control, and at other times by the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996.

PE2021 EnsureAnimal Health and Welfare Scotland Act 2006 applies to the sheep on St Kilda | Scottish Parliament Website

The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission have confirmed, at the request of the Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland, that it will establish a working group to consider the moral and ethical issues for landowners in managing feral animals in Scotland, including the St Kilda sheep, and to develop an opinion on their welfare.

The National Trust for Scotland is undertaking a full review of the situation on St Kilda and as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands confirmed in Parliament on 08 January 2026, the Scottish Government willingness to engage and work closely with the Trust on this matter.

Question reference: S6W-43366

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it measures the efficacy of its We are Scotland campaign.

Question reference: S6W-43372

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on actors to participate in its We are Scotland campaign.

Question reference: S6W-43371

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on promotion of its We are Scotland campaign through social media influencers.

Question reference: S6W-43370

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on billboard advertising for its We are Scotland campaign.

Question reference: S6W-43259

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42965 by Gillian Martin on 21 January 2026, whether (a) the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and/or (b) the Minister for Public Finance made a formal request to the First Minister to reallocate ministerial responsibility for determining consent decisions and, if so, whether it will confirm when this request was made and, if this took the form of a written request, whether it will publish this.

The reallocation of ministerial responsibility for determining energy consents occurred as follows:

On 17 December 2025 I wrote to the First Minister, stating that I would be able to more effectively engage with communities on onshore energy policy if the ministerial responsibility for determining consents was transferred to the Minister for Public Finance.

On 18 December 2025 the First Minister replied in agreement and confirmed the transfer of ministerial responsibility.

On 19 December 2025 I wrote to the Convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee to inform the Committee of the transfer of ministerial responsibility.