S7W-01957

Asked by: McLennan, Paul (Scottish National Party - East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of decisions by the Information Commissioner’s Office to require the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to disclose farmed fish welfare inspection reports, whether it supports a presumption in favour of publishing farmed animal welfare inspection reports across all species, including terrestrial farmed animals, and what discussions it has had with APHA regarding the routine publication of such reports.

Answered by Fairlie, Jim - Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting high standards of animal health and welfare and to ensuring that regulatory systems operate in a transparent and proportionate manner. Any decisions on the routine publication of inspection reports must balance transparency with legal obligations, including the protection of personal data and commercially sensitive information.

Scottish Government officials engage regularly with APHA on animal health and welfare matters. However, The Scottish Government has no plans to request that the Animal and Plant Health Agency or the UK Government routinely publish fish welfare inspection reports.

S7W-02160

Asked by: Beattie, Colin (Scottish National Party - Midlothian North)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what lessons it has learned from the response to the July 2026 Cairngorms wildfire.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice

I have commissioned a review of the Scottish Government’s Wildfires Strategic Action Plan and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) standard operational assurance processes will capture debriefs from attending crews and officers.

In addition, the SFRS have also commissioned an independently led review at a wider partner and multi-agency level to identify issues arising from the Cairngorms wildfire in order to maximise organisational learning and instil public confidence.

These reviews will provide partners with the opportunities to explore issues and experiences arising during this wildfire, ensuring lessons learned are taken forward and that future arrangements are fully informed by operational experience and the expertise of those at the forefront of wildfire management.

S7W-02072

Asked by: Kerr, Liam (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - North East Scotland)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42095 by Siobhian Brown on 26 November 2025, whether all eight Ford Ranger Ultra-Light Pumping Units procured by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have now entered operational service and, if not, how many remain unavailable and for what reason.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice

The Scottish Government does not hold this operational information. The member may wish to contact the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service directly, as the Service is responsible for the deployment and operation of its vehicles.

S7W-02094

Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment (a) it and (b) the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has made of any current Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is available to firefighters in the event of a wildfire, and whether either has plans to invest in (i) additional and (ii) upgraded PPE.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice

The provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for firefighters is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). SFRS is responsible for ensuring that appropriate PPE is available to support firefighters in carrying out their duties safely, including when responding to wildfire incidents.

The Chief Fire Officer has provided assurances to the Scottish Government that firefighter safety is an absolute priority and that both the specialist wildfire PPE and the existing standard PPE available to firefighters are safe for operational use when responding to wildfires.

Scottish Ministers expect SFRS to keep its operational equipment and PPE requirements under review and to have appropriate arrangements in place to assess the suitability of equipment for the risks faced by its workforce. This includes considering any requirement for additional or enhanced PPE in response to emerging operational risks such as wildfires.

Launched in 2023, SFRS’s wildfire strategy is supported by a £1.6 million investment in vehicles, equipment, and training to help respond to wildfire incidents around the country. SFRS remains committed to continual improvement of wildfire capability, informed by operational learning, staff feedback, evolving risk and technological development.

S7W-02245

Asked by: Greer, Ross (Scottish Green Party - West Scotland)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01870 by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2026, what assessment it has made of any impact that the removal of the Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) pay supplement could have on the recruitment and retention of civil servants within the DDAT profession, in light of the reported challenges in attracting staff with the relevant expertise due to higher salaries offered in the private sector.

Answered by Gilruth, Jenny - Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government

The Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) pay supplement was replaced following a review with a new Government Digital and Data (GDD) pay supplement aligned to the UK Civil Service profession framework. Pay supplements are temporary measures, subject to regular review, and are retained, amended or withdrawn based on evidence of recruitment and retention pressures. The review concluded that pay supplements should continue to be applied where there is evidence of recruitment and retention challenges linked to market conditions. As a result, roles where higher external salaries create difficulties in attracting and retaining suitably skilled staff continue to attract a pay supplement at an appropriate market rate.

S7W-02124

Asked by:

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent outbreaks of wildfires across Europe, what measures it is taking to improve home fire safety and whether it plans to update the guidance on the safety of animals in the event of a household fire.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice

It is up to individual owners to consider how they manage their pets whilst evacuating their home with consideration given on how to keep them safe and secure. We would encourage pet owners to consider what to do with their pets as part of a home escape plan. However, escape should not be delayed in order to locate or evacuate distressed animals. The last known location of your pet can be given to the fire service on arrival who will consider this in their plan.

SFRS provide information on fire safety in the home on their website: Fire Safety in the Home | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. They also provide information and guidance regarding wildfires: Wildfires | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as well as advice on making an escape plan: Escape plan | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

S7W-02022

Asked by: Burgess, Ariane (Scottish Green Party - Highlands and Islands)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to those trade agreements reached by the UK with other nations and trading blocs since leaving the EU, what conversations it has had with the UK Government about (a) upholding animal welfare standards, and (b) protecting food security in Scotland.

Answered by Fairlie, Jim - Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands

International trade is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government regularly engages with the UK Government on trade negotiations and has consistently emphasised that agri-food trade agreements should uphold Scotland’s high animal welfare and food standards.

We have also highlighted the importance of trade to Scotland’s food security. The Scottish Government welcomed the outline UK-EU SPS and Veterinary Agreement announced on 19 May 2025 and will continue to press for Scotland’s interests, including high agri-food standards, to be reflected in future trade negotiations.

S7W-01991

Asked by: Burgess, Ariane (Scottish Green Party - Highlands and Islands)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in providing additional support to the market garden sector.

Answered by Fairlie, Jim - Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting small producers, empowering them to play a key role in delivering our Vision for Agriculture through the Small Producers Pilot Fund. Market gardens are no exception to that, and providing they meet our small producer criteria, can access funding through the £1,500,000 the Scottish Government has provided in capital funding for 2026-2027.

Further to this, the Scottish Government recognises the unique market conditions and the wider benefits of our small edible horticultural producers. The Scottish Government has therefore, commissioned research to fully understand this industry and the challenges that they face. This is expected to be completed in the beginning of 2027.

S7W-01668

Asked by: Harvie, Patrick (Scottish Green Party - Glasgow)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criminal offences are available to address the dissemination of disinformation by individuals or communication platforms where there is intent to stir up conflict, hostility or disorder within communities, or where a person is reckless as to the likelihood of doing so, and whether it is considering the introduction of any new legislation to address such conduct.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice

There are a range of criminal offences that may be used to prosecute someone who disseminates false information either intending to stir up conflict, hostility or disorder or reckless as to whether their behaviour is likely to have that effect. Depending on the facts and circumstances of the particular case, these may include the common law offence of breach of the peace, the offence of threatening or abusive behaviour at section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 and, where the information is disseminated using the internet or a mobile phone, communications offences at section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

Where a person communicates a message which is threatening, abusive or insulting and either intends or is likely to stir up hatred against a group defined by reference to their race, or communicates a message that is threatening or abusive and intends to stir up hatred against a group defined by reference to their religion, sexual orientation, age, transgender identity, variations in sex characteristics or disability, the offences of stirring up hatred at section 4 of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 may be relevant.

Decisions about whether a person's behaviour would amount to any of these laws is a matter for Police Scotland, COPFS and, ultimately, the court, to determine in any given case.

The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to reform the law in this area but we keep the law under continual review to ensure it is effective.

S7W-01638

Asked by:

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has made available or plans to make available for key enabling infrastructure to support heat network delivery, and how it is working with industry to develop a strategic approach to the rollout of heat networks. 

Answered by None

The Scottish Government is providing long term funding to support local authorities to develop and deliver their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) with funding committed for each local authority of £75,000 per year until 2027-28.