Portfolio Questions

Climate Action and Rural Affairs Adam Harley S7O-00259 1. To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to organisations seeking to purchase woodland for community use. David Kirkwood S7O-00260 2. To ask the Scottish Government whether, given the finite amount of funding available for environmental protection, it considers that funding should be prioritised towards measures with certain outcomes or those with uncertain outcomes. Patrick Harvie S7O-00261 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether its commitment to increase the Climate Justice Fund will match the 25% increase committed for the International Development Fund Q Manivannan S7O-00262 4. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cumulative impact of hyperscale AI data centres’ energy consumption on its commitment to meet its net zero by 2045 target. Miles Briggs S7O-00263 5. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers are having with SEPA regarding the reported discharge of waste directly into the sea impacting on communities across East Lothian. Collette Stevenson S7O-00264 6. To ask the Scottish Government how it supports businesses, including in East Kilbride, to embrace the circular economy. Jamie Langan S7O-00265 7. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that it has not provided support to farmers affected by the bluetongue outbreak in South Scotland region, whether it will reconsider its position and commit to looking at the central procurement of vaccine. Tim Eagle S7O-00266 8. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Rural Support Plan. Submitting member has a registered interest. Monica Lennon S7O-00267 9. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the climate action secretary has had with the transport secretary regarding how climate action policies are supporting the development of integrated public transport and active travel networks that connect rural communities with major urban centres, including Glasgow. Max Bannerman S7O-00268 10. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its Net Zero policies are compatible with stimulating local economic development. Education, Culture and Gaelic Gary Bouse S7O-00269 1. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with local authorities regarding the Scottish Attainment Challenge funding beyond 2026-27. Submitting member has a registered interest. Joe Long S7O-00270 2. To ask the Scottish Government how informal exclusion from education among young learners with additional support needs is being recorded and addressed, for example, those neurodivergent young people who are unable to attend school regularly or are on part-time timetables. Mark Griffin S7O-00271 3. To ask the Scottish Government, regarding widening access policies for Scottish-funded students applying to university, what its position is on whether disability, neurodivergence and long-term health conditions should be considered. Alan Brown S7O-00272 4. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of Scotland-based students gaining entry to university for the academic session 2026-27. Paul Sweeney S7O-00273 5. To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to endangered and critically endangered heritage crafts. Lloyd Melville S7O-00274 6. To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with Historic Environment Scotland and VisitScotland to attract visitors to historic buildings. Meghan Gallacher S7O-00275 7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what measures it will introduce as part of the Programme for Government to improve additional support needs provision in schools. Katy Clark S7O-00276 8. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Audit Scotland’s report, Scotland’s colleges 2026. Steven Bonnar S7O-00277 9. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the new national approach to additional support for learning delivers more consistent support for children and young people across Scotland, and provides schools and families with greater clarity about what support is available. Jack Middleton S7O-00278 10. To ask the Scottish Government how the Programme for Government aims to benefit cultural organisations in Aberdeen city centre.