The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S7O-00344

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will review the Highlands and Islands Patient Travel scheme.

Question reference: S7O-00309

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that housing policy supports population retention and growth in the Western Isles, in light of concerns reportedly raised by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar regarding barriers to housing delivery.

Question reference: S7W-03116

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that applicants to the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) do not face delays in receiving payments from the Basic Payment Scheme and that the Rural Payments and Inspections Division has the resources and capacity required to process applications timeously.

RPID is progressing FFIS verification nationally, with evidence assessed in order of receipt and payment holds released as soon as the required verification is complete and compliance with the grant conditions is confirmed.

As of 17 September 2026, 533 of the FFIS cases currently affecting BPS payments are under review and awaiting verification. Resources and processing performance are being managed and kept under review nationally to progress the outstanding caseload.

BPS payments are not guaranteed in a particular payment run. Where an FFIS hold remains, this reflects the need to complete the required controls on grant paid in advance. Those controls are necessary to protect public funds, with more than £373,000 already identified for recovery from 45 completed cases.

Question reference: S7W-03114

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason more than 1,200 Basic Payment Scheme claimants are reportedly still requiring Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) verification, and whether it considers that the current verification process operates effectively.

The reported figure of more than 1,200 is misleading. As of 17 September 2026, there are 730 FFIS cases where evidence has been provided and BPS payment remains on hold until verification has been completed, review has started for 533 of these cases, with further information requested from 162 farmers or crofters before verification can be completed.

Verification has not yet started in 198 cases. Of these, 162, 82%, had been received during the first 17 days of September.

The BPS payment window runs between September and June. A payment hold for FFIS does not mean the BPS is otherwise ready for payment as other processing may be required.

FFIS grant was paid in advance, and verification is required to confirm that the approved investments have been completed and the grant conditions met. Payment holds are released once the required checks are complete and compliance is confirmed.

The verification process is identifying non-compliance and protecting public funds. To date, 45 completed cases have identified more than £373,444 for recovery, while RPID continues to progress the remaining caseload.

Question reference: S7W-03115

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) verification cases remain outstanding, and how many of these involve applicants who (a) have already submitted all requested evidence and (b) are yet to do so, broken down by region.

As of 17 September 2026, 1,305 FFIS cases remain to be concluded.

Of these, 472 businesses have yet to submit an evidence return for grant payments totalling over £5.7 million. The extended deadline for submitting evidence is 30 September 2026, and verification cannot begin until the evidence is received.

Review has started in 566 cases. Review has yet start for 267 cases, of these, 219, 81% were received in August and September.

The total number of concluded cases is currently 446, which has resulted in the need to recover over £373,000 from 45 businesses.

The Scottish Government does not collate payment data at a region level. The breakdown by Area Office is:

Area Office	Evidence received, verification outstanding	Evidence not submitted
Benbecula	8	13
Dumfries	72	37
Elgin	36	11
Galashiels	86	47
Golspie	6	6
Hamilton	43	23
Inverness	27	26
Inverurie	154	87
Kilwinning	117	79
Kirkwall	32	10
Lerwick	40	24
Oban	20	24
Perth	127	50
Portree	15	6
Stornoway	15	11
Thurso	35	18
Total	833	472

Question reference: S7W-02914

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of confirmation by the company that MV Loch Portain will not return to service for the remainder of the summer 2026 timetable, what discussions it has had with CalMac Ferries Ltd regarding network resilience and resource allocation, and what contingency measures are being put in place to maintain services to communities.

Transport Scotland officials and CalMac as part of the Clyde and Hebrides Grant Agreement hold weekly meetings to discuss operations across the network. The decision on the deployment of vessels rightly sits with the operator as they have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that essential lifeline services to our island communities are maintained.

The contingency methods put in place by the operator include MV Glen Sannox operating an interisland service between Tarbert and Lochmaddy up to 27 September. A charter vessel (MV Pabbay Lass) operating between Berneray – Leverburgh until 27 September and MVLoch Bhrusda will cover the route from 28 September.

Question reference: S7O-00156

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that air services in the Highlands and Islands meet the needs of communities.

Question reference: S7W-02049

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 21 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that over two-thirds of applicants to its Emergency Heating Oil Scheme in the Western Isles have had their applications refused.

The Scottish Government launched the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme within a matter of weeks in response to the spiralling prices caused by the Iran conflict and wider instability undermining energy security across Europe.

The scheme was put in place to ensure the most vulnerable households are supported during the cost of living crisis, enabling affected households to apply for £300 towards their bills. This includes households on means-tested benefits but also those in financial hardship and at risk of self-rationing fuel who have unavoidable additional heating needs. The first payment was made within 24 hours of the scheme launching on 1 April 2026.

As of end of 9 August 2026, 598 applications had been received from households in the Western Isles. Of these applications, 270 have received an award of £300 towards the cost of their heating oil bills, with 322 applications having not met the eligbility criteria or had their application closed due to not responding to requests for information. Closed applications can be reopened if the applicant contacts Advice Direct Scotland.

Full details of the eligibility requirements have been available on the Advice Direct Scotland (“ADS”) website since launch, which includes noting that for discretionary decisions applicants must be in financial hardship and, in addition, meet one of the other listed criteria.

The Scottish Government is taking further steps to raise awareness of this scheme and will continue to use various channels to reach those households most in need. I would encourage anyone who uses heating oil or liquid petroleum gas to heat their homes in the Western Isles, and throughout Scotland, to visit the ADS website to check eligibility and, where eligible, to make an application.

Applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria but are still struggling with the cost of living crisis may wish to be aware of the Scottish Government’s cost of living website which provides helpful information and support and can be found here: https://costofliving.campaign.gov.scot

Question reference: S7W-02050

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 21 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure households in need are able to access the Emergency Heating Oil Scheme.

The Scottish Government launched the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme within a matter of weeks in response to the spiralling prices caused by the Iran conflict and wider instability undermining energy security across Europe.

The scheme was put in place to ensure the most vulnerable households are supported during the cost of living crisis, enabling affected households to apply for £300 towards their bills. This includes households on means-tested benefits but also those in financial hardship and at risk of self-rationing fuel who have unavoidable additional heating needs. The first payment was made within 24 hours of the scheme launching on 1 April 2026.

The scheme has been managed by Advice Direct Scotland (“ADS”). Details of the eligibility criteria and the application process have been made available on the ADS website since the launch of the Scheme. Additionally, ADS have utilised the heating oil and liquid petroleum gas supplier network and have contacted over 1,600 third sector organisations to raise awareness of the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme.

ADS are also assisting individuals with any queries that they may have on the scheme or in making an application and I thank them for their on-going work.

We are now taking further steps to raise awareness and will continue to use various channels to reach those households most in need.

Question reference: S7W-01856

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar on expanding the commitment of matched funding through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership for Empty Homes Officer roles to the Western Isles.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has an existing empty homes officer, which was originally funded through a matched contribution of just over £38,000 from the Scottish Government. In 2025-2026 the Scottish Government provided £750,000 towards match-funding for additional empty homes officer posts, which resulted in an extra 15 posts within Scottish local authorities. That funding was allocated, and is supported, via the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and discussions were held with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to explore options for funding to support empty homes work across the islands. These discussions continue (they last met on 24 June 2026) and, as well as the option to recruit an additional officer, include the offer of capital funding in 2026-27, which would contribute towards the creation of a local authority run grant scheme for empty homeowners.

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Question reference: S7O-00344

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Question reference: S7O-00309

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