Chamber and committees

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: S7W-01412

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of its legal duties to protect and restore seabed habitats under the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, and how it is delivering on these duties.

The UK wide Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 set out various requirements related to the UK wide endeavour of the achievement or maintenance of Good Environmental Status of marine waters within the marine strategy area, including with respect to seafloor integrity.

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains findings and recommendations concerning the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, which the Scottish Government is carefully considering.

I have written to the Chief Executive Officer of ESS confirming that the Scottish Government will work constructively with ESS to agree an appropriate action plan within the suggested timescale. The Scottish Government's position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

Question reference: S7W-01413

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to each of the five recommendations in the Environmental Standards Scotland report, Protecting Scotland’s seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers’ implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010.

The Scottish Government is giving careful consideration to Environmental Standards Scotland’s (ESS) report, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010. I have written to the Chief Executive Officer of ESS confirming that the Scottish Government will engage constructively with ESS to agree an appropriate action plan within the suggested timescale. The Scottish Government's position on the report’s findings and recommendations will be set out through this engagement and in its formal response.

Question reference: S7W-01853

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has, if any, to introduce guidance for schools to minimise requirements for branded items as part of school uniforms.

Question reference: S7W-01860

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to requiring data centres to run closed loop water systems or to require the reuse of treated wastewater.

Question reference: S7W-01858

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it maintains, or plans to create, a list of the number, location and size of all current and proposed data centres in Scotland, and whether this is available to the public.

Question reference: S7W-01865

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to increase the level of school clothing grant for primary and secondary pupils.

Question reference: S7W-01854

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the current school clothing grant is sufficient to cover the cost of school uniforms for primary and secondary school pupils.

Question reference: S7W-01859

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential cumulative impact of hyperscale data centres on water supply in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-01510

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to include proposals to improve the welfare of farmed animals, including through measures relating to the use of farrowing crates, in its forthcoming Programme for Government.

Question reference: S7W-01509

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of existing animal welfare legislation and regulation, and whether it has identified any areas where it considers that reform may be required.

In April 2025 the Scottish Government published a review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020, considering the provisions of the 2020 Act and any requirements for additional animal welfare, animal health and wildlife offences. The review concluded that the closely targeted provisions in the 2020 Act are functioning as intended and that no legislative changes are required.

Additionally, the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) is currently carrying out a review of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, with the report scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. The Scottish Government will give full consideration to SAWC's report in due course.