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-00263

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by the High Court of the Judiciary, found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody, including those whose time on remand equals or exceeds their custodial sentence, and what was the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand for such individuals, in each year since 2018.

Question reference: S7W-00289

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by the High Court of Justiciary and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against, (c) not proven for the charges for which remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such individuals, in each year since 2018.

Question reference: S7W-00269

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by sheriff courts, found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody, including those whose time on remand equals or exceeds their custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such individuals, in each year since 2018.

Question reference: S7W-00284

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by justice of the peace courts but given a non-custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such individuals, in each year since 2018.

Question reference: S7W-00286

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by sheriff courts and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against and (c) not proven for the charges for which remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such individuals, in each year since 2018.

Question reference: S7W-00283

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by justice of the peace courts and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against and (c) not proven for the charges for which remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such individuals, in each year since 2018.

Question reference: S7W-00058

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 26 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the suitability of current ecological focus area activities for farming in Orkney.

Extensive engagement ensured Enhanced Greening requirements are proportionate for farmers, crofters, and small farms.

Officials commissioned academic advice to model the impact of the changes to ensure the transitional change was proportionate and deliverable.

Officials worked with stakeholder organisations, including the National Farmers Union for Scotland and the Scottish Crofting Federation. This involved farmers and crofters directly through user research and workshops with advisors across Scotland, including Orkney.

This collaborative approach has led to the introduction of four new Ecological Focus Area options, and updates to existing EFAs, providing greater flexibility to reflect the diversity of farming systems including local practices found in Orkney.

Advisors in Orkney secured funding to analyse academic modelling specific to the islands and organised roadshows to help farmers and crofters prepare for the changes.

The Greening schemes £142 Million budget supports agriculture and the environment and complements the other significant support packages that Scottish Government continues to provide in stark contrast to policies elsewhere in the UK.

Question reference: S7W-00060

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 26 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with island agricultural sectors regarding the land requirement increase from 5% to 7% for greening measures.

Extensive engagement ensured Enhanced Greening requirements are proportionate for farmers, crofters, and small farms.

Officials commissioned academic advice to model the impact of the changes to ensure the transitional change was proportionate and deliverable.

The Scottish Government worked with stakeholder organisations, including the National Farmers Union for Scotland and the Scottish Crofting Federation. Involved farmers and crofters directly through user research and workshops with advisors across Scotland, including Orkney.

This collaborative approach has led to the introduction of four new Ecological Focus Areas, and updates to existing EFAs, providing greater flexibility to reflect the diversity of farming systems including local practices found in Orkney.

Advisors in Orkney secured funding to analyse academic modelling specific to the islands and organised roadshows to help farmers and crofters prepare for the changes.

The Greening scheme £142 Million budget supports agriculture and the environment, this complements the other significant support packages that Scottish Government continues to provide in stark contrast to policies elsewhere in the UK.

Question reference: S7W-00059

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 26 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the economic impact on the beef and dairy sector of potential future greening requirements on permanent grassland.

In exploring the potential of permanent grassland greening requirements, Officials worked with stakeholder organisations, including the National Farmers Union for Scotland, Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB), Policy Development Group, and the Scottish Crofting Federation. This involved farmers and crofters directly through user research and workshops, with advisors across Scotland reviewing opportunities to recognise the policy contribution that farmers can make through permanent grassland (PGRS) using the existing Greening scheme.

Officials commissioned academic advice to model the impact of the changes to ensure the transitional change was proportionate and deliverable and to supply information to promote conversation and gather feedback

The Agricultural reform Program will continue to review opportunities to recognise efficient farming practice that align to the Scottish Government’s Vision for agriculture and officials will work collaboratively with the industry to ensure conditions are right before any final decision is made

Question reference: S7W-00061

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 26 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it plans to undertake ahead of any decision on the introduction of greening measures for permanent grassland.

Scottish Government will continue to work with the industry to ensure conditions are right before any final decisions are made, this will include stakeholder organisations, farmers and crofters directly through user research, workshops and/ or engagement sessions.

It is also expected that additional academic modelling will be required if there is a decision to pursue additional conditionality on permanent grassland.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting a thriving livestock industry. Updating schemes to deliver stronger policy outcomes helps ensure that public expenditure is justified and that Scotland maintains a productive and resilient agricultural sector.

The Agricultural reform Program will continue to review opportunities to recognise efficient farming practice that align to the Scottish Government Vision for agriculture.