Asked by: Langan, Jamie (Reform UK - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement that Scotland has its first recorded case of bluetongue virus, what contingency measures it has in place to address this development, and what measures it will take to prevent any further outbreak of the disease.
Answered by Fairlie, Jim - Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands
Scottish Government has published, in partnership with Defra and Welsh Government, the GB Bluetongue Virus Disease Control Strategy. This strategy has been adapted by all three administrations to respond to the current circulation of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3).
As part of that strategy a localised Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) was declared in parts of South-West Scotland on 20 August 2026 following the detection of BTV-3 on several holdings in that area. The zone imposes movement controls on susceptible animals to help contain undisclosed pockets of disease within the area whilst surveillance is undertaken. All affected farms were placed under official movement restriction while veterinary investigations are undertaken.
Several animal movement licences have been made available to allow movements on and off premises within the TCZ. These licences aim to provide a balance between disease prevention, and minimise impacts caused by the restrictions such as animal welfare and economic harm. These licences and further information can be found on Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals - Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease - gov…
Scottish Government also announced the tightening of some controls following a sudden and significant rise in cases in parts of England, reducing the time animals could travel from the free areas of Scotland to a Restricted Zone (RZ) and return again from four days to a single day. Animals arriving in the RZ must be unloaded after sunrise and loaded before sunset.
From 10 September 2026, certain BTV susceptible breeding animals traveling from a RZ area to Scotland to live must be vaccinated with any BTV-3 product and be PCR tested within seven days of the movement with negative results received prior to any movement. Only cattle vaccinated with a vaccine that prevents viremia would be exempt from any testing requirements.
Scottish Government will continue to engage with industry organisations to ensure the control strategy remains fit for purpose and it will be kept under constant review to ensure the right balance between disease control and movement restriction.
Vaccination remains our best long-term defence, and keepers are strongly encouraged to discuss this option with their vets and place vaccine orders now to ensure access to supplies. We continue to work together with other UK nations, manufacturers and distributors to ensure timely access to the vaccine, with more doses being brought in from continental Europe and additional supplies now in production.
Asked by:
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential for Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data to reveal whether an individual has visited sensitive locations, including healthcare facilities, places of worship, political meetings or domestic abuse support services.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
Asked by: Sweeney, Paul (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Safe Stations initiative operating in Rhode Island and other United States municipalities, which utilises fire stations as 24-hour drop-in centres for immediate addiction support, and whether elements of this model could be integrated into its National Mission on Drugs.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Government remains committed to a public health approach to reducing drug-related harms and deaths. Our approach is set out in Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland's Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan 2026-2035, which brings together prevention, harm reduction, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery support. The use of any Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) premises including fire stations is an operational matter for the SFRS.
Asked by:
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its strategy for tackling violence against women and girls considers the potential misuse of police surveillance technologies, including Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), to facilitate stalking or coercive control.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls (VAWG), recognises that technology can be used to directly track, monitor, and facilitate violence against women and girls. While Equally Safe does not refer specifically to Automatic Number Plate Recognition, it acknowledges the wider risks associated with the misuse of technology and recognises that action to address VAWG must take account of these evolving risks.
Asked by:
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential for Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to be misused to facilitate stalking, harassment or coercive control.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls (VAWG), recognises that technology can be used to directly track, monitor, and facilitate violence against women and girls. While Equally Safe does not refer specifically to Automatic Number Plate Recognition, it acknowledges the wider risks associated with the misuse of technology and recognises that action to address VAWG must take account of these evolving risks.
Asked by: Sweeney, Paul (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to whether the electricity requirements associated with data centre development could improve the economic viability of constructing small modular reactors.
Answered by Gethins, Stephen - Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
The Scottish Government does not support the construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland under current technologies, including small modular reactors. This position is not impacted by any new or increased source of electricity demand, including data centre development.
Our focus is on renewable energy, which is already delivering clean power and supporting economic growth across Scotland.
Asked by:
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has considered using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data in combination with facial recognition or other biometric technologies, and, if so, for what purposes.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The deployment of resources is a matter for the Chief Constable based on operational priorities. This is also very clearly set out in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.
The consideration to use data acquired by Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology in combination with facial recognition and other biometric technologies would be an operational matter for Police Scotland, under the scrutiny of the Scottish Police Authority.
Asked by:
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of whether the current retention period for Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data held by Police Scotland is proportionate, in light of the number of vehicles recorded that are not of interest to the police.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
There is no single and specific retention period for road traffic offence data held by Police Scotland. Retention depends on the type of offence and the policing purpose. Police Scotland applies their formal Records Retention Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), with crime and offence records retained according to risk-based retention rules.
Asked by:
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered reducing the period for which Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data relating to vehicles that are not of interest is retained.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
There is no single and specific retention period for road traffic offence data held by Police Scotland. Retention depends on the type of offence and the policing purpose. Police Scotland applies their formal Records Retention Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), with crime and offence records retained according to risk-based retention rules.
Asked by:
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential for Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to be combined with facial recognition, artificial intelligence or other biometric technologies.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The deployment of resources is a matter for the Chief Constable based on operational priorities.
Any assessment made for the potential for Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology (ANPR) to be combined with biometric enabled technology and/or artificial intelligence would be an operational matter for the owner of such technology.