Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Scottish Liberal Democrats - Edinburgh Western)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce legislation to prevent the loss of jobs due to the development of AI.
Answered by Lochhead, Richard - Minister for Business and Employment
Regulation of artificial intelligence is a reserved matter, and the Scottish Government continues to engage with the UK Government on this issue. We understand that the UK Government is preparing to introduce new legislation related to AI, and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure that Scotland’s interests are represented.
While we do not have plans to introduce legislation specifically aimed at preventing job losses due to AI, we are focused on mitigating potential impacts through proactive measures. This includes investment in AI literacy and skills development to ensure that individuals and communities are equipped to adapt to technological change.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it is developing to support any workers who lose their jobs due to AI.
Answered by Lochhead, Richard - Minister for Business and Employment
While there are currently no dedicated programmes specifically for workers displaced by AI, the Scottish Government is taking steps to support individuals through broader digital and AI literacy initiatives.
Programmes such as Living with AI aim to help people understand and adapt to the changing technological landscape. In addition, we are working with Skills Development Scotland and other partners to address AI-related skills gaps and support workforce transition.
We also fund postgraduate programmes and industry placements through The Data Lab, helping to build a resilient and future-ready talent pipeline. Strengthening the AI skills base remains a key priority for Scottish Government.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the potential development of special economic zones for AI data centres and related investment to be a devolved responsibility.
Answered by Lochhead, Richard - Minister for Business and Employment
The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities and enterprise agencies to explore opportunities for AI-related investment.
While certain aspects of economic zoning and investment policy may intersect with reserved matters, the planning, infrastructure, and economic development components are largely devolved responsibilities.
We remain committed to ensuring that Scotland is an attractive location for AI investment and data infrastructure, and will continue to work with partners to assess the feasibility and benefits of such zones.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what accountability mechanisms are in place for land acquisitions made through Forestry and Land Scotland.
Answered by McAllan, Màiri - Cabinet Secretary for Housing
The framework document agreed between Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and Scottish Ministers details how FLS will carry out Scottish Ministers’ functions under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018.
It details the key roles and responsibilities of:
Those roles and responsibilities, include those relevant to the acquisition and disposal of land. The framework document is a key part of the accountability and governance framework and as a live document is reviewed by SG and Forestry and Land Scotland regularly.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what return on investment it anticipates from the £17.6 million spent on the Glen Prosen estate.
Answered by Gougeon, Mairi - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
Investment in Glen Prosen will result in a wide range of environmental, social and economic benefits through the opportunity it provides for landscape scale habitat restoration and a more joined up approach to land management substantially within the Cairngorms National Park. These benefits will be realised over time and as the approved Land Management Plan is implemented.
Asked by: Mochan, Carol (Scottish Labour - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the resources available to support the mental health and wellbeing of retail staff following an incident of retail crime.
Answered by Brown, Siobhian - Minister for Victims and Community Safety
The Scottish Government is committed to preventing violence and reducing its harm.
There are a range of options to support the mental health and wellbeing of employees, including those working in the retail sector.
Our Mental health and wellbeing strategy, published June 2023 sets out what a supportive system should look like, recognising the many different factors that can influence mental health and wellbeing, including employment.
As part of this work, we continue to work across government and with delivery partners to ensure employers are equipped with knowledge, skills and resources they need to promote and support conditions that enable good mental health at work.
Our ‘Supporting a Mentally Healthy Workplace’ employer platform, signposts employers to a range of free mental health and wellbeing resources and information. We continue to engage with employers to ensure content continues to meet the needs of employers across Scotland.
Scottish Government partners, including the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF), share best practice guidance and resources, such as the free Grocery Aid helpline, and Victim Support, for victims of violence and abuse in a retail setting.
Victim Support Scotland provide information, emotional support and practical assistance to help anyone affected by crime, including retail crime.
Asked by: Greene, Jamie (Scottish Liberal Democrats - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government which region of Scotland has the (a) fastest and (b) slowest broadband connection speeds, and what its investment plans are to ensure that all parts of the country can access reliable, high-speed connections.
Answered by Lochhead, Richard - Minister for Business and Employment
The Scottish Government does not hold data on domestic or commercial broadband speeds for Scottish regions. The broadband speed that a premise can receive is determined by a number of factors including the infrastructure available in the area and the broadband package an individual chooses through their internet service provider. Ofcom’s website provides further information on factors impacting broadband speeds and steps people can take to address these.
Despite the reserved nature of telecoms legislation, the Scottish Government is continuing to deliver access to high-speed broadband connections through our Reaching 100 (R100) programme, supported by over £600m of investment, and through our key role in delivering Project Gigabit in Scotland.
Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to Refugee Festival Scotland in each year since 2021.
Answered by Stewart, Kaukab - Minister for Equalities
To support work with refugees, people seeking asylum and local communities, the Scottish Government provides funding to organisations such as the Scottish Refugee Council to ensure that all people seeking refugee protection in Scotland are welcome, where women, children and men are protected, find safety and support, have their human rights and dignity respected and are able to achieve their full potential.
Refugee Festival Scotland, is coordinated by Scottish Refugee Council. The breakdown of indirect funding to Refugee Festival Scotland each year since 2021 can be found in the answer to question S6W-37679 on 30 May 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
Asked by: Sweeney, Paul (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government to what extent Kaldor's growth laws are considered in its policies for economic growth and industrial development.
Answered by Forbes, Kate - Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic
Kaldor’s growth laws align with the Scottish Government’s economic and industrial strategies through emphasis on sectoral growth as a driver for overall economic progress. The National Strategy for Economic Transformation outlines a ten-year plan to build a fair, green and growing economy, focusing on entrepreneurship, new markets, productivity, skills and equitable opportunities. The Green Industrial Strategy, published in 2024, identifies wind, carbon capture, professional and financial services, hydrogen, and clean industries as priority sectors, with targeted investment in these areas to maximise benefits from the global move to net zero.
Furthermore, the 2025 Programme for Government sets out investment in priority sectors such as renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.
Asked by: Stewart, Kevin (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen Central)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to mitigate the reported over-reliance on imported soya for animal feed.
Answered by Fairlie, Jim - Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity
Trade policy is reserved to the UK Government. The UK Environment Act 2021 enables the introduction of controls on palm oil, cocoa, beef, leather and soy in an effort to ensure that are not linked to illegal deforestation. Similar provisions have been introduced in the European Union. Through the ENRA (Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture) research programme, the Scottish Government is directly funding work to develop sustainable feeding strategies that reduce reliance on imported soya.