Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2026 [Draft]
25 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Heating Oil Costs (Agriculture Sector and Rural Industries)
I congratulate my friend and colleague Christine Grahame on her time here, and I wish her well in the future.
I agree with the minister and Christine Grahame that heating bills are doubling and that rural areas are particularly affected. Farmers are bearing the brunt of the war in the middle east, which will also have an impact on food production. Should people who could be eligible for potential funding order their fuel now, or should they hold off? What will be the eligibility criteria? Will the Scottish National Party Government shape the fund to recognise rural challenges?
In the same item of business
3. Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding whether any of the support announced in response to t...
The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie)
SNP
The £10 million Scottish emergency oil heating scheme, which commences on 1 April, includes £4.6 million from the UK Government and is for households and ind...
Christine Grahame
SNP
I hope that the UK Government responds positively. It needs to be reminded of how important our farming community is in providing high-quality food and drink...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I thought that Christine Grahame’s last contribution was going to be yesterday, but here she is, back again and making sure that she continues to represent h...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
A number of members would like to ask supplementary questions. I will try to get them all in, but the questions will need to be brief.
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
I congratulate my friend and colleague Christine Grahame on her time here, and I wish her well in the future.I agree with the minister and Christine Grahame ...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I absolutely recognise the points that Rachael Hamilton has made. We do not have the details for the scheme at the moment; we will need to get more details. ...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Given the challenges that Christine Grahame outlined and the Scottish Government’s commitment to a just transition, how can the Government support investment...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
We want to encourage new innovative techniques, but, as Emma Harper knows, the energy system is reserved. We need to look at how we can make ourselves far mo...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
Farmers in my constituency are deeply concerned about the rise in fuel costs and the potential rise in the cost of fertiliser, which could come soon. I am ke...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I very much welcome Willie Rennie’s intervention, because that is exactly what we need to do. The representations cannot be made on anything other than a cro...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
Members will be aware that it is snowing in some parts of Scotland, so heating is incredibly important. Has the Government assessed the scale of hardship amo...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
The scheme will be open from 1 April, but, as I said to Rachael Hamilton, some details are still to be worked out. Finlay Carson’s point is absolutely valid....