We are taking decisive action to reduce the number of households with children in temporary accommodation. Increasing affordable and social housing supply is the best way to do this and the reinstated budget of £768 million for
2025-26 will enable the delivery of over 8,000 homes.

Additional investment of £42 million this year has been targeted to five local authorities with sustained temporary accommodation pressures. That funding is to increase the supply of social and affordable homes, including larger properties that are suitable for families, through acquisitions and bringing empty social homes back into use.

The homelessness prevention duties in the Housing (Scotland) Bill will mean people get help to avoid housing crisis and an additional £4 million will be available in 2025-26 to support services to prevent homelessness before it occurs.

Recommendations and key outputs will be made available via a public information document shortly after the study’s conclusion, expected in the coming weeks.

The responsibility for the safe production of food lies with the food business operator. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) supports food businesses with provision of guidance, tools and advice. Local authorities are also supported by way of Codes of practice, guidance, training and ongoing engagement.

FSS also provides an annual training programme for Local Authority Food Enforcement Officers. This includes the courses listed below:

REHIS Advanced HACCP

Enforcement Sanctions

Training on the Scottish National database and Food Law Rating System

HACCP in Speciality cheesemaking

Shellfish Depuration

Food Microbiology

Predictive modelling and shelf-life challenge testing

Official Control Verification methodology and practice

IFSP Counterfeit Spirits

TACCP (Threat Assessment and Critical Control Point, focuses on threats and aims to prevent malicious threats to food, such as sabotage, extortion, or terrorism.)

In addition, FSS provides an annual training session for student Environmental Health officers.

Scottish Government’s sustained policy and regulatory interventions on sea lice have focused industry action on sea lice management and have resulted in a downward trend in sea lice numbers at a national level, with 2024 levels being the lowest since 2018.

Scottish Government has also delivered funding into fish health research and innovation through the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), which resulted in total investment from SAIC, industry and other funding partners of £62.7 million on projects including those on gill health, rapid diagnostic technologies and Harmful Algal Blooms. In May 2024 a further £1.5m was provided to support the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre until March 2026 and we are now considering options to help facilitate aquaculture innovation into the future.

On behalf of Scottish Ministers, the Fish Health Inspectorate continues to undertake a listed disease surveillance programme to prevent the introduction and spread of listed and emerging fish diseases in Scotland which includes statutory inspections, sampling programmes, and the provision of advice to stakeholders.

The Scottish Government does not have any immediate plans to develop further legislation in relation to the welfare of farmed fish. The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 protects farmed animals from ‘unnecessary suffering’ and places a duty of care on those caring for animals to meet their welfare needs.

Scottish Government recognises the importance of protecting the welfare of farmed fish, including at the time of slaughter and is considering the UK Animal Welfare Committee report and recommendations published in 2024. We are currently developing guidance based on the report’s recommendations to protect the welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter. When this work has progressed to an appropriate stage, we will be engaging with the industry and other stakeholders, including animal welfare organisations. Scottish Government is also contributing to the Devolved Administrations Trout Working Group to assist with the development of voluntary guidelines for the trout sector.

Both the drafting of the proposed Nature Conservation Order for Achnabobane, within the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the associated Land Register of Scotland and General Register of Sasines searches, are at an advanced stage. Once completed, interested parties will be notified as soon as possible, following Ministerial approval.

The Scottish Government has provided £8.25m to Seafood Scotland since 2021 in their role as Scotland’s national trade and marketing organisation for the seafood industry. This includes funding to help Seafood Scotland facilitate projects which support export market development. We are also providing £672k in 2024-25 towards the Scotland Food & Drink Export Plan, which is helping the food and drink industry exploit the most significant opportunities for Scotland with a team of Scottish Development International (SDI) food and drink in-market specialists situated in key countries around the globe.

SDI has a dedicated food and drink specialist based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who works to promote and support Scottish food and drink companies, including the seafood sector, to unlock new opportunities and increase their exports to the UAE and the wider Middle East. Seafood Scotland, alongside SDI’s in-market specialist, has also worked with Scottish seafood companies to expand opportunities in the UAE. Examples of upcoming activity include:

• SDI hosting a pavilion at the Gulfood Trade show from 17-21 February 2025, collaborating with Seafood Scotland to showcase and promote Scottish seafood to international delegates.
• SDI hosting a showcasing & tasting networking event at Gulfood for international buyers which will include Scottish seafood, shellfish & salmon.
• Coordination of a learning journey experience to look at specific opportunities for Scottish seafood sales within a group of high end UAE based restaurants.

The SDI in-market specialist is also working with Emirates’ catering and in-flight shopping experience buying teams to promote Scottish products, influence and educate them on the breadth and quality of Scotland’s food and drink offering. Activity is underway to ensure that Scottish suppliers are fully aware of any relevant tenders and opportunities with the airline.

Scottish Enterprise confirmed there are 60 GlobalScots located in the UAE.

There are currently 4 events coming up within the year with one specific to GlobalScots. The 4 events that are planned for this year within UAE are:

• Gulfood - the world's largest annual food and hospitality show (17-21 February 2025);
• GlobalScot Middle East AGM (end of March 2025);
• Scotland Week, which will include an Energy Trade Mission, Scottish Food and Drink showcase and some Capital Investment and Science & Tech related activity (planned for April 2025);
• ADIPEC - Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (3-6 November 2025; focus on energy transition).

Scottish Enterprise have confirmed there are 8 Scottish Development International (SDI) staff based in the UAE, that operate out of FCDO offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The Mobile Homes Act 1983 controls the consumer rights of mobile home owners in relation to their pitch. The terms of the Written Statement, set out under the Mobile Homes Act 1983, include a number of provisions to encourage communication and consultation between residential mobile home site owners and residents. For example, there is a requirement for site owners to provide documentary evidence in support and explanation of fees. There is a requirement for site owners to consult occupiers about improvements to the site in general and in particular about those which the owner wishes to be taken in to account in determining the new pitch fee. There is also a requirement to consult a qualifying residents association, if there is one, on all matters which relate to the operation and management of the site, or improvements to the site, which may affect occupiers directly or indirectly.