Chamber and committees

The Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme launched on 1 April, with up to £10 million being made available to ensure those households who are most vulnerable would receive support. This includes those households on means-tested benefits but also those in financial hardship and at risk of self-rationing fuel who have unavoidable heating needs.

Advice Direct Scotland (ADS) deliver the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government. ADS draw-down funds when required to make payments to the eligible household’s chosen supplier. Within the terms of the grant, there is a claw-back option for any unspent funds.

The scheme is currently operational, with my officials providing advice regularly on performance, including current and projected spending, and on future operational requirements.

I attended the 45th British-Irish Council meeting held in St Peter Port, Guernsey on 10 July.

The summit was hosted by the Chief Minister of Guernsey and attended by ministers from across the UK and Ireland. The First Minister of Wales attended as did the Taoiseach and Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence, and the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by its Ministers for Economy and for Communities and the Chief Ministers of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man attended.

The theme of this year’s summit was ‘Nurturing Beginnings: Strengthening Early Years and Family Support for Happy, Healthy Childhoods and Lifelong Wellbeing.

The main summit plenary provided an opportunity to highlight Scottish Government policies to ensure our children receive the best start in life alongside learning from activity being undertaken in other jurisdictions.

During the main plenary discussion on latest political developments, I reflected on the significant global challenges we all face including the conflict in the Middle East and the resulting domestic impacts, including on the cost of living. I highlighted the importance of the Scottish Child Payment in tackling poverty. I also raised the need for public service reform.

I reiterated the Scottish Government’s position in relation to our constitutional future alongside our commitment to Scotland’s relationship with Europe and welcomed the reset in relations with the EU and the opportunities presented by Ireland’s EU presidency.

Ahead of the main summit I met with the First Minister of Wales, during which we discussed the relationship between our governments, wider intergovernmental relations and devolution.

I also met with the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minster, during which I reflected on the importance of meaningful and constructive engagement between our governments.

In addition, I held a range of introductory bilateral meetings including with the Chief Minister of Guernsey, the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland and the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade/Minister for Defence.

The Communiqué that was issued by the British-Irish Council after the meeting can be found on its website at:www.britishirishcouncil.org/resources/

45th British-Irish Council Summit

Guernsey

Friday 10 July 2026

Communiqué

The British-Irish Council (BIC) held its 45th Summit meeting today, Friday 10 July 2026, hosted by the Government of Guernsey in St Peter Port.

The theme of the Summit was Nurturing Beginnings: Strengthening Early Years and Family Support for Happy, Healthy Childhoods and Lifelong Wellbeing. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, Chief Minister of the Government of Guernsey.

Nurturing Beginnings: Strengthening Early Years and Family Support for Happy,

Healthy Childhoods and Lifelong Wellbeing.

The plenary focussed on efforts to support integrated, high quality early years systems which can help give every child a happy, healthy and secure start to life. Among several important discussion points was the topical matter of children and young people’s digital access. Council members discussed how children’s digital needs, risks and opportunities evolve as they grow.

Latest Political Developments

Members briefed the Council on recent developments within their administrations and discussed several domestic and international topics of mutual interest.

Cross-BIC Symposium Leaders welcomed preparations by officials to mark the breadth and depth of the Council’s work through a cross-cutting Symposium in Edinburgh on 29 September, the title of which is These Islands: Cultivating Communities and Tackling Inequalities.

Next Summit Meeting

The Council noted that the next BIC Summit will be hosted by the UK Government.

BIC Secretariat

10 July 2026

Plenary Participants

The Scottish Government intends to reopen the Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE)scheme at the earliest opportunity, with the necessary operational arrangements currently being finalised to ensure the scheme can reopen. Further information will be published on the Scottish Government's website once the reopening date has been confirmed.

The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to include a review of the regulation of the keeping and sale of exotic animals as pets in the forthcoming Programme for Government.

The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission's final report on exotic pets was published on 11th November 2022, and we will give due consideration to the conclusions of their report in any future policy development work.

The Scottish Government is considering its water related policies to ensure they continue to meet the public’s expectations and deliver adaptation to the growing impacts of drought and flooding arising from climate change. We will set out our commitments as usual in our Programme for Government.

Our publicly owned Water and Wastewater services are funded by customers. Any changes to policies or legislation must strike a balance of producing the right outcomes at an affordable price for customers.

The Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme was announced and arrangements put into place in the lead up to the pre-election period of the Scottish Parliament Election of 7 May 2026.

The Scheme launched on 1 April and has been managed by Advice Direct Scotland (ADS). Details of the eligibility criteria and the application process have been made available on the ADS website since the launch of the Scheme. Additionally, ADS have utilised the heating oil and liquid petroleum gas supplier network and have contacted over 1,600 third sector organisations to raise awareness of the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme.

ADS are also assisting individuals with any queries that they may have on the Scheme or in making an application and I thank them for their on-going work.

Due to the pre-election period, the Scottish Government was limited in what could be done to promote the Scheme; we are now increasing awareness and will continue to use various channels to reach those households most in need.

My officials monitor the scheme on an on-going basis. As part of this, consideration is given to any adaptations that can be made.

The Scheme’s outcomes and performance will be assessed following its closure.

As per answer for S7W-01554 The Loch Lomond Byelaws, which came into force on 1 November 2024, contain the following powers in relation to jet skis and powered vessels:

• Mandatory User Registration – any person in charge of a powered vessel (including jet skis) must register their personal details and vessel with the National Park Authority. Registered vehicles must display the unique, highly visible identification stickers;
• Low Speed Zones – Vessels (jet skis) must stay below 6 kph in Low Speed Zones to avoid generating a wake and prevent collisions with paddleboarders and swimmers. These are located in high-traffic or mixed use areas of the loch at Balloch Castle Country Park, Duck Bay, Manse Bay, Milarrochy Bay, Luss, Sallachy and Rowardennan. There is also a speed limit of 11kph around the southern islands;
• If an alleged byelaw contravention is assessed to be worthy of charging an individual, LLTNPA will report the case directly to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, which can result in a defendant gaining a criminal record if they are found guilty.

The Loch Lomond Byelaws, which came into force on 1 November 2024, contain the following powers in relation to jet skis and powered vessels:

• Mandatory User Registration – any person in charge of a powered vessel (including jet skis) must register their personal details and vessel with the National Park Authority. Registered vehicles must display the unique, highly visible identification stickers;
• Low Speed Zones – Vessels (jet skis) must stay below 6kph in Low Speed Zones to avoid generating a wake and prevent collisions with paddleboarders and swimmers. These are located in high-traffic or mixed use areas of the loch at Balloch Castle Country Park, Duck Bay, Manse Bay, Milarrochy Bay, Luss, Sallachy and Rowardennan. There is also a speed limit of 11kph around the southern islands;
• If an alleged byelaw contravention is assessed to be worthy of charging an individual, LLTNPA will report the case directly to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, which can result in a defendant gaining a criminal record if they are found guilty.

The refreshed Learning for Sustainability (LfS) Action Plan was published in 2023. Key achievements since then have included: publication of Sustainable Learning Settings guidance in English and Gaelic by Education Scotland, which will help to guide schools on how to achieve Target 2030; publication of a national framework for LfS in Initial Teacher Education to improve the embedding of LfS in initial teacher training, and; strengthening LfS as part of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle. In addition – and recognising that outdoor learning is a key aspect within LfS – the government is also working with partners to implement the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Act 2026.

The Scottish Government has on the 13th of July repositioned the energy consents unit within an expanded Planning Directorate, creating a single, stronger centre of expertise in planning and consenting within the Scottish Government.

As the First Minister set out in Parliament on 25 June 2026, we are giving active consideration to whether we should provide planning guidance to balance the potential economic opportunities from the creation of data centres, with concerns raised by communities, and our national energy and climate goals which are vital to our future prosperity.

All issues about local and national decision making and the implications for energy use will be considered fully.