Chamber and committees

The Scottish Marine Energy Research Programme (ScotMER), a Scottish Government initiative, is actively developing the evidence base required to facilitate the sustainable development of offshore wind. This programme works with key stakeholders and scientific experts to identify and address priority evidence gaps across environmental and socioeconomic interests.

Under this programme, the implications of underwater noise and efficacy of mitigation techniques have been identified as key evidence gaps, and we are working with industry and academia to deliver new research to inform future planning, consenting and licensing of offshore wind.

More information on ScotMER is available on: https://www.gov.scot/policies/marine-renewable-energy/science-and-research/

Government Business is conducted on the Scottish Government’s internal IT system, "SCOTS," which is available to all Ministers and staff. It runs on a secure network and, using an approved SCOTS laptop or tablet, is accessible from all Scottish Government offices, including London and Brussels, as well as remotely via most home broadband connections (subject to location).

The IT equipment provided in the Scottish Government has been specifically designed to support the secure drafting, sending and storing of digital information classified at OFFICIAL and OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE level.

The Programme for Government is largely a one year delivery programme, and does not include all of the activity planned by Government over the full parliamentary period. Therefore although crofting reform has not been included in this year's PfG, work will be undertaken during this parliamentary term to reform the law as stated in our 2021 Manifesto.

The eligibility criteria for the Public Library Covid Relief Fund have already been made public via the relevant Scottish Government press release issued on 10 September 2021. It can be accessed here .

The fund will support libraries to re-open or extend their opening hours, as well as fund targeted plans for issues such as digital exclusion or mental health and wellbeing. While priority will be given to applications which support deprived areas and communities, all library services across Scotland are invited to apply for the fund based on their communities' local needs and priorities.

The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), will be liaising with all services directly and will be working with them on their applications to assist a smooth process and maximise the impact of the fund.

Between 1 May 2021 and 19 June 2021 Marine Scotland received landing notifications of 18,557 Ballan, 255 Corkwing, 13 Cuckoo, 720 Goldsinny and 274 Rock Cook wrasses. Licence conditions dictate that landings of wrasse are recorded in terms of number of wrasse, by species and per ICES rectangle. This information is provisional, based on management information and may be subject to change.

Number of wrasse landings by Species, 1 May 2021-19 June 2021.

Between 1 May 2021 and 31 August 2021, there were 336 landings of wrasse, weighing a total of 36,363kg, recorded by 43 Scottish vessels into Scottish ports. Unfortunately, due to the small number of vessels involved, it is not possible to supply information by creek or week. Summary information on wrasse landings by month is given in the following tables. This information is provisional, based on management information and may be subject to change. Any numbers based on less than 5 vessels have been starred out in the tables below to preserve confidentiality.

Number of wrasse landings by Scottish vessels by month and district, 1 May 2021-31 August 2021.

The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government does not hold information on offenders' or victims' nationality.

The Scottish Government has no plans to amend legislation relating to antique air weapons. Following consultation with the Scottish Government, the UK Government has introduced the Antique Firearms Regulations 2021. These regulations apply to Scotland as they apply to England and Wales, with the single exception of regulation 3(d). This provision is not being replicated because the air weapons it would affect are devolved. It is already the case that, regardless of the date of manufacture, all air weapons in Scotland with a muzzle energy greater than 1 joule must be held on a Scottish air weapon certificate (unless the muzzle energy is above 12 foot pounds, or 6 foot pounds for air pistols, in which case reserved UK legislation already applies).

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02628 on 14 September 2021. 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.

The Scottish Government has committed to establishing a £10 million fund to allow companies to pilot and explore the benefits of a 4 day working week. The pilot will allow us to develop a better understanding of the implications of a broader shift to a 4 day working week across the economy, and aims to represent a broad cross-section of businesses and organisations spanning the Scottish economy, including those who would find the move to a four day work week more challenging.

There has been extensive engagement with individual businesses registering an interest in participating in the pilot and with business representative organisations. Discussions have also taken place with academic experts and organisations regarding the promotion of flexible working. All this engagement is currently informing the careful and rigorous design of the pilot and it is anticipated that a timetable for implementation will be announced later this year.