Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government recognises that gamekeepers, farmers, crofters and other land managers can make an important contribution to wildfire prevention and response, including through vegetation management, local knowledge, practical experience, personnel and equipment.

NatureScot has engaged with stakeholders through the Muirburn Code Working Group. That engagement has helped inform the development of the Code, including provisions relating to safe planning, appropriate resourcing, liaison with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and the role of muirburn as a land management tool.

No separate formal assessment has been undertaken specifically of the contribution made by gamekeepers and other land managers to wildfire prevention and response. As no separate assessment has been produced, there are no findings to publish.

However, the knowledge and experience of land managers have been considered through the consultation and stakeholder engagement process, and has informed the development of a Code intended to be practical, proportionate and capable of supporting safe licensed muirburn where appropriate.

The Scottish Government recognised in its statutory review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Act 2020 that decapods are recognised as sentient; currently have no general welfare protection under the 2006 Act; and that this is an area for future policy consideration. We further recognise the position of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission that future policy development should consider the welfare implications for all sentient animals, including decapods and cephalopods.

The approval and commencement of the Code of Practice is a matter reserved to the UK Government. The Secretary of State holds powers under the Equality Act 2006 to commence the Code following Parliamentary scrutiny, and it is the responsibility of the EHRC, as regulator of the Equality Act 2010, to provide statutory guidance in relation to the Act.

Public bodies are also responsible for ensuring that they comply with their legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010, including having regard to statutory guidance from the EHRC.

The Scottish Government’s approach remains grounded in dignity, respect, fairness and the protection of rights for all. That includes protecting the privacy of trans people and others who may be impacted by the Code.

The Scottish Government responded formally to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s public consultation on the draft Code of Practice on 25 July 2025 setting out our views. We also wrote to the UK Government on in November 2025, reiterating our views on the draft Code.

Trans people, and those presenting in gender non-conforming ways, are valued members of our society and remain protected under the Equality Act 2010 from discrimination and harassment. The Scottish Government’s approach will continue to be grounded in dignity, respect, fairness and the protection of rights for all.

The Scottish Government is working with the UK Government to develop Guidance for the decapod welfare at time of killing. In order to inform the development of this Guidance we have collectively met with industry bodies including Seafish, the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB) and other organisations which developed an industry Code of Practice for handling and despatch of decapods, as well as with NGOs including Crustacean Compassion.

The Scottish Government is working with Defra and the Welsh Government on producing guidance on the welfare of decapods at the time of killing. We are also committed to undertaking a gap analysis in partnership with Defra to identify knowledge and evidence gaps, reviewing current evidence and to continuing our engagement with relevant stakeholders to explore how best to improve decapod welfare.

To date, no consideration has been given to the introduction of such a code. The Scottish Government has, however, committed to continue to examine the evidence and need for future measures, regulatory or otherwise, to improve the welfare protections for decapods.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01290 on 14 July 2026. 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/questions-and-answers .

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a universal breakfast club offer for primary school age children by August 2027.

Engagement with COSLA, Local Government and other key stakeholders is underway as part of ongoing work to support delivery, which includes assessment of workforce planning. This is being informed by existing delivery models, how these could be expanded and enhanced and how provision can be established where none currently exists. Engagement and analysis of existing data will inform workforce planning to support implementation of a national offer.

The Scottish Government works with medical schools and Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS) (previously NHS Education for Scotland) through the Scotland Deanery, to ensure that medical students and foundation years doctors receive appropriate exposure to oncology as part of a balanced medical curriculum and training programme.

Oncology is embedded within undergraduate medical education across Scotland and forms an integral part of the curricula delivered by medical schools. Universities design and deliver their programmes in line with the General Medical Council’s Outcomes for Graduates and the UK Medical Licensing Assessment. This ensures graduates develop the knowledge, skills and professional capabilities required to recognise, investigate and contribute to the management of cancer across a range of clinical settings.

Medical education is designed to prepare graduates for the management of cancer across a wide range of settings and specialties, rather than concentrating on increased exposure to any one specialty in isolation. This ensures graduates are equipped to recognise, investigate and contribute to the management of cancer as part of holistic patient care in a wide range of clinical contexts.

Students are introduced early to the scientific basis of cancer, including genetics, pathology and tumour biology, before developing clinical knowledge and skills through integrated teaching across specialties where cancer is a major component of practice. This is complemented by clinical placements in oncology, haematology, palliative care and general clinical settings, alongside training in communication, multidisciplinary working and patient-centred care.

Following graduation, foundation training is managed by PSDS through the Scotland Deanery. Foundation doctors typically gain exposure to oncology through rotational placements as well as through general medical and surgical placements where cancer care is a significant component. Where oncology is not included in a rotation, doctors are able to undertake taster days or short placements aligned to their interests. There has been sustained and increasing interest in oncology, with growing uptake of these opportunities.

The most recent specialty training recruitment cycle has been the most successful to date, with over 98% of posts filled across Scotland. Performance within Clinical Radiology has consistently achieved a 100% fill rate between 2023 and 2025, while Clinical oncology has risen from a 33.33% in 2023, to 50% in 2024 and 92.86% in 2025.