Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 10 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how long an investigation into a pollution incident at a loch should take.
We take pollution incidents very seriously. It is important that any investigation into pollution incidents is given sufficient time ensure a comprehensive and accurate understanding of both the causes and the environmental impacts before any findings are issued.
The time required to conclude an investigation of a pollution incident will vary depending on the scale and complexity of the event, the type and volume of pollutants involved, the sensitivity of the receiving environment, the availability and quality of evidence, and any requirement to coordinate with other regulatory or enforcement authorities.