Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has not been informed of any changes in policy or practices by the Animal and Plant Health Agency regarding the release of welfare inspection reports or incident records. Any changes are for the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the UK Government to decide.

Small and medium-sized abattoirs are a crucial part of Scotland’s red meat sector, including in remote rural areas and for smaller producers seeking private kill services, including rare breeds.

The Scottish Government is aware of the challenges in the sector through work with a number of national organisations and through direct contact with businesses. Issues include economies of scale, labour costs and shortages and capital investment.

The Scottish Government recognises these challenges, which is why we have supported the sector through the Small Producers Pilot Fund, to improve access to private kill, and to improve coordination of services. £1 million resource and up to £1.5 million capital is being made available through the fund this year. The Scottish Government also offers a Ministerial Discount, awarded to the Scottish meat industry for FSS Official Veterinarian charges, which very small abattoirs and game plants benefit from most, with 76.5% of the rate being discounted.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving laying hen welfare and in 2024 consulted on proposals to phase out cages in Scotland’s laying hen sector. Analysis of the responses received continues. More recently we agreed to jointly consult with the other devolved administrations on phasing out the use of cages for laying hens, pullets and breeding hens.

The analysis of the responses to both consultations will inform future policy to ensure that improvements in poultry welfare are achieved and that Scottish producers are not disadvantaged compared to their wider UK counterparts.

We will continue to listen and work with the industry and stakeholders on how best to achieve improvements in animal welfare as well as monitoring industry information to allow us to determine how to ensure best practice is delivered.

The Scottish Government keeps farm animal welfare legislation under review to ensure it reflects the latest evidence and maintains Scotland’s high welfare standards. We have recently updated the Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations and continue to work with stakeholders to identify and implement further improvements where appropriate. Scottish Government has committed to update the Welfare Codes of sheep and cattle in partnership with Defra and devolved administrations and we have recently published updated Codes for pig welfare. We are working with devolved administrations and Defra on improving welfare of lambs undergoing castration and tail docking by promoting suitable anaesthesia and analgesia.

The Scottish Government is taking a range of actions to promote and support sustainable fishing practices in Scotland’s waters through the implementation of Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy 2020-2030 as set out in the Strategy's 2025 Delivery Plan . Scotland already has a strong fisheries management framework based on quotas, effort controls and technical regulations, and we continue to build on these foundations through measures that support sustainable fishing practices while balancing economic, environmental and social objectives.

We use quota management to encourage sustainable fishing, including dedicated allocations for the non-sector fleet such as 1,000 tonnes of North Sea mackerel for handline fishing. In 2025, we also introduced an initiative that provides access to additional west of Scotland cod quota for vessels using selective fishing gear and techniques or demonstrating a reduced environmental impact.

We are further strengthening sustainable fisheries management through the development of 21 of the UK’s 43 Fisheries Management Plans, the introduction of mandatory remote monitoring on high-risk fishing vessels, and work to improve fishing selectivity and reduce bycatch. The Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement Programme will also deliver a step-change for fisheries management — supporting a resilient, evidence-led and regionally tailored approach for the diverse and innovative inshore fisheries sector. All these measures demonstrate our commitment to ensuring Scotland’s fisheries remain productive, resilient and environmentally sustainable for future generations.

The Scottish Government recognises concerns about the welfare impacts of conventional farrowing crates and remains committed to our 2021-2022 Programme for Government commitment to consult and I welcomed the commitment by the new UK Government in its Animal Welfare Strategy to consult on phasing out farrowing crates, and I have confirmed that we will consult jointly on this issue.

In developing its position, the Scottish Government has considered evidence on sow and piglet welfare, including research funded through Scotland’s Rural University College on alternative farrowing systems, alongside wider scientific evidence, stakeholder views (including a summit of stakeholders from all sides at Holyrood) and industry experience.

The Scottish Government continues to listen and work with the industry and stakeholders on how best to achieve improvements in animal welfare as well as monitoring industry information to allow us to determine how to ensure best practice is delivered.

The immigration system, including the Seasonal Worker visa route, is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government regularly engages with DEFRA, other UK Government departments and the devolved administrations on issues affecting seasonal agricultural workers in Scotland either directly as matters arise, or through participation in working groups, such as the Seasonal Worker Interest Group and the Devolved Governments Workforce Group, where matters relating to worker welfare and employment rights are discussed.

(a) Employment law and immigration policy are reserved matters. The UK Government regulates the employment rights of seasonal agricultural workers through employment legislation, visa conditions and relevant enforcement bodies. In Scotland, seasonal agricultural workers’ pay and conditions are also covered by the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949 and annual Agricultural Wages Orders.

(b) Responsibility for enforcement of employment rights rests with the UK Government and its agencies. However, Scottish employers are increasingly dependent on migrant workers, who make a valuable contribution to Scotland's agricultural sector. The Scottish Government does not support an immigration system that increases the risk of forced labour or worker exploitation and continues to engage with stakeholders and UK Government counterparts on matters affecting the welfare and rights of seasonal agricultural workers in Scotland, including undertaking enforcement activity to ensure compliance with the terms of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Order relating to all agricultural workers in Scotland.

Over the last few years the Scottish Government has updated a range of wildlife and nature conservation legislation. We do not have any plans to undertake further review of existing wildlife legislation, beyond existing statutory review and reporting requirements.

However, the Scottish Law Commission is currently undertaking a Nature Conservation Consolidation project, previously included in its Eleventh Programme of Law Reform. The project aims to bring together key pieces of nature conservation legislation, including legislation relating to wildlife and protected species, into a coherent and systematic body of law, helping to improve its accessibility and making it easier for the public, regulators and enforcement bodies to understand and apply.

The Scottish Government commissioned the Scottish School of Primary Care to undertake an independent evaluation of the Golden Hello initiative for GPs. The evaluation was published in March 2026: https://www.sspc.ac.uk/media/Media_1254907_smxx.pdf.

The Golden Hello initiative does not currently apply to dentists or consultants. We continue to make available a range of additional financial support to areas where access to NHS dentistry is particularly challenging. This support includes the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) grant, which pays out up to £100,000 for establishing, relocating or extending NHS dental practices, as well as the Recruitment and Retention allowance, which allows new trainee dentists to qualify for ‘golden hello’ payments of up to £37,500 in the first three years of practice.

Any future expansion and improvement plans for Golden Hellos will be set out in due course. Work is already underway to review and refresh financial incentives in dentistry, ensuring that these are targeted to better support patient access in rural and island areas.

The Service Renewal Framework commits to increasing access to health and social care, including primary and community care. We are continuing to work with PSD Scotland to develop phase two of a rural and islands programme, consolidating work of the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care. We provide targeted support to General Practice through workforce initiatives, including the Golden Hello Scheme, ScotGEM, Rediscover the Joy and Rural Fellowships. While Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) grants and Recruitment and Retention allowances are available to support and grow dental surgery numbers across Scotland, work is currently ongoing to revise these financial incentives to ensure they better target support for rural and island areas. Following a successful pilot with the Barra visiting optometry service, we will establish a framework to support eligible community optometry practices providing services in areas with limited access to NHS eye examinations.