Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government uses a variety of systems for different purposes. One of these is Scotland’s Land Information Service, created and maintained by Registers of Scotland, which provides online access to information on land and property in Scotland for both public and business users. Enhancements since the service first launched have included access to a Crofting Register layer, an Aerial photography map layer, the Sasines Register indicative ownership layer, the Books of Council & Session, the Register of Judgements, the Register of Inhibitions and National Library Scotland’s Historic Maps

The Scottish Assessors maintain the Council Tax Valuation List and the Valuation Roll which sets out the rateable value of non-domestic land and heritages unless they are statutorily exempt. As set out in the recent Scottish Budget and Scotland’s Tax Strategy: Building on our Tax Principles, we are taking forward work with the Scottish Land Commission which includes exploration of opportunities for improved data collection, data analysis and data publication to better inform decision making regarding tax and land.

Information relating to agricultural subsidies is published by Defra on behalf of the Scottish Government and can be accessed here: https://cap-payments.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx.

Scottish Government fully recognises the vital contribution of all our fishermen, including those that hand dive, who work tirelessly to provide high-quality seafood. Their efforts are vital to the Scottish economy, and for our coastal and island communities in particular, and give Scotland its rightful reputation as a producer of world-class fish and shellfish.

As our national trade and marketing body for the Scottish seafood industry, Scottish Government works closely with Seafood Scotland. The Scottish Government, alongside Seafood Scotland, supports transparency in seafood sourcing and welcomes informed consumer choice. Catching and production information is already accessible to buyers through labelling and supply chain data.

Scottish Government does not however have a role in relation to how menus are written. Food Standards Scotland has responsibility for the provision of food information to consumers, including fish labelling. While there is no legal requirement to provide provenance and catch methods on menus, food businesses may provide this information on a voluntary basis. As with all food information, it must be accurate and not mislead the consumer.

We continuously improve how we manage our waters based on the best available evidence, and are always working towards more sustainable inshore fisheries that balance economic, social and environmental outcomes.

As part of ongoing social care improvement and reform activity, The Scottish Government is working with CoSLA to explore possible options for removing Non-Residential Social Care charges.

The Scottish Government has not had any recent discussions of this specific human resources issue with Scottish Water, as this is an operational matter for them to determine. However, I have asked Scottish Water to provide a response and I understand that there have been no changes to its policies – private companies operating on Mull are being asked to adhere to well-established, existing protocols.

There are no delays with the implementation of Scotland’s mandatory remote electronic monitoring requirements for fishing vessels. The scallop requirements are in force, and the pelagic requirements are due to come into force as planned on 7 March 2026.

Under existing legislation fishing vessels are required to record and land all quota species of fish unless subject to a permitted exemption. Our Future Catching Policy is intended to improve on the current requirements and we will be consulting on relevant improvements to technical standards later this year. Fishing vessels are subject to a wide range of rules and regulations which support them to fish responsibly and sustainably and which help to safeguard Scotland’s reputation in the international marketplace.

The national Good Food Nation Plan must be published and laid in Parliament before the end of the period of 3 months, beginning with the expiry of the 60 day period of parliamentary scrutiny. For example, if the proposed plan is laid on Friday 27 June, the 3 month period would begin on 30 September, meaning that the final plan would need to be published and laid within the period of 3 months from that date.

Section 6 of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 will be commenced in autumn 2025. This will ensure the SSI on specified functions made under section 6 of the Act, can be laid and in force in time for the final plan being published.

When finalising the plan, the Scottish Ministers must have regard to any representations that are made during the 60 day period of parliamentary scrutiny, which starts on the day the proposed plan is laid before Parliament. Therefore, the deadline is the end of the 60th day of this period.

The deliverability and value for money of different options to achieve our climate change targets are assessed through the climate change planning and budgetary processes.

The Scottish Government has committed to make available £80 million to support the Acorn Project and Scottish Cluster, subject to the UK Government providing a full funding package and timeline towards a Final Investment Decision. This funding commitment is subject to the guidance provided in the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

Scotland is firmly committed to woodland creation, planting 75% of all new woodland across the UK in the past five years. This amounts to 55,000 hectares of woodland, approximately 40% of which is native. The Government will continue to use the Forestry Grant Scheme and other levers such as the Woodland Carbon Code to maximise the resources available for woodland creation.

Scottish Ministers remain firmly committed to peatland restoration and have pledged £250m to restoring 250,000 hectares of peatland by 2030.

Coastal and marine projects that aim to protect and restore important habitats for climate change and biodiversity received support from restoration and enhancement funds, including the Scottish Marine Environment Enhancement Fund (SMEEF).

The proposed national Good Food Nation Plan must be laid in Parliament on or before 29 June 2025. The date on which the expiry of the 60 day scrutiny period will fall will depend on the date on which the proposed national Good Food Nation Plan is laid before Parliament. A minimum of 30 of the 60 days must be days on which the Parliament is not in recess or dissolved.