Chamber and committees

The Production Growth Fund aims to draw large-scale film and TV productions into Scotland; it does not directly target post-production or VFX work. Recent projects which were attracted to locate some or all of their production in the Highlands and Islands via the Production Growth Fund include the Netflix drama Department Q (which filmed partly in Caithness) and the feature film Jack of Spades (Argyll & Bute).

Post-production and VFX work is supported through Screen Scotland’s recently launched Project Post. This initiative was designed to help Scotland-based post-production facilities secure work that might otherwise go elsewhere. Screen Scotland is actively promoting the fund internationally to attract more business to Scotland. Any Scotland-based post-production or VFX facilities, including those in the Highlands and Islands, are encouraged to contact Screen Scotland to discuss how the Project Post fund could support their growth.

Screen Scotland continues to support filming and post-production activity across the Highlands and Islands. Recent projects supported by the Scottish Government via Screen Scotland which have filmed in the Highlands and Islands or completed elements of their post-production work in the region include the BAFTA Award-nominated feature film The Outrun (Orkney); TV series The Traitors (Easter Ross and the wider Highlands) and Karen Pirie (Argyll & Bute); as well as feature films Silent Roar (Na h-Eileanan Siar), Falling into Place (Skye), Harvest (Argyll & Bute) and The Incomer (Caithness) which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year where it won the NEXT Innovator Award. The Netflix drama Department Q (which filmed partly in Caithness) and feature film Jack of Spades (Argyll & Bute) were attracted to film in Scotland in the last 24 months by Screen Scotland’s Production Growth Fund.

The Screen Scotland Screen Commission has also recently facilitated filming in the Highlands and Islands on productions including The Diplomat for Netflix (Argyll & Bute), the Star Wars series Ahsoka and Andor (Skye, Sutherland, and Argyll & Bute), and The Crown for Netflix (Badenoch & Strathspey).

Screen Scotland also supports a range of projects alongside BBC/MG ALBA each year. As well as part funding both series of An t-Eilean, Screen Scotland funded its predecessor An Clo Mor, the documentary projects produced by Stornoway-based Mac TV entitled Rain Stories, and Secrets of the Peat, and quiz show Mas Fhior.

Since 2022, Screen Scotland has supported The Highlands & Islands Training Programme, run by MG ALBA in partnership with Screen Scotland and the BFI Skills Cluster Fund, contributing circa £170k annually towards delivery of the programme. This six-month paid traineeship develops emerging talent in the film, TV, and digital media sectors from the Highlands & Islands, with a focus on Gaelic language, providing on-the-job experience across scripted drama, factual entertainment, and social media and digital-first projects.

Screen Scotland also supports the Young Film Foundation’s residential Screenwriting Lab on Skye.

Screen Scotland’s talent development programme Opening Shot is delivered by Stornoway and Glasgow-based production company Astar Media. The programme works with local community groups to deliver community engagement workshops and short film opportunities. Opening Shot is currently working with Highland Cinema in Fort William to support four filmmakers in producing short films with guidance from an experienced filmmaker. In addition, they are working with Moray Arts Development Engagement and Cairngorm Community Cinema to deliver community-based workshops in Elgin and Aviemore to 12 filmmakers.

NatureScot has taken forward a range of actions following the 2025 Gull Summit in Inverness. This has included hosting four regional roundtable events to gather information to support local management approaches and inform further guidance.

In addition to this we have made £100,000 available to support area-based gull management by local authorities, including funding provided to Highland Council and additional funding for the Inverness Gull Management Pilot.

NatureScot is also developing gull survey methods at national and regional levels, the member will also be aware of the provisions in the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 for NatureScot to report on gull species populations every five years.

A national awareness campaign was launched on 5 March 2026 to discourage the feeding of gulls, to secure waste and take measures to gull-proof properties and buildings.

NatureScot also continues to develop policy and procedures for area-based licensing, which ensures that licences are available where public health and safety is at risk as a result of gulls.

Screen Scotland’s Film Development and Production Fund has awarded the following sums to filmmakers based in the Highlands and Islands region, in each year since 2021:

2021-22 - £639,158

2022-23 - £84,000

2023-24 - £0

2024-25 - £0

2025-26 – data not yet available

The Potential Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) review identifies areas where the highest flood risk exists now or is likely to occur in the future, so is crucial in helping Scotland understand and prioritise where flood risk management work could be of most benefit to protect our communities.

However, this represents only a single stage within the broader six year flood risk management planning cycle, which commences with the National Flood Risk Assessment and culminates in the implementation of actions by councils in line with their local flood risk management plans. This cycle is set out in the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 and there are no plans to amend this.

The current PVAs were designated in December 2024 for use in the next Flood Risk Management cycle (2028-2033). They were developed and discussed with relevant responsible authorities and consulted on publicly. They will now be used by SEPA to set out objectives and actions in Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) for those communities. These plans must be approved by Ministers, publicly consulted on and published.

Actions that support PVAs are therefore prioritised through FRMPs; however, this does not prevent local authorities and stakeholders from progressing other measures to address flooding in communities that are not designated as PVAs.

Flooding is our biggest climate adaptation challenge, and we know it will become more frequent and severe in the decades ahead so we need to do all we can to be prepared. The Scottish Government set out a long term vision for a flood-resilient Scotland through to 2045 in our National Flood Resilience Strategy. With a focus on people, places and processes it sets out a number of priority areas and actions to support homeowners, communities and businesses in Scotland. In relation to helping homeowners keep their properties safe further actions being undertaken are:

• The Scottish Government allocating £570 million to local authorities since 2016 to support flood protection schemes and wider flood resilience, protecting individuals and communities at risk of flooding. £42 million will continue to be provided through the general capital grant in FY 2026-27.
• Research is underway to consider actions to mitigate the negative mental health and broader wellbeing impacts of flooding.
• Households can develop their own flood plans and research is underway which is examining whether these plans can help strengthen community awareness and promote actions, including the installation of Property Flood Resilience measures.
• As part of the implementation of the National Flood Resilience Strategy a dedicated group, the Property Flood Resilience Delivery Group, is developing actions on Property Flood Resilience to further support delivery across Scotland.
• The Scottish Government provides funding to the Scottish Flood Forum, which enables them to provide support and advice to individuals and communities before, during and after flood events. The Scottish Flood Forum also has a flood bus which showcases Property Flood Resilience measures to communities.
• Building Standards have been updated to provide more advice and information to designers on property flood resilience. The updated Technical Handbooks that include section 3.3 ‘Flooding and groundwater’ will be applicable from 6 April 2026.
• The Scottish Government continues to work in co-operation with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations to ensure flood insurance remains widely available and affordable. Flood Re is a flood re-insurance scheme, which was launched in 2016 to help households at high risk of flooding. This now benefits more than 9,000 properties in Scotland.
• SEPA’s Scottish Flood Forecasting and Warning Services ensures flood forecasting and warning information is made available to the public and emergency responders throughout Scotland.

The following table sets out how many licence applications were made to NatureScot for the purposes of controlling ravens in each year since 2021. The information also sets out how many licences were subsequently issued, amended before being issued, refused and cancelled by the applicant.

Screen Scotland’s Broadcast Content Fund has awarded the following sums to production companies based in the Highlands and Islands region, in each year since 2021:

2021-22 - £170,000

2022-23 - £12,376

2023-24 - £165,000

2024-25 - £435,000

2025-26 – data not yet available

The purpose of any pilot, is to gather evidence and through the bus fare cap pilot we are testing the feasibility of a fare cap model. We will be monitoring the impact on bus patronage and services in the pilot areas to help inform future national fares policy.

The purpose of any pilot, is to gather evidence and through the bus fare cap pilot we are testing the feasibility of a fare cap model. We will be monitoring the impact on bus patronage and services in the pilot areas to help inform future national fares policy.