Chamber and committees

On suspicion and subsequent confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at the infected premises near Lanark, South Lanarkshire, the Scottish Government, in conjunction with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) activated its robust contingency plans. To meet its legal obligations under the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Scotland) Order 2006, restrictions were placed immediately on the suspect premises and, on confirmation of disease, a 3 kilometre Protection Zone and 10 kilometre Surveillance Zone were also put in place around the infected premises, thereby placing controls on poultry, poultry products and other movements which have the potential to spread disease.

Surveillance and disease tracings are being carried out as part of a comprehensive epidemiological and veterinary investigation, in order to further contain the outbreak by identifying the source of the infection and any possible onward spread.

The current compensation process in place in Scotland is that, when animals are culled, as part of Scottish Government’s response to controlling HPAI outbreaks on affected premises, compensation, as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981, is payable for healthy birds. The amount of compensation is established using the relevant valuation rate card (or for specialist stock by a specialist valuer). The valuation rate cards are updated by APHA five times per year (in November, January, March, June and September) to ensure rates are in line with average market values for the types of birds covered.

During, and outwith, the current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, representatives of the Scottish Government Animal Disease Control Branch have daily interactions with Defra, the Welsh Government, and often with DAERA (NI) officials, regarding all manner of policy matters relating to the outbreak, including representation at joint industry expert groups and policy forums, including the Animal Disease Policy Group (ADPG).

In addition to this, the Scottish Government, along with Defra, the Welsh Government and DAERA host a twice-weekly meeting with the GB Avian Diseases Core Group (with representatives from industries impacted by the outbreak).

Furthermore, along with other administrations, Scottish Government officials attend local authority outbreak disease forums focussed on disease outbreak activities and the enforcement by local authorities of disease control measures.

Transport Scotland is a member of the Craignure Pier Development Working Group chaired by Argyll and Bute Council; as well as being a member of the Craignure Marine Infrastructure Liaison Group (CMILG). Transport Scotland provides advice and support to the delivery of improved pier facilities for the Craignure-Oban route. Each group and its members meet on a regular basis, further details such as project working group minutes can be accessed via the Argyll and Bute Council dedicated project page: Current situation - Craignure Ferry Terminal | Argyll and Bute Council.

A Reporter from the Planning and Environment appeals division allowed the appeal and granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the proposed battery energy storage facility near Taynuilt because the development was found to comply with the relevant provisions of the local development plan and NPF4.

While the Reporter acknowledged that 135 objections had been submitted, the concerns raised, such as landscape and visual impact, residential amenity, and fire risk, were fully considered. Overall, the adverse effects were judged to be limited and outweighed by the significant contribution the development would make to renewable energy storage and climate targets.

The full decision notice can be read at Scottish Government - DPEA - Document.

The two Aircraft owned by the Scottish Government are currently on a maintenance and stowage contract which was awarded to the Airtask group under a competitive tender exercise. They remain with Airtask in Inverness pending their sale by a broker.

Funding has been made available through a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) in which the Marine Directorate funds surveillance flights at an hourly rate of £1100 Per hour + VAT (£1320 including VAT), which is based upon the request to fly 200 hours annually.

Aerial surveillance continues to be conducted by the Marine Directorate (MD) via two programmes. Firstly, through an MoU with the Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) part of the UK Government. Under the MoU, MD can request patrolled fixed winged manned flights from Prestwick through the UK2SARG programme. This flexible approach allows MD to request up to 200 flying hours annually with the possibility of increasing hours should it be required.

Also, during the summer the larger two Marine Protection Vessels (MPVs) utilise a 3-year contract with an external provider to operate Remote Piloted Aerial Surveillance Systems (RPAS) or drones. These are launched and controlled from the MPVs for short to medium range flights.

Additionally, Remote Electronic Monitoring technology is being expanded to relevant Pelagic vessels from March 2026, it is already in place for all scallop dredge vessels. This system includes CCTV cameras to remotely monitor fishing activities.

Under an MoU with JMSC (Joint Maritime Security Centre), the amount of dedicated fishery protection manned fixed wing flying hours remains at 200 hours per annum. There is therefore no impact on dedicated fishery surveillance. Additionally, the use of Remote Piloted Aircraft Surveillance from the Scottish Government’s Marine Protection Vessels supplements fishery surveillance as does the expansion of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) on Scallop dredge and pelagic vessels.

As this is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, I have asked its Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie to respond to you directly.

Given the ongoing Harbour Revision Order application process regarding establishing a new harbour authority for Oban Harbour, it would not be appropriate for Ministers or Transport Scotland officials to discuss specific details of the application with interested parties at this time. The Harbour Revision Order application process has included a formal consultation and subsequent Written Representation period, allowing all interested parties to submit their views on the proposal. Those views are currently being considered before a formal decision is made by Ministers.