Chamber and committees

Responsibility for school uniform rests with individual schools and education authorities.

The Scottish Government published national guidance on school uniform and clothing in 2024. It supports headteachers, school leaders and education authorities to work collaboratively with their school communities to develop affordable and sustainable uniform and clothing policies that meet the needs, circumstances and identities of their pupils.

The guidance has a strong focus on affordability and makes clear that schools are expected to do all they can to minimise costs for families, in line with wider efforts to tackle child poverty and reduce the cost of the school day. The guidance is clear that branded items should not be compulsory and that schools should not expect families to purchase them. Schools are encouraged to adopt flexible uniform policies that promote the use of pre-loved clothing to improve affordability and reduce waste.

It is important that data centres are as sustainable as possible. This means minimising water use through closed-loop systems and considering whether there are alternative sources of water, such as treated wastewater. Where drinking water is used, the needs of existing populations must take priority, as our priority is the protection of human health.

Any decisions about data centres would be subject to the statutory planning process and the use of water resources would form part of that consideration. Most existing data centres in Scotland already operate as closed-loop systems and it is Scottish Ministers’ expectation that sustainable solutions are identified for any new data centre proposals. Scottish Water’s assessment is that data centres currently account for around 0.006% of public water demand in Scotland and, as part of wider considerations, they have suggested that there may be options available for using effluent from their wastewater treatment process as part of a closed loop system to reduce the impact on water resources.

Any proposals for new data centres would be subject to the statutory planning process, which would consider a range of factors including water resources, environmental impacts and wider infrastructure capacity. It is Scottish Ministers' expectation that new developments are designed and located in a way that supports long-term sustainability and water resilience.

Scotland's existing data centres account for a very small proportion of public water demand, and early engagement with developers is important to ensure proposals are aligned with local infrastructure and environmental considerations. There are opportunities for some future developments to make use of treated wastewater, helping to support economic growth while protecting drinking water supplies and the environment.

The UK wide Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 set out various requirements related to the UK wide endeavour of the achievement or maintenance of Good Environmental Status of marine waters within the marine strategy area, including with respect to seafloor integrity.

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains findings and recommendations concerning the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, which the Scottish Government is carefully considering.

I have written to the Chief Executive Officer of ESS confirming that the Scottish Government will work constructively with ESS to agree an appropriate action plan within the suggested timescale. The Scottish Government's position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

The UK wide Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 set out various requirements related to the UK wide endeavour of the achievement or maintenance of Good Environmental Status of marine waters within the marine strategy area, including with respect to seafloor integrity.

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, includes findings and recommendations relating to the assessment of the contribution that Scottish measures make towards UK wide seafloor integrity objectives and targets.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the report. I have written to the Chief Executive of ESS confirming that the Scottish Government will work constructively with ESS to agree an appropriate action plan within the suggested timescale. The Scottish Government's position on the matters raised in the report will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

The Scottish Government is giving careful consideration to Environmental Standards Scotland’s (ESS) report, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010. I have written to the Chief Executive Officer of ESS confirming that the Scottish Government will engage constructively with ESS to agree an appropriate action plan within the suggested timescale. The Scottish Government's position on the report’s findings and recommendations will be set out through this engagement and in its formal response.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01413 on 23 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to include a review of the regulation of the keeping and sale of exotic animals as pets in the forthcoming Programme for Government.

The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission's final report on exotic pets was published on 11th November 2022, and we will give due consideration to the conclusions of their report in any future policy development work.

On 18 June 2026, the First Minister met with the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS), Article 12 in Scotland, Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Scotland (BEMIS), the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER), the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO), and the Scottish Refugee Council (SRC).

Since February 2026, the Scottish Government has had Roundtable meetings with the following funded organisations who support delivery of the Anti-Racism Delivery Plan, published in March 2026:

• Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS)
• Article 12 in Scotland
• Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Scotland (BEMIS)
• Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER)
• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
• Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO)
• Intercultural Youth Scotland (IYS)
• Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project (MECOPP)

A Terms of Reference for these Roundtables is being developed collaboratively and will be published once agreed.

Separately, a range of different stakeholder organisations are reflecting shared concerns about the nature and extent of protest activity, disorder and incidents of hate, prejudice and intimidation and their impact on faith communities, adversely racialised communities, people seeking asylum and refugees. This is independent of government and there is not a formal or constituted body as such called the Anti-Racism Coalition. These organisations include:

• Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland
• Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Scotland (BEMIS)
• Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER)
• Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO)
• Scottish Refugee Council