Chamber and committees

Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) systems support comprehensive data collection in fisheries by using cameras, sensors and Global Positioning System technology to independently monitor fishing activity at sea.

REM is a key component of the Scottish Government's Fisheries Management Strategy. However, there are no plans to rollout REM across the inshore fleet. Instead, the Scottish Government is taking a targeted and proportionate approach to REM implementation.

Legislation has already been introduced requiring REM systems on all scallop dredge vessels from June 2024 and on pelagic fishing vessels from March 2026. The legislation applies to all relevant vessels operating within Scottish waters, as well as to relevant Scottish vessels wherever they fish.

This approach reflects the Scottish Government's commitment to strengthening fisheries monitoring, improving transparency and supporting sustainable fisheries management, while ensuring that monitoring requirements are proportionate and tailored to different fleet segments. It recognises that REM technology is not necessary or appropriate for all vessel types.

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.

Responsibility for assessing grid stability, system inertia and generational adequacy rests with the UK Government and the National Energy System Operator (NESO), as electricity security of supply is a reserved matter.

The national minimum amounts for School Clothing Grant were agreed with local government. Local authorities are responsible for administering the School Clothing Grant, including setting eligibility criteria, and have the flexibility to pay families more than the national minimum. The Scottish Government is providing increased funding of £14.6m in 2026/27 financial year to support local authorities to maintain the School Clothing Grant. We have committed to uprating funding in line with inflation during this Parliament.

Our 2024 national guidance on school uniform and clothing makes clear that schools should consider their uniform policies in the context of the national minimum School Clothing Grant and design those policies on the basis that families can purchase all items needed for the school year within that budget. The guidance was developed in collaboration with key stakeholders and informed by a range of evidence and stakeholder engagement, including consultation with pupils, parents and carers.

The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 stipulates that the Chief Constable of Police Scotland is responsible for the policing of Scotland and is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority for this, rather than to Scottish Ministers directly. These arrangements are in place to ensure public confidence that the police act independently, free from unwarranted Ministerial interference. It would therefore be inappropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on or seek to intervene in operational matters.

While the operational delivery of SARs is a matter for Police Scotland, individuals retain statutory rights of access to their personal data under the Data Protection Act 2018. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) guidance states that law enforcement agencies should respond to SARs without undue delay and, in most cases, within one month.

Police Scotland have acknowledged on their website that, due to unprecedented demand, the current wait time can be up to nine months.

The Scottish Government has no plans to delay the introduction of the muirburn licensing scheme which is due to come into effect on 15 September 2026.

We published our Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires in March 2026 which sets out that prevention, however, is much broader than muirburn, and should form an integral part of land management generally. In most circumstances, wildfire prevention will be made up of multiple aspects. That may include muirburn, where that is relevant to the land type and local circumstances. The Scottish Government is clear that land managers are therefore a foundation of wildfire prevention.

In relation to the role of muirburn practices in preventing wildfires, the Scottish Government will continue to work with NatureScot, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and other relevant partners to consider available evidence on wildfire risk and land management practice. In addition to this, NatureScot will monitor the operation of the licensing system, including any issues arising from licence applications, licence conditions, compliance activity and stakeholder feedback.

Please find the following tables setting out Environment and Forestry Directorate research funding provided by Scottish Government to our Main Research Providers, The James Hutton Institute, Moredun Research Institute, Scotland's Rural College and The Rowett Institute in each of the last 10 years. Also provided is proposed allocations for the Scottish Government’s 5 year Strategic Research Programme 2027-32. It should be noted that additional Scottish Government funding has and will be available in future to agricultural institutes through wider initiatives including, but not limited to, City Deals and the Just Transition fund.

Strategic Research Funding 2016-26 (£)

Scotland's Fisheries Management Strategy highlights the importance of working in partnership with stakeholders and coastal communities to support sustainable fisheries and strengthen the communities whose livelihoods and wellbeing are closely linked to the sea. Building on the Scottish Government’s 2025 Call for Evidence, our consultation on the Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement (IFMI) Programme will explore a more regional model of inshore fisheries management, designed to support sustainable fisheries, thriving coastal communities and greater local involvement.

In developing the updated Scottish National Marine Plan (“NMP2”) we have been listening to the diversity of views shared to shape the draft plan and gather information on the different issues, opportunities and priorities for planning around our varied coastline. This is summarised in the Howell Marine Consulting NMP2 Community engagement analysis report: We are considering the recommendations from the report and exploring how an updated planning framework can support consideration of views from communities in decision-making as well as working to build a stronger evidence base to inform future spatial planning and management where possible.

The Scottish Government was not consulted on the UK Government’s tax changes, despite the clear and significant implications for the devolved Accessible Vehicles and Equipment (AVE) Scheme in Scotland, under which Motability is the current provider.

I wrote to the UK Government in November 2025 upon becoming aware of potential tax changes, emphasising that they would cause significant concern and uncertainty for disabled people who rely on the AVE Scheme to remain mobile. The Scottish Government will continue to strongly urge the UK Government to abandon these changes and commit to ensuring that disabled people can access the support that meets their needs through the Scheme now and in the future.

As a result of our engagement Motability has committed to providing additional mileage, on top of its reduced standard allowance, to customers living in very rural and island communities in recognition of their having to drive further to access key services.

In addition, customers in any area who drive more than 3,000 miles each year for essential services above the 10,000 standard annual inclusive mileage will also be able to apply for support with the increased excess mileage charge.

In NHS Scotland we have two cancer waiting times standards. These are:

• A 31-day standard from decision to treat until first treatment regardless of the route of referral.
• A 62-day standard from urgent referral with suspicion of cancer, including referrals from national cancer screening programmes, until first treatment.

For people with cancer, focussing on the cancer waiting times standards of 62 days from urgent referral to first treatment and 31 days from decision-to-treat to first treatment is supporting NHS Boards to consider how they best speed up the diagnostic pathway and reduce the period of uncertainty that can exist whilst trying to establish a diagnosis. The first treatment standards also provide assurance that any appropriate immediate measures are being started as soon as possible.

Our Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023 – 2026 includes a commitment to carry out a clinically led review of cancer waiting times. This will determine whether there is merit in additional or alternative standards.

This review, being led by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery, has been initiated with evidence reviews being commissioned through key partners such as Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and Cancer Research UK.