Chamber and committees

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 new Register of Ancient Woodlands is scheduled to be published in the late summer of 2027.

As of June, there has been 51 cases raised with the Procurator Fiscal in 2026. There were 26 cases reported in 2025 and 14 in 2024.

Public Services Delivery Scotland and One Advanced provide support to health board teams and GP practices to guide them through the use of a new system and the migration process.

NatureScot and Scottish Forestry will lead consultation with stakeholders to examine how they use the existing Ancient Woodland Inventory and identify barriers to its use. This work will inform a stakeholder requirements catalogue, which will guide development and delivery of the Register.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the property factor regime operates effectively for homeowners and consumers. In this parliamentary session, we are undertaking work to improve delivery of services by factoring organisations, starting with improving our understanding of the issues that have been raised and considering what action may be required.

A total of £75,000 has been committed to this project, £50,000 by NatureScot split over 2026-2027 and 2027-2028, and £25,000 from Scottish Forestry for 2026-2027. Future budget beyond 2027-2028 has not yet been committed.

The Scottish Government intends to reopen the Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE)scheme at the earliest opportunity, with the necessary operational arrangements currently being finalised to ensure the scheme can reopen. Further information will be published on the Scottish Government's website once the reopening date has been confirmed.

The Register of Ancient Woodlands will present location data, condition assessments and restoration requirements for all recognised ancient woodlands in Scotland. The Register will help decision-makers prevent further loss or reduction in the extent of ancient woodlands through development or inappropriate management, and it will support efforts to bring all ancient woodlands into acceptable condition.

The Register of Ancient Woodlands will provide up-to-date information on the location and condition of ancient woodlands, enabling decision-makers, including planners, to make effective decisions that support their protection. The Register will also help land managers identify ancient woodlands that require intervention and target management support more effectively.