Chamber and committees

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's priority during the current parliamentary session is implementation of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.

The Review of Community Right to Buy powers concluded at the end of last session and was published on 18 March 2026: Review of Community Right to Buy - gov.scot. We will take forward the findings of the review this session, subject to further consultation.

The Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement, prepared under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, is due to be reviewed by September 2027 in accordance with the requirements of that Act.

In addition, section 10 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 requires the Scottish Land Commission to review and report on the operation and effectiveness of key measures introduced by the Act. While the first of these reviews will not take place during the current parliamentary session, the Scottish Government is working closely with the Scottish Land Commission and other partners to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to support future monitoring and review.

The Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme launched on 1 April, with up to £10 million being made available to ensure those households who are most vulnerable would receive support. This includes those households on means-tested benefits but also those in financial hardship and at risk of self-rationing fuel who have unavoidable heating needs.

Advice Direct Scotland (ADS) deliver the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government. ADS draw-down funds when required to make payments to the eligible household’s chosen supplier. Within the terms of the grant, there is a claw-back option for any unspent funds.

The scheme is currently operational, with my officials providing advice regularly on performance, including current and projected spending, and on future operational requirements.

The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering the actions set out in the Wild Salmon Strategy: Implementation Plan 2023-2028. Good progress has been made across a range of priority areas, including improving our understanding of marine survival through salmon tracking projects, implementing SEPA's Sea Lice Regulatory Framework, publishing advice from the Science and Evidence Board, improving river connectivity through action to remove or ease barriers to fish migration and progress on salmon penalties via the new Natural Environment (Scotland) Act.

Delivery of the Plan continues to be monitored by the Wild Salmon Strategy Delivery Group. While delivery of a long-term programme will be influenced by emerging evidence and changing circumstances, the Scottish Government and partners under the Strategy remain focused on achieving the outcomes set out in the Plan by 2028.

The 2025 Annual Progress Report is currently being finalised and will be published after the summer recess.

The consistent approach to restricting the use of lead in ammunition that the UK REACH restriction will provide, and in particular the ban on sales of lead ammunition shotgun cartridges it introduces, will lead to improved compliance rates over wet lands compared with the status quo.

The Loch Lomond Byelaws, which came into force on 1 November 2024, contain the following powers in relation to jet skis and powered vessels:

• Mandatory User Registration – any person in charge of a powered vessel (including jet skis) must register their personal details and vessel with the National Park Authority. Registered vehicles must display the unique, highly visible identification stickers;
• Low Speed Zones – Vessels (jet skis) must stay below 6kph in Low Speed Zones to avoid generating a wake and prevent collisions with paddleboarders and swimmers. These are located in high-traffic or mixed use areas of the loch at Balloch Castle Country Park, Duck Bay, Manse Bay, Milarrochy Bay, Luss, Sallachy and Rowardennan. There is also a speed limit of 11kph around the southern islands;
• If an alleged byelaw contravention is assessed to be worthy of charging an individual, LLTNPA will report the case directly to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, which can result in a defendant gaining a criminal record if they are found guilty.

The Scottish Government is not currently considering introduction of a public interest test for individuals, companies or other entities seeking to acquire large tracts of land.

A range of proposals for tests on buyers of land were considered during development of the measures now contained in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025. The Scottish Government concluded that these approaches could not be justified by available evidence and would present significant practical, legal and financial challenges.

In contrast – lotting of land for sale directly responds to the issues of concentration of ownership highlighted by the Scottish Land Commission. The measures approved by Parliament as part of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 will enable Scottish Ministers to consider the public interest in relation to certain transfers of landholdings over 1,000 hectares and, where appropriate, require land to be sold in lots.

Further detail on the Scottish Government's previous consideration of buyer-facing tests, and the reasons for not taking that approach forward, is set out at page 10 to 11 of the Scottish Government's response to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee's Stage 1 report. Consideration was also set out in the Policy Memorandum and during Parliamentary consideration of the Bill, and the relevant documents can be accessed on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill page of the Scottish Parliament website.

The Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme was announced and arrangements put into place in the lead up to the pre-election period of the Scottish Parliament Election of 7 May 2026.

The Scheme launched on 1 April and has been managed by Advice Direct Scotland (ADS). Details of the eligibility criteria and the application process have been made available on the ADS website since the launch of the Scheme. Additionally, ADS have utilised the heating oil and liquid petroleum gas supplier network and have contacted over 1,600 third sector organisations to raise awareness of the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme.

ADS are also assisting individuals with any queries that they may have on the Scheme or in making an application and I thank them for their on-going work.

Due to the pre-election period, the Scottish Government was limited in what could be done to promote the Scheme; we are now increasing awareness and will continue to use various channels to reach those households most in need.

My officials monitor the scheme on an on-going basis. As part of this, consideration is given to any adaptations that can be made.

The Scheme’s outcomes and performance will be assessed following its closure.

The Scottish Government is taking a range of actions to support the protection of wild Atlantic salmon during their migration through Scotland's marine environment. The Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy and associated Implementation Plan provide the framework for this work and include a dedicated priority theme focused on improving understanding of, and addressing, pressures affecting salmon in coastal and marine waters.

The Scottish Government has supported research to improve understanding of salmon migration and marine survival, including a number of smolt tracking projects (West Coast, North Coast, Moray Firth/Wick and South-east Coast) which is helping to address evidence gaps relating to migration routes, behaviour and mortality during the marine phase of the salmon life cycle.

We have also strengthened the regulatory framework governing interactions between aquaculture and wild salmon through the designation of SEPA as the lead regulator for sea-lice interactions and the introduction of SEPA's Sea Lice Regulatory Framework, including Wild Salmon Protection Zones. In addition, Scotland's planning framework includes a presumption against new marine finfish farming development on the north and east coasts of mainland Scotland.

Scotland's National Marine Plan includes specific policies for wild salmon and other diadromous fish, requiring the potential effects of marine development and activities on these species to be considered in planning and licensing decisions.

Atlantic salmon is a qualifying feature of 17 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Scotland. These sites were designated because they support salmon populations and habitats of European conservation importance and encompass many of the species' most significant freshwater habitats in Scotland.

Under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, any plan or project—including those in the marine environment—that is likely to have a significant effect on an SAC must be subject to an appropriate assessment. Consent can be granted where it can be ascertained that the proposal will not adversely affect the integrity of the site. Where such certainty cannot be reached, permission may only be given in the limited exceptional circumstances provided for within the legislation.

The Scottish Government will continue to implement the Wild Salmon Strategy and keep the need for further measures under review as new evidence emerges, particularly in relation to increasing marine mortality, which is widely recognised as a significant factor in the decline of Atlantic salmon populations across Scotland and the wider North Atlantic with the available evidence showing that this is, at least partly, driven by changes in oceanic conditions associated with climate change.

I attended the 45th British-Irish Council meeting held in St Peter Port, Guernsey on 10 July.

The summit was hosted by the Chief Minister of Guernsey and attended by ministers from across the UK and Ireland. The First Minister of Wales attended as did the Taoiseach and Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence, and the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by its Ministers for Economy and for Communities and the Chief Ministers of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man attended.

The theme of this year’s summit was ‘Nurturing Beginnings: Strengthening Early Years and Family Support for Happy, Healthy Childhoods and Lifelong Wellbeing.

The main summit plenary provided an opportunity to highlight Scottish Government policies to ensure our children receive the best start in life alongside learning from activity being undertaken in other jurisdictions.

During the main plenary discussion on latest political developments, I reflected on the significant global challenges we all face including the conflict in the Middle East and the resulting domestic impacts, including on the cost of living. I highlighted the importance of the Scottish Child Payment in tackling poverty. I also raised the need for public service reform.

I reiterated the Scottish Government’s position in relation to our constitutional future alongside our commitment to Scotland’s relationship with Europe and welcomed the reset in relations with the EU and the opportunities presented by Ireland’s EU presidency.

Ahead of the main summit I met with the First Minister of Wales, during which we discussed the relationship between our governments, wider intergovernmental relations and devolution.

I also met with the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minster, during which I reflected on the importance of meaningful and constructive engagement between our governments.

In addition, I held a range of introductory bilateral meetings including with the Chief Minister of Guernsey, the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland and the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade/Minister for Defence.

The Communiqué that was issued by the British-Irish Council after the meeting can be found on its website at:www.britishirishcouncil.org/resources/

45th British-Irish Council Summit

Guernsey

Friday 10 July 2026

Communiqué

The British-Irish Council (BIC) held its 45th Summit meeting today, Friday 10 July 2026, hosted by the Government of Guernsey in St Peter Port.

The theme of the Summit was Nurturing Beginnings: Strengthening Early Years and Family Support for Happy, Healthy Childhoods and Lifelong Wellbeing. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, Chief Minister of the Government of Guernsey.

Nurturing Beginnings: Strengthening Early Years and Family Support for Happy,

Healthy Childhoods and Lifelong Wellbeing.

The plenary focussed on efforts to support integrated, high quality early years systems which can help give every child a happy, healthy and secure start to life. Among several important discussion points was the topical matter of children and young people’s digital access. Council members discussed how children’s digital needs, risks and opportunities evolve as they grow.

Latest Political Developments

Members briefed the Council on recent developments within their administrations and discussed several domestic and international topics of mutual interest.

Cross-BIC Symposium Leaders welcomed preparations by officials to mark the breadth and depth of the Council’s work through a cross-cutting Symposium in Edinburgh on 29 September, the title of which is These Islands: Cultivating Communities and Tackling Inequalities.

Next Summit Meeting

The Council noted that the next BIC Summit will be hosted by the UK Government.

BIC Secretariat

10 July 2026

Plenary Participants