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, 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 Scottish Government continues to monitor the impact of the Vision hosted system rollout through Public Service Delivery Scotland (PSDS)’engagement with health boards, GP practices and the supplier OneAdvanced.

The GPIT procurement was undertaken through a formal, competitive procurement process led by National Services Scotland (now Public Services Delivery Scotland), in line with European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) requirements. The process was supported by a wide range of Subject Matter Experts, including GPs, nurses, pharmacists, practice managers, health board facilitators, IT specialists and information governance experts, who helped develop and assess the system requirements.

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.