Chamber and committees

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

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01808 on 21 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01808 on 21 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01808 on 21 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01808 on 21 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01602 on 22 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01602 on 22 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 remains committed to committed to publishing draft legislative provisions and progressing work on the price cap on essential food items. We continue to engage constructively with all relevant stakeholders and representative groups to support considered and informed discussion on this policy.