Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government takes the welfare of all animals extremely seriously at all stages of their lives. The killing of surplus chicks which are less than 72 hours old, and embryos in hatchery waste is regulated by Schedule 11 of The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 ("the 1995 Regulations"). The 1995 Regulations permit only three methods of killing, which the Scottish Government considers to ensure the welfare of the chicks during the killing process:

• Use of a mechanical apparatus producing immediate death;
• Exposure to gas mixtures; or
• Dislocation of the neck.

Under the 1995 Regulations any mechanical apparatus used must be used by a skilled operator and be designed so as to produce immediate death without any unnecessary suffering caused to the chicks.

The current methods of killing chicks, such as Maceration/Instantaneous Mechanical Destruction, are considered to be acceptable by the Humane Slaughter Association and we will continue to work with industry to ensure that the current regulations still meet their objectives.

The Scottish Government recognises that gamekeepers, farmers, crofters and other land managers can make an important contribution to wildfire prevention and response, including through vegetation management, local knowledge, practical experience, personnel and equipment.

NatureScot has engaged with stakeholders through the Muirburn Code Working Group. That engagement has helped inform the development of the Code, including provisions relating to safe planning, appropriate resourcing, liaison with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and the role of muirburn as a land management tool.

No separate formal assessment has been undertaken specifically of the contribution made by gamekeepers and other land managers to wildfire prevention and response. As no separate assessment has been produced, there are no findings to publish.

However, the knowledge and experience of land managers have been considered through the consultation and stakeholder engagement process, and has informed the development of a Code intended to be practical, proportionate and capable of supporting safe licensed muirburn where appropriate.

NatureScot has worked through iterations of the Muirburn Code of Practice with stakeholders through the Muirburn Code Working Group. Stakeholder views have been considered throughout the development of the Code, including concerns raised most recently by some stakeholders about the workability of the draft provisions.

Following that engagement, NatureScot has worked with stakeholders to revise the Code to ensure that it supports safe and responsible licensed muirburn, while also protecting peatlands, habitats, species and the wider natural environment.

The Code is intended to provide a clear and practical framework for muirburn. It does not prevent muirburn from being undertaken where it is lawful, licensed where required, and carried out safely and appropriately. Where muirburn is proposed for wildfire prevention purposes, NatureScot will consider applications through the licensing process, including the specific circumstances of the land and the purpose of the proposed burning.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with NatureScot and stakeholders as the licensing regime is implemented, to ensure that the Code remains workable in practice and supports both wildfire prevention and environmental protection.

The official statistics, available at Scotland's Redress Scheme Statistics December 2021 - June 2025, provide information on applications, outcomes and payments made in the first 42 months of Scotland's Redress Scheme.

While these do not include information specifically about the allocation of applications to case workers, we recognise that many applicants are waiting too long for their applications to be progressed and an outcome to be determined.

Each application for Redress is unique. Applications progress at differing rates depending on how complete they are when submitted, the availability of information, evidence and records, and the extent of verification checks required. It is not possible to provide a timescale from receipt of an application through to receipt of payment and apology, given the unique nature of applications.

The Scottish Government is committed to minimising wait times for applicants as much as possible. Case worker recruitment is under way and I am meeting with the Scottish Government case work team and the Chair of Redress Scotland to discuss further options for the operation of the scheme.

The Scottish Government takes the welfare of farmed fish seriously and expects full compliance with legislation, quality assurance schemes and industry standards.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is operationally independent and has a range of enforcement tools available. Enforcement decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the available evidence and circumstances.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting continuous improvement in farmed fish welfare. We are progressing the development of official welfare guidance under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to support APHA's inspection and enforcement activity.

The Scottish Government has recently strengthened its service level agreement with APHA and now requires 10% of the approximately 50 land-based sites to be inspected annually, as well as 10 sea-based sites. This is in addition to demand led inspections carried out in response to concerns raised by either the Fish Health Inspectorate or the public, providing further oversight of fish health and welfare.

I recognise concerns that have been raised regarding fish mortality and the significant amount of investment made by producers of farmed fish to understand and mitigate these challenges. It is clear mortality must be driven down to the lowest possible level, and the sector must continue to improve public confidence and public understanding of its practices.

Public procurement and grants are subject to different requirements.

In relation to public procurement, the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (2015 Regulations) do not apply from a threshold of £50,000, but from the relevant threshold set out in regulation 5 of the 2015 Regulations. In the case of a public supply contract, and most public service contracts, the relevant threshold is £135,018 for central government authorities, or £207,720 for sub-central authorities. For public works contracts, the relevant threshold is £5,193,000.

Regulation 58 of the 2015 Regulations sets out the grounds on which bidders may, or must, be excluded from procurement exercises. These include convictions for certain criminal offences, non-payment of taxes, and bankruptcy. Regulation 59 sets out the selection criteria which authorities may impose for the purposes of ensuring that a bidder has the necessary: suitability to pursue a professional activity; economic and financial standing; and technical and professional ability. The precise criteria imposed will depend on the nature of the contract in question.

Regulation 60 sets out that bidders should, in the first instance, complete the Single Procurement Document, consisting of a self-declaration that they are not in one of the situations which constitute grounds for exclusion, and that they meet the relevant selection criteria. Authorities may require bidders to provide supporting documentation at any time when it is necessary to ensure the proper conduct of the procurement procedure. Full due diligence is only required when a preferred bidder has been identified. For this purpose, authorities may require bidders to produce certificates, statements and other means of proof as evidence for the absence of grounds for exclusion and for the fulfilment of the selection criteria. This can include, but it is not limited to: certificates; bank statements; previous work carried out over the past five years; samples, descriptions or photographs of products to be supplied; financial statements; and the qualifications of relevant staff.

The Procurement (Scotland) Regulations 2016 make similar provision in relation to contracts subject to the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (the Act). The Act applies to public supply and public service contracts worth at least £50,000 and to public works contracts worth at least £2 million.

In relation to grants, due diligence forms an integral part of the Scottish Government’s established grant management process, where preventative checks are required to be performed before awarding a general grant. Assessments cover financial viability and governance arrangements of prospective recipients, and the process is supported by internal guidance and checklists. There is no financial threshold for undertaking due diligence for a grant.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01276 on 14 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Scottish 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-01290 on 14 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/questions-and-answers .

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01290 on 14 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/questions-and-answers .

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01276 on 14 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Scottish Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.