Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00543 on 10 June 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.

FFIS is a competitive scheme and, as with the 2025 round, no application is guaranteed funding. Where demand exceeds the available budget, eligible applications will be prioritised in accordance with the published scoring and ranking methodology. This will ensure applicants understand in advance how funding decisions will be made.

We have been working closely with stakeholders on how we can improve FFIS, including ways to ensure more farmers and crofters are able to benefit from this support. Co-development is ongoing and we will provide further details on these improvements later this summer.

At this early stage, we are not undertaking formal measurement of effectiveness. We are taking a phased approach to create a system that works nationally and to ensure that vital knowledge on how to deliver the transformative and complex change to multi-agency service delivery within the same setting, is gathered and analysed, ahead of national implementation from 2027.

We have committed to begin consulting with partners in our first 100 days to ensure the planning system acts as an enabler to economic growth and investment. Our engagement over the coming months will help to inform our decisions on the scope of any reforms to the planning system, including the potential need for a Planning Bill.

The Scottish Government has not received any reports of illegal sewage spills identified by Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP).

Any discharge from a wastewater asset is covered by the requirements of authorisations issued under the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018. In the event of a potential non-compliance identified by the appropriate regulator, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), this would be investigated by Scottish Water and action taken as appropriate.

As planning authorities, local authorities are able to regulate development including the creation of new shops. Changes to the specific range of goods sold within an existing shop do not constitute development so are not within the scope of planning control.

Scotland has a Tobacco and Vapes Retail Register. All businesses need to be registered to be able to sell these products in Scotland. It is the responsibility of local authorities to enforce compliance with the register in their local areas.

The Scottish Government recognises the potential benefits of a single point of search across multiple pet microchip databases, which could provide quicker and more efficient access to information for enforcement agencies, veterinary professionals, and rehoming organisations.

We are supportive in principle of measures that enhance animal welfare and improve the effectiveness of existing systems, and officials continue to regularly engage constructively with Defra and the other devolved administration to progress this work.

The Scottish Government recognises that microchipping pets supports responsible ownership and helps reunite lost animals with their owners. It acknowledges the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s findings on the benefits for welfare and enforcement.

Officials are reviewing this recommendation alongside wider policy considerations, including impacts on owners, enforcement, and consistency with existing mandatory microchipping for dogs.

This would be an operational matter for Scottish Water.

Any discharge from a wastewater asset is covered by the requirements of authorisations issued under the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018. In the event of a potential non-compliance identified by the appropriate regulator, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), this would be investigated by Scottish Water and action taken as appropriate.

As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), I have asked them to respond. Their replies are as follows:

Scottish Water will need time to review and respond to the Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP) report once it is issued.

SEPA has publicly offered to meet the WASP group to discuss the evidence it has prepared in its draft Report and the work already under way to monitor and improve Scotland’s water environment further through River Basin Management Planning.