Chamber and committees

The regulation of animal use in scientific procedures, including the collection and publication of statistics, is reserved to the UK Government under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Responsibility for official statistics on animal procedures remains with the Home Office.

While the Scottish Government does not hold data on the number of scientific procedures conducted in Scotland, we continue to assess progress through developments in alternative methods, advances in research practices, and engagement with organisations that promote the 3Rs, such as the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a Scotland-wide assessment of which areas of the inshore seabed would benefit most from the exclusion of bottom-towed fishing.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02777 on 15 September 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-02313 on 24 August 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 Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB) last met on 23 January 2026.

Recipients of public funding associated with delivery of the Life Sciences Strategy for Scotland 2035 Vision are not required to demonstrate consideration of the 3Rs principles solely as a condition of that funding. The Strategy is intended to support growth, innovation and competitiveness across the life sciences sector. Any requirements relating to animal use in scientific procedures are governed separately under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

The Scottish Government considers that a number of measures within the Life Sciences Strategy for Scotland Sprint 1 Delivery Plan have the potential to support the implementation of the 3Rs framework. These include actions to strengthen Scotland’s research and innovation ecosystem, support the development of new technologies, and foster collaboration between academia, industry and the public sector.

Together, these measures can help create the conditions for the development and uptake of innovative approaches that may reduce reliance on animals in research and testing.

In 2025-26, the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme received 619 claims for payment. Of these, 520 claims were paid within 90 days, while 99 claims were paid over 90 days after being submitted.

Between April and the end of August 2026, the scheme received 170 claims for payment. Of these, 158 claims were paid within 90 days, while 12 claims were paid over 90 days after being submitted.

The Scottish Government is not currently considering a proposal to establish a network of static-gear reserves covering at least 30% of Scotland's inshore waters.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02777 on 15 September. 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 questions S7W-02745 and S7W-02746 on 15 September 2026.

The commercial decision announced in July of a sale of BP’s North Sea assets has caused great uncertainty for their workforce and the wider energy workforce in Scotland.

The Scottish Government closely monitors and considers a range of evidence in relation to the energy transition. The First Minister and I met with energy leaders in the North East in the days after this announcement, and I continue to engage with BP and other relevant partners including the trade unions to understand the potential impacts of the sale.

Regulation of the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas infrastructure is a reserved matter. Any assessment of potential impacts on decommissioning from bp’s sale of assets would be a matter for the UK Government.

The Scottish Government supports decommissioning activity happening in a way that facilitates an orderly, managed and just transition to net-zero and maximises the benefits for Scotland’s businesses and communities.

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 does not receive routine notifications from the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) regarding investigations, compliance issues or enforcement activity relating to licensed establishments operating under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Any oversight, inspection and enforcement functions under the 1986 Act are the responsibility of ASRU, acting on behalf of the UK Government.

Accordingly, the Scottish Government does not hold information on individual investigations, compliance concerns or enforcement actions undertaken by ASRU.