Chamber and committees

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report published on 23 June 2026, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains ESS’ findings and recommendations relating to the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, including findings and recommendations regarding the contribution of measures in Part 3 of the UK Marine Strategy towards seafloor integrity objectives and targets.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the ESS report and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report. The Scottish Government's position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report published on 23 June 2026, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains ESS’ findings and recommendations relating to the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, including regarding timescales for the implementation of measures specified in Part 3 of the UK Marine Strategy.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the ESS report and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report. 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 does not support the building of new nuclear power stations under current technologies. New nuclear is expensive, slow to deliver and generates radioactive waste which can remain dangerous for thousands of years.

We are working to deliver a resilient, affordable and clean energy system for the people of Scotland. Scotland’s renewable resource, supported by storage, flexibility and grid investment, offers the quickest route to achieving this.

Transport Scotland officials are engaging with UK Department for Transport regarding its proposed amendments to the UK Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, including side road zebra crossings as noted in the UK Government’s response to Wendy Chamberlain MP, UIN 469.

Should it be established that side road zebra crossings are appropriate for use in Scotland, their incorporation in Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 as it applies in Scotland is intended. Scottish Ministers are yet to determine what other amendments will be progressed. Any amendments would be subject to consultation.

National Railcards are managed and administered by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) under UK Government rail industry rules, and the terms and conditions of use are set at the UK level. The Scottish Government officials engage regularly with its counterparts at Department for Transport and with ScotRail on various matters pertaining to rail.

Developers’ Supply Chain Development Statement updates include ambitions to go beyond committed spend, which suggests an additional potential £10.5bn manufacturing expenditure in key areas such as foundations, turbine components and electrical infrastructure in Scotland as the supply chain matures.

We are working with developers and the supply chain to grow the economic value from our offshore wind sector, and to maximise investment, jobs and supply chain opportunities within Scotland. We are consistently clear: developers must help build the resilience of our domestic supply chain and deliver on their SCDS commitments.

Our strategic investment in offshore wind is supporting market certainty and helping to de-risk supply chain investment. To date our own investment of over £150 million is crowding in a further £70m from UK public finance institutions and leveraging up to £675 million in private investment.

Our enterprise agencies are also providing targeted support to our growing supply chain, connecting suppliers with developers, and enabling them to bid for – and crucially to win – work in offshore wind.

The 2026 ScotWind Supply Chain Development Statement updates show that overall projected supply chain spend in Scotland has increased between 2023 and 2026 by nearly £2.3bn for the 16 projects included in the updates, from an estimated £23.3bn to an estimated £25.6 billion.

The reported total ScotWind portfolio project expenditure for the 16 projects has increased by £23.4bn between 2023 and 2026 to £88.6bn. Average spend in Scotland per project has increased overall, however the relative proportion committed in Scotland has decreased from 36% to 29%. This information can be verified on the Crown Estate Scotland supply chain dashboard [https://crownestatescotland.com/supply-chain-information].

Legislation and regulations relating to electricity networks are reserved to the UK Government, with security of supply being a reserved matter that the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO) is responsible for. While decisions on security of supply are reserved, Scotland continues to play an important role in enabling the infrastructure needed for a secure and resilient electricity system through planning and consenting decisions for renewable energy projects, electricity networks and energy storage developments.

The Berwick Bank offshore wind farm consent and marine licences, granted in July 2025, included export cables to a grid connection point at Branxton, located south-west of Torness Power Station. Following the National Grid Electricity Systems Operator (NGESO) Holistic Network Review in 2022, an additional grid connection at Blyth, Northumberland (referred to as the Cambois connection) was also identified and a separate marine licence application was submitted by SSE Renewables and a marine licence granted in August 2025. No further information was provided through the Section 36/marine licence application process as to the onward use of electricity once exported to the grid.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the findings and recommendations of Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) contained in its report Protecting Scotland’s Seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers’ implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report.

The Scottish Government will set out its position on the report's findings and recommendations through that engagement and in its formal response, updating the Scottish Parliament as appropriate in this respect.

The total claimed from Sustrans through the Transport Scotland funded Places for Everyone Fund for the Neilston to Uplawmoor link was £199,274, of which £28,932 was claimed for Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work stages 0-2 and £170,342 for stages 3-4.

No consideration has been given to recovering or repurposing the funding, as the £199,274 provided was expended for the purposes for which it was awarded, namely development and design work associated with the proposed Neilston to Uplawmoor link.