Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has recently consulted on Nephrops Fisheries Management Plans: Proposed West Coast of Scotland Nephrops and North Sea Nephrops Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space

The draft plans recognise the potential use of Functional Unit (FU) management for Nephrops stocks and propose to undertake an in-depth options appraisal for FU management of Nephrops.

We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation and will work with stakeholders as part of our co-management approach in order to further explore and address the complexities of FUs.

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-02745 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.

This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland (SDS) as they administer Modern Apprenticeships on behalf of the Scottish Government.

In implementing provisions in the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026, the Scottish Government will consider how relevant and meaningful statistics can contribute to evaluating the Act's impact.

The Scottish Government has previously developed experimental statistics for Gross National Income (GNI) and primary income account statistics which deal with aspects of income flows into and out of Scotland, including Foreign Direct Investment, and has shown a net outflow of income from Scotland with the latest being published in 2023.

The Scottish Government has no plans to develop a recreational sea-angling strategy. No assessment has been undertaken on any contribution that the recovery of inshore fish populations could make to the development of such a strategy, or to employment and tourism income in coastal communities.

Contribution rates vary by apprenticeship framework and age group. They are set to encourage participation among younger apprentices. Those aged 16-19 receive a higher contribution rate than those aged 20-24, and the over 25s receive the lowest contribution. Younger apprentices are eligible for higher contribution rates as they may require more support to complete their apprenticeship.

The commercial decision announced in July of a sale of BPs 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.

Improving the availability of spatial fisheries data is a key commitment within the Scottish Government's Fisheries Management Strategy, including the increased use of inshore vessel monitoring systems (I-VMS) on under-12 metre fishing vessels. I-VMS devices collect similar positional data to Vessel Monitoring Systems. However, as they are designed for use on smaller inshore vessels and typically transmit data using mobile networks, they have lower associated costs and can provide more frequent position reporting.

Following the 2023 public consultation on the introduction of electronic tracking and monitoring technology for under-12 metre vessels, the Scottish Government has been progressing policy development and procurement activity. Delays have been experienced during this process and, as a result, implementation has not yet commenced. The Scottish Government will confirm the timetable for rollout and next steps at the earliest opportunity.

The first phase of the cervical screening HPV self-sampling pilot is expected to conclude in summer 2027, with subsequent phases anticipated thereafter, subject to evaluation findings. The Scottish Government remains committed to increasing uptake of cervical screening across Scotland and, in particular, to reducing screening inequalities. HPV self-sampling is one of a number of interventions being progressed to support this aim, alongside wider efforts to improve access to and participation in the cervical screening programme.