Chamber and committees

At the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on 11 September, I updated members on the challenges of the current timeframes for all four UK nations in relation to developing quality, credible Fisheries Management Plans and confirmed that I will be writing to the Committee formally in due course regarding the statutory deadlines associated with the plans. I expect to do this shortly and will be happy to update the member further following this communication.

It is important to remember that we already have a strong suite of measures in place to manage our fisheries and safeguard our fish stocks.

Seafish have supported Defra to deliver Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) for English waters. We have also utilised their expertise in Scotland by asking them to support the development of the two Nephrops FMPs.

Seafish have been asked to support evidence gathering, collaborative development through sector-specific working groups, as well as delivery of engagement events and workshops.

Seafish have a wealth of experience and knowledge, and have been well placed to carry out stakeholder engagement in relation to Nephrops, and to produce drafts of the FMPs.

Seafish has been provided with a grant of £39,479 in connection with the development of Fisheries Management Plans for the North Sea and West of Scotland Nephrops stocks.

Communities are at the heart of our renewable energy ambitions, and we are committed to working with partners to ensure the delivery of renewable energy comes with benefits for people in Scotland and contributes to community wealth building (CWB).

Where communities have an ownership stake in energy production, we are seeing surpluses being used to support local employment and other initiatives. For example, in North Tolsta, on Lewis, one of five Scottish Government Community Wealth Building pilot areas, revenue from a community owned wind turbine supports local jobs, provides grants for home energy improvements and offers financial support for young people attending further and higher education.

The Community Energy Generation Growth Fund, through our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), recently awarded £1.5 million in grants to 19 community groups across Scotland to develop their own renewable energy projects. These communities are able to earn money from their projects, for example by selling excess energy generation.

In line with Scottish Public Sector Pay Policy, the Scottish Government does not pay non-consolidated performance payments to any staff, including Senior Civil Servants. Therefore, I can confirm that no Scottish Government Senior Civil Servants have received a non-consolidated performance payment in the period referenced.

Non-consolidated performance payments for chief executives continue to be suspended. There is a presumption against provision for non-consolidated performance payments in all new Chief Executive contracts or following a review. There are 71 public bodies covered by the Public Sector Pay Policy, and of these there are a small number of public bodies with specific exemptions agreed by Ministers. These are Scottish Water and the Scottish National Investment Bank. All aspects of chief executive pay are detailed within the annual accounts of each public body.

‘The Adults with Incapacity Amendment Act Consultation’ published on 25 July 2024 consults on four out of seven power of attorney (PoA) recommendations at section 13.3 of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review. Although not part of this consultation, the remaining PoA recommendations will be considered as part of the longer term reform programme.

Access to Critical Raw Materials and Technologies is a vitally important issue for our economy, energy security and Net Zero ambitions.

Where areas of potential prospectivity are identified, this does not mean that critical minerals are guaranteed to be found and there are a range of factors which will influence whether or not extraction will take place. This includes the requirement that where new development proposals come forward, applications for planning permission must be made to the relevant local planning authority. Policy 33 of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) sets out that development proposals for the sustainable extraction of minerals will only be supported by that policy where certain criteria are met, this includes demonstrating that there are no significant adverse impacts (including cumulative impact) on any nearby homes and local communities. NPF4 should be read as a whole, alongside local development plans, in applying balanced planning judgement in planning decisions.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any assessment of impacts on communities from these reports at this stage.

It is longstanding Scottish Government policy that the provision of an air service wholly within a local authority boundary is a matter for that local authority.

The Scottish Government provides indirect support to the Benbecula to Stornoway service through our subsidy of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited which operates both Benbecula and Stornoway airports. The Comhairle also receives funding from the Scottish Government through the Local Government Settlement. The funding formula does take account of the Comhairle’s need in relation to air transport and includes £377,000 in 2024-25.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with all local authorities to help deliver our ambitious climate targets. The establishment of the joint Climate Delivery Framework will enable better alignment of our respective targets and collective decision making, supporting delivery.

The Scottish Government is supporting a number of initiatives in East Dunbartonshire, including long term funding to support the development and delivery of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and installation of public EV charging infrastructure and fleet decarbonisation, as well as £745,840 in 2024/25 for the Active Travel Infrastructure Tier 1 Fund.

New statutory guidance to support public bodies, including local authorities, in complying with statutory duties under the Climate Change Act is being developed that is due for publication in 2025.

A Scottish Climate Intelligence Service has been established to help build the capacity of local authorities to reduce area wide emissions.