Chamber and committees

Between March and July 2025, the Scottish Government hosted five workshops to scope early options for introducing penalties for escapes from fish farms in Scotland, including the design and scale of financial penalties. Representatives from Salmon Scotland, the British Trout Association, Fisheries Management Scotland (FMS) and NatureScot participated in these discussions.

Subsequently, FMS and Salmon Scotland committed to explore a joint scheme, the detail of which was announced on 12 June 2026. The Scottish Government had no direct involvement in the development of the scheme, however we welcome this collaborative approach and action which will be taken where escapes occur.

The Scottish Government will consider the publication of relevant information that it holds related to the initial discussions with key stakeholders.

General enforcement of road traffic offences including speeding is the operational responsibility of Police Scotland.

The Scottish Safety Camera Programme supports automated enforcement through national operational prioritisation and deployment of safety camera resources in accordance with the Scottish Safety Camera Programme Handbook. The Handbook also sets out the existing process of engagement with local authorities to provide localised input through annual site selection. Through targetted camera enforcement, the purpose of the Programme is to improve driver behaviour and reduce injury collisions in line with the Road Safety Framework to 2030.

An annual site prioritisation process is undertaken each year and involves partners including the three regional safety camera units, all thirty-two local road authorities, Transport Scotland for trunk roads and Police Scotland. This exercise acts to identify potential new camera sites which meet the minimum criteria, while at the same time assessing the performance of existing enforcement strategies.

In addition to annual site selection, where there are emerging or short term road safety concerns, all road authorities currently have the ability to request a short term or flexible safety camera deployment as required.

Local authorities have a statutory duty in terms of section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to promote road safety on local roads and where appropriate, speed calming measures. It is for a local authority to consider appropriate measures which will safeguard road users and residents, and to determine the priority that should be given to any road safety measures. It is not for Scottish Ministers to intervene in a local authority’s day-to-day performance of these particular duties.

CalMac is currently engaged with an external consultancy to provide independent analysis on the use of LNG vs MGO by MV Glen Sannox. This report is due to be finalised by the end of August. Early results confirm the volumes of CO2 produced during dual-fuel use are lower than if MGO is used as a primary fuel source. CalMac records monthly emissions of CO2 across the fleet as per their reporting obligations. However, like-for-like emission comparison between vessels is challenging due to varied vessel designs and cargo carrying capacity.

Since MV Glen Sannox was delivered to CalMac in November 2024, MGO has been utilised in 20 operating months. As set out in the response to S7W-01548 on 4 August 2026, we cannot therefore compare with the assumptions made in the business case at this time.

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 acknowledges the importance of Taxis and Private Hire Car (PHC) vehicles, and wheelchair accessible vehicles in particular, for disabled people.

The Scottish Government’s vision is that all disabled people can travel with the same freedom, choice, dignity and opportunity as other citizens. Scotland’s Accessible Travel Framework is at the heart of achieving that. Alongside this national vision, the Framework provides specific outcomes for accessible travel and a high level action plan to tackle the key issues facing disabled people.

It is important to note that the Scottish Government does not have powers to enforce accessibility requirements on Taxi operators or licensing authorities. This remains reserved to the UK Parliament under the Equality Act 2010.

Nevertheless, the Scottish Government has actively sought opportunities to improve the accessibility of Taxi services where we can, and we would like to see the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles increase.

Taxis and PHCs are licensed in Scotland under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The aim of the licensing system is to ensure that Taxi and PHC customers have a safe, reliable and accessible service.

While the Scottish Government has responsibility for the overarching legislation, the day to day administration of the licensing regime is devolved to independent licensing authorities – in effect the 32 Scottish local authorities. All licensing authorities have wide discretion to determine appropriate licensing arrangements according to local needs and circumstances and their own legal advice.

While the Scottish Ministers do not have any specific functions in relation to the day to day operation of the Taxi/ PHC licensing regime in any given local authority area, the Scottish Government can provide best practice guidance to inform and assist local licensing authorities in their decision making.

In May 2023 the Scottish Government published updated best practice guidance for local licensing authorities and Taxi and PHC operators on the licensing of Taxis and PHCs and their drivers. (https://www.gov.scot/publications/taxi-private-hire-car-licensing-best-practice-licensing-authorities-taxi-private-hire-car-operators-3rd-edition/).

I would refer you to Chapter 4 of the guidance, which specifically relates to accessibility requirements. That chapter of the best practice guidance contains information on issues such as legal duties for drivers and operators under the Equality Act 2010.

Written in conjunction with Transport Scotland, local authorities and the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) the Scottish Government best practice guidance was produced to ensure the provision of Taxis and PHCs meet the needs of disabled people.

Recommendations regarding the use of tumour profiling tests such as Oncotype DX are developed independently of the Scottish Government. The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) published their recommendation in October 2023, which has been implemented in full. SHTG have criteria and processes in place to judge whether new evidence is sufficient to revise its existing recommendations.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01934 on 4 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

Four of the six measures provided for in the Act have been implemented. These are:

• A prohibition on providing or making available fireworks or pyrotechnic articles to children;
• A statutory aggravation for courts sentencing offenders where fireworks were used to attack emergency workers;
• New discretionary powers for local authorities to designate firework control zones; and
• New offences of possession of pyrotechnics in public places and at designated events.

Two remaining measures have not yet been commenced. These are:

• A firework licensing system: whereby anyone who wishes to buy, use or possess fireworks will be required to apply for a licence. As part of the licence application process, applicants will be required to complete a mandatory training course on the safe, lawful and appropriate use of fireworks.
• Restrictions on the days fireworks can be supplied to or used by the public.

Implementation of these measures has been paused in light of the significant challenging financial context and operational and resource implications associated with their introduction. The position remains under review as the Scottish Government continues to consider in the context of how existing measures are impacting the nature and pattern of disorder.

It is not within the power of the Scottish Parliament to legislate for a complete ban on the sale of fireworks as this is reserved to the UK Government and Westminster Parliament.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any instances since 2021 where road or bridge repair works have been required on trunk roads as a result of improving accessibility for wind farm construction traffic. While, in some cases, third-party developers have undertaken modifications to the trunk road network to accommodate the movement of oversized wind farm construction components, these works have not involved repairs to trunk roads or bridges.