This new pilot scheme is a unique chance for communities to take ownership of renewable energy projects which need upgrading and extend their operational life, bringing long-term benefits to the local area.

The Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS) is well-established, utilising an existing legislative framework that provides consistency of approach, a structured time bound route, and a defined appeals mechanism, if required.

Community bodies applying through FLS’ CAT Scheme will not be subject to a competitive tender. However, communities will still be required to pay rent, just as any business or community body would need to if operating a commercial wind farm on public land. FLS is responsible for undertaking due diligence and evaluation of the community proposal before agreeing a long-term lease of public land and a commercial rent.

FLS will engage with communities at an early stage on the criteria and options available to them, and signpost them to support available from the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) managed by Local Energy Scotland. Further information on the CATS notification, evaluation and decision process for repowering will be available by Spring 2026, before the first sites are notified.

Scotland’s Heat Network Fund (SHNF) is a demand-led capital grant scheme designed to support the deployment and expansion of zero-emission heat networks across Scotland. All applications are assessed against mandatory criteria to ensure alignment with the Fund objectives, including reducing carbon emissions, tackling fuel poverty, and demonstrating value for money.

Repowering involves a new windfarm being developed following the decommissioning and removal of the existing operational site. This new pilot scheme is a unique chance for communities to take ownership of a second phase of generation, bringing long-term benefits to the local area.

Data for the last full calendar year (2024)indicate that 7,355 heat pumps were installed in Scotland, 1061 more than for the last full calendar year. Over 2,500 heat pumps were funded by the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme in 2024.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41650 on 18 November 2025. 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 can confirm that the commitment to reduce drop-off in breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks by 10% by 2025 has been achieved and exceeded. The rate of drop off has reduced from 34.5% in 2017-18, when the stretch aim was announced, to 25.3% in 2024-25, a reduction of 9.2 percentage points. This shows a 27% reduction, thereby exceeding the anticipated 10% by some margin.

As we set out in the Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Strategic Framework published earlier this year, we committed to setting out a new stretch aim before the end of 2025. Following engagement with Health Boards and key stakeholders, I can now confirm that this will be ‘to reduce drop-off in breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks by 10% by 2031’.

Much of the improvement over the last seven years has been driven by a combined approach within and between Health Boards, including further embedding of the Unicef UK Baby Friendly standards. From 2025-26 the Scottish Government is permanently transferring over £0.8 million annual additional investment into the baseline budgets of NHS Boards to provide a sustainable basis for funding for interventions to support breastfeeding. This builds on additional investment of over £11 million since 2018. This funding will continue to be used to support evidence-based interventions and to target those who need it most.

As part of our achievements for the highest rates of breastfeeding ever, at 69% initiation and 61% at First Visit, we now have more than half of all babies being breastfed at 6-8 weeks. The statistics from 11 November mark the first time since these statistics began in Scotland in 2002-03 that more babies are being breastfed than formula fed at that time point. It is also clear from the most recent Infant Feeding Statistics, that action on breastfeeding inequalities is making a difference, with the most marked differences for those who live in the most deprived areas and younger mothers.

We want all babies to have the best start in life, including the best nutritional start. Supporting, protecting and promoting breastfeeding remains one of the most important actions we can take to improve the health of both the mother and baby, in both the short and long term. However, we also recognise that breastfeeding might not be possible for every mother and baby and we will continue to support all parents with their infant feeding choices.

This work has been driven through our health services and partners, and in particular the role of Infant Feeding Leads and their teams across maternity, neonatal and community-based services. We will continue to work collaboratively with local leaders to ensure that all mothers across Scotland can be fully supported to achieve their breastfeeding goals.

(A) Since 1 January 2025, Agricultural Wages Inspectors (AWIs), acting on behalf of the Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team (AWET), have conducted a total of 70 on-farm inspections. Of these, 64 were Control Test Inspections (CTIs)—routine spot checks—and 6 were complaint-based inspections initiated by workers submitting formal complaints regarding pay and working conditions under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order (“The Order”). Further inspections in 2025 are scheduled to take place.

The inspection year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

(B) AWIs carry out inspections at employers’ premises throughout the year. Complaint inspections are prompted by individual workers completing and submitting complaint forms to the AWET, detailing concerns about wages or working conditions. Workers who believe their employment terms do not comply with The Order are encouraged to contact AWET and complete a complaint form to enable investigation. We cannot undertake a compliant inspection based on assumptions from a third party as we need access to the worker’s payslips and time records, however, where we are notified of a suspected concern by a third party, we will endeavour to schedule a future CTI, and three such inspections are in train for 2025.

Since January 2025, AWIs have interviewed 206 workers during inspections. This total includes:

3 workers on the Seasonal Worker Visa scheme

4 workers on three-year Skilled Worker visas

1 seasonally contracted worker with EU Settled Status

Regarding (i) & (ii) inspections outcomes involving seasonal workers are ongoing. Where issues of non-compliance are identified, these will be raised with the employers for rectification. Should employers fail to address the concerns, enforcement notices will be issued in accordance with the provisions of The Order.

Responsibility for private water supplies rests with those who own or operate them, with statutory duties set out in the relevant regulations. Local authorities have duties to monitor supplies, provide advice where standards are not met, and take enforcement action where necessary to ensure owners and users meet their statutory responsibilities.

Where a private supply is consistently failing, it is for the owner or operator to decide whether to apply for a connection to the public water mains. Applications are made through Scottish Water’s standard process and are subject to technical feasibility. There is no separate prioritisation for these cases, and applicants for all connections applications are liable for the associated costs.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the fishing sector in Scotland.

Our work to secure sustainable fishing opportunities for Scottish vessels through our international negotiations, which is informed by our science advice, is critical to supporting economic growth and development within the fishing industry. Our quota management approach ensures the quota is translated into opportunities for the Scottish industry and licencing supports the proper functioning of the fishing industry and the responsible management by the fishing fleet. Our enforcement efforts underpin sustainable fisheries management, delivering confidence and accountability in our sea fisheries which supports a positive brand and marketplace for Scottish seafood.

In addition to this, we support the fishing sector through a modernisation programme to ensure the long-term sustainability of Scotland’s fish stocks and to provide confidence from an economic perspective. The Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy and the subsequent delivery plan, which apply across the fishing fleet, includes a range of actions focussed on delivering sustainability for Scotland’s fishing sector, including commitments to strengthening and modernising regulation to support sustainable fishing practices, increasing the volume of fish landed into Scottish ports, and increasing resilience within the sector.

We also provide direct financial support through the Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) which provided £14 million this year to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, research, innovation, and support coastal communities around Scotland. Since 2021, the MFS has awarded £70 million to 390 projects, enabling over £150 million investment. This includes £4.6 million to projects in the North East, including £1.2 million to Peterhead Port Authority.

This MFS support shows how derisory the allocation of just £28 million over 12 years of the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Fund is. It is a hammer blow for our fishing sector given that it equates to only 7.78% of this new funding. Scotland accounts for over 60% of the UK’s fishing capacity and seafood exports, with Scottish vessels landing over 75% of UK quota species. Scotland’s allocation should be at least 46%, reflecting our share of the UK’s EU fisheries funding.