Chamber and committees

Many restoration projects around Scotland are already working with universities and researchers to pioneer new methods and develop best practice in data collection and monitoring. We are currently consulting on a draft marine and coastal restoration plan which sets out key objectives to help us understand restoration opportunities and priorities. The draft plan also proposes actions to stimulate innovation, standardise monitoring, and encourage knowledge exchange. The draft plan was developed with advice from NatureScot and Marine Directorate scientists, as well as input from a range of stakeholders including research institutions. Best practice guidance for restoration activities is already available on the websites of NatureScot and the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund, among others.

The area calculated for restrictions is based on where there is a limit on the fishing activity all year round dependent on, for example, vessel size and power usage as well as where there is a complete ban on that type of fishing activity in a designated site as part of the MPA network and other inshore waters. The Scottish Government are currently developing fisheries management measures for MPAs where they are required, but not already in place, and for Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas outside of MPAs and aim to launch a public consultation in November.

The Scottish Government acknowledges the complex relationship between illicit trade and the introduction of regulatory measures such as the ban on single use vapes. While comprehensive data on the scale of illicit activity remains limited, this issue was considered during the development of the Partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) and the public consultation process.

In recognition of the challenges that may arise from such restrictions, the Scottish Government has worked closely with the UK Government and devolved administrations to ensure alignment on regulatory approaches across the UK.

Trading Standards play a critical role in tackling illicit trade and ensuring compliance with new regulations. The Scottish Government has provided an additional £300k to local authorities to support implementation of the ban on single use vapes, including costs associated with storage and appropriate disposal of seized vapes. We have also provided powers to enable Trading Standards officers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £800 to those in breach of the regulations.

The Scottish Government work closely with the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS), who manage the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme (ETSEP), which is a key component in the Scottish Government’s Tobacco and Vaping Framework. The SG have provided £46k in 2025-26 to support a national coordinator post and specific enforcement projects, which vary year on year.

The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring that Trading Standards are adequately resourced and supported to respond effectively to the challenges posed by illicit markets. Ongoing engagement with enforcement bodies and local authorities will inform future assessments and policy development in this area.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40615 on 7 October 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

The Scottish Government has already invested more than £120 million in the North East through the Just Transition Fund and the Energy Transition Fund to support the region’s transition to net zero. This funding has helped create green jobs, support innovation, and supported the highly skilled workforce of the future.

As part of this, the Scottish Government has supported the initial phases of industry led development of an Energy Skills Passport by providing £3.7 million through the Just Transition Fund over the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24.

The Passport is a tool to support oil and gas workers to identify training pathways into key offshore wind sectors. It is one tool in a wider landscape of support for Scotland’s oil and gas workers. For example, the Passport is complemented by the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund (launched in July 2025 as a joint initiative from Scottish and UK Governments) which offers tailored careers advice and funded training for eligible workers looking to build the skills needed for work in Scotland’s sustainable energy sectors.

The Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray, which was the source of the £3.7 million funding awarded over 2022-23 and 2023-24 to the industry-led development of the Energy Skills Passport, has been independently evaluated. The report from that evaluation was published in July 2025 and is available here : Final report of the evaluation of the impact of the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray.

The initial version of the industry-led Energy Skills Passport is a tool to support oil and gas workers identify training pathways into key offshore wind roles. Accounts are created by individual workers.

The Energy Skills Passport is an industry-led project, with Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) and RenewableUK (RUK) as the lead bodies.

The latest information available to Scottish Government regarding uptake, which covers the period from launch in January to August 2025, is that around 480 user profiles have been set up on the Passport’s digital system.

For the most up to date figures, we recommend contacting OEUK and RUK directly.

The Scottish Government has supported the initial phases of industry led development of an Energy Skills Passport by providing £3.7 million through the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray over the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24. There are no plans at this time for further funding from the Scottish Government.

We nonetheless remain a close project partner and Scottish Government officials engage regularly on the Passport with the lead industry bodies, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) and RenewableUK (RUK), as well as with UK Government officials.

Following the launch of an initial version by the industry lead bodies in January, the Scottish Government is looking forward to now seeing the Passport develop further and provide more options and pathways for workers to transition between sectors. Success during “phase 2” of the Passport will require it to be fully supported from a range of bodies, including UK Government.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40633 on 7 October 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.

There were no approved change requests to the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray award that altered the scope, cost or timeline of the Energy Skills Passport pilot scheme.