Chamber and committees

The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 provides the wider statutory framework for sustainable marine planning and management in Scotland. The allocation of fishing opportunities is, however, governed more specifically by section 25 of the Fisheries Act 2020 and by the Joint Fisheries Statement.

The Joint Fisheries Statement requires UK fisheries policy authorities to keep policies on the distribution of fishing opportunities under review. The Scottish Government has done so, including through the Future Fisheries Management programme and subsequent work on the allocation of Scotland’s share of Additional Quota.

That work has considered the role of the Fixed Quota Allocation system and how Scotland’s fishing opportunities can support environmental, social and economic outcomes, including for coastal and island communities. Following consultation, the Scottish Government introduced revised arrangements for Additional Quota, including allocations based on historic track record, targeted support for the non-sector fleet, and a pilot application-based approach for West of Scotland cod.

Separately, the Scottish Government also uses the Economic Link licence condition to help ensure that the benefits from access to Scottish fishing opportunities are realised in Scotland’s coastal and island communities, including through landings into Scotland.

The Scottish Government is considering the timing and scope of further consultation on the allocation of Additional Quota.

We will continue to keep quota management arrangements under review, including longer-term options such as community quota initiatives, to support sustainable fisheries management and the continued contribution of fishing to Scotland’s coastal and island communities.

The Scottish Government's Population Strategy focuses on four key building blocks: a family friendly nation; a healthy living society; an attractive and welcoming country; and a more balanced population.

While the law covering the sale of fireworks is mainly reserved, the Scottish Government has taken steps wherever possible to strengthen the law around access to, and use of, fireworks. The Scottish Government’s most recent legislation, the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022, introduced a package of measures intended to reduce harmful and antisocial use of fireworks and pyrotechnic articles, while supporting the safe and responsible enjoyment of fireworks. Animal welfare matters were considered and the Act introduced new discretionary powers for local authorities to designate firework control zones. In some areas, zones have been used to minimise the impact of fireworks on animals during the Bonfire Night period.

The UK Government has recently launched a consultation on fireworks and pyrotechnics in the UK which can be found at: Fireworks and pyrotechnics in the UK - GOV.UK. Within the consultation animal welfare considerations are referred to and views are sought on a number of issues, including on restricting the availability of noisier fireworks to the general public.

The £340 million funding package to tackle rough sleeping, announced by the UK Prime Minister in July, will be met from within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s existing budget. As the funding does not constitute new departmental spending, it will not generate Barnett consequentials for the Scottish Government.

All households assessed as unintentionally homeless, are considered under the same homelessness legislation and local allocation policies. Access to social housing is determined on the basis of assessed housing need and individual circumstances, and no group receives automatic priority over others. Eligibility for certain housing and homelessness assistance is subject to immigration legislation, which is reserved to the UK Government.

The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that co-operatives make to Scotland's economy and communities. Through the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026, Ministers are required to develop measures that promote and support the development of co-operatives, alongside employee-owned businesses and social enterprises, as part of our wider approach to building a fairer and more resilient economy. We will work with enterprise agencies, delivery partners, and representative bodies to support that ambition.

The latest figures for co-operatives, from 2025, indicate that there are 593 co-operatives now operating in Scotland, with 800,000 memberships and a combined turnover of £2.1 billion.

In terms of support with a particular focus on food production, the Scottish Government has committed to £6M funding over two years for the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme, which funds groups of growers, known as Producer Organisations, to encourage collaboration and increase competitiveness.

The Scottish Government is committed to meeting its obligations under the Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty. Responsibility for the accessibility and affordability of outdoor areas is shared across Scottish Government and a range of other public bodies.

Equality and human rights considerations are taken into account throughout Government with an expectation that the impacts of policies on protected groups, including disabled people and minority ethnic communities are assessed. This is supported through impact assessment processes, stakeholder engagement and the use of equality evidence. Closing the gaps in participation in the use of outdoor spaces is challenging, but the Scotland’s People and Nature Survey (SPANS), commissioned by Nature Scot, has showed some progress in the last ten years with respect to equalities groups and it remains an important priority for this Government.

Registers of Scotland maintains the Land Register, which, together with the older Sasines Register, record who owns land and property in Scotland. The Land Register is map-based and includes the statutory cadastral map. Further information on the cadastral map is available on the Registers of Scotland Knowledge Base.

Scotland’s Land Information Service (ScotLIS), maintained by Registers of Scotland, provides online public access to information on land and property in an accessible map-based format combining information from the Land, Sasines, Crofting and Judicial Registers.

The Scottish Government has not announced any policy to change the Land Register or introduce a different land information system.

International trade is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government regularly engages with the UK Government on trade negotiations and has consistently emphasised that agri-food trade agreements should uphold Scotland’s high animal welfare and food standards.

We have also highlighted the importance of trade to Scotland’s food security. The Scottish Government welcomed the outline UK-EU SPS and Veterinary Agreement announced on 19 May 2025 and will continue to press for Scotland’s interests, including high agri-food standards, to be reflected in future trade negotiations.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting small producers, empowering them to play a key role in delivering our Vision for Agriculture through the Small Producers Pilot Fund. Market gardens are no exception to that, and providing they meet our small producer criteria, can access funding through the £1,500,000 the Scottish Government has provided in capital funding for 2026-2027.

Further to this, the Scottish Government recognises the unique market conditions and the wider benefits of our small edible horticultural producers. The Scottish Government has therefore, commissioned research to fully understand this industry and the challenges that they face. This is expected to be completed in the beginning of 2027.

The use of stop and search is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Officers do an outstanding job to keep communities safe, as shown by the decrease in recorded crime of almost half since 1991 and by the significant progress that has been made in reducing violent crime over the long term.