Chamber and committees

In developing policy and introducing new regulations and guidance, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) places an emphasis on engaging with stakeholders, in particular small businesses. In gathering evidence for policy changes, FSS follows the Scottish Government Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) process which requires proposals to be discussed with a selection of businesses. FSS also provides a variety of resources free of charge on its website including guidance and online training from advice to new business start-ups to technical matters such as providing allergen information to consumers and how to apply for a regulated product authorisation.

Food Standards Scotland work in partnership with local authorities, other law enforcement agencies, industry and stakeholders at various strategic and tactical fora, including:

• Food Crime Strategic Assessment
• Tactical Tasking Coordinating Group (TTCG)
• Operational Tactical Assessment
• Horizon Scanning
• Engagement with Industry, local authorities and law enforcement partners
• Investigations
• Disruption activity
• Intelligence development and sharing
• Media awareness
• Food Crime Hotline
• Food Crime Risk Profiling Tool
• Inspections and regulatory controls
• Multi Agency Tasking and Delivery Board
• Scottish Multi Agency Strategic Threat Assessment
• Partners Intelligence Forum
• Food Crime Global Alliance
• European Food Fraud Network

As part of its competent authority role Food Standards Scotland monitors and enforces regulations in marine waters, slaughterhouses, standalone cutting plants, game handling establishments, feed, and wine business, throughout the length and breadth of Scotland, this includes on the Islands and all rural areas where a business is located.

Food Standards Scotland has a range of enforcement actions detailed in food law it can use to address noncompliance. They also have enforcement polices for each sector they regulate promoting advice and best practice with a view to a graduated approach.

All information/intelligence relating to food crime is assessed and, where appropriate, is subject to further investigation or referred to relevant enforcement authorities, e.g. local authorities. Since 2018, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) investigators have undertaken forty-seven investigations of varying complexity into alleged food crime, many of which were conducted jointly with local authorities or with the collaboration of other law enforcement agencies (LEA), with FSS having a lead role.

Of these forty-seven investigations:

• 11 identified fraud
• 4 identified culpable and reckless conduct (serious food safety issues)
• 3 identified animal cruelty at FSS approved premises
• 1 identified breaches of hygiene regulations at approved premises
• 7 proved no crime had been committed

(Note: the above listing refers to the principal crime type as in a number of cases there were multiple crime counts, including statutory food safety offences).

As regards the remaining 21 investigations, these identified regulatory food crime or other related matters falling under the principal remit of local authorities or other law enforcement agencies (LEA including international LEA), which were referred for consideration of further action.

The Food Standards Scotland (FSS) approach to recruitment is consistent with Civil Service rules on open and fair recruitment. A staff Engagement Survey is undertaken every year to understand staff views on working for FSS and that informs their approach to retention. FSS’ current staff engagement score is 72% which places them 5th across the UK civil service compared to organisations of a comparable size and 9th overall. FSS jobs that are advertised either internally or externally are open to Aberdeen residents to apply.

Food Standards Scotland has a statutory duty to improve the extent to which the Scottish population have diets conducive to good health. Their unique position, independent from government, allows them to report and publish evidence to inform policy across a wide range of actions in diet and nutrition.

In 2024 FSS published the Public Health Nutrition strategy which was developed to complement delivery of Scottish Government policy on diet as described in the Healthier Futures Delivery Plan and Out of Home Action Plan. This strategy outlines how improvements to diet in Scotland will be supported, including efforts to reduce levels of overweight and obesity.

Staffing at railway stations is an operational matter for ScotRail. I have been informed that Troon Station ticket office has recently closed on a number of occasions due to staff shortages. The vacancies have now been filled and it is expected that the new staff will take up positions in February and March.

I also spoke with ScotRail management at the official opening of the award-winning refurbished and rebuilt Troon station on 13 November 2024. They confirmed that the new Changing Places facilities at the station would remain open even if the ticket office is closed during operational hours.

Additionally, ScotRail’s passenger assistance service is designed to help those who need support when traveling on the ScotRail network. Our vision is for all older and disabled individuals to travel with the same freedom, choice, dignity, and opportunity as other citizens.

While the Scottish Government remains committed to its vision for an integrated and community-based hearing service in Scotland, re-phasing of funding has meant that not all the challenges we are facing will be addressed in a single budget and therefore there is no community hearing service in operation at this time.

While our response to the Independent Review of Audiology is implemented, we will continue to work with the NHS, Third Sector and private providers to identify and cost an appropriate model of community care for any future service reform, and ensure that the voices of those with lived experience inform this work.

A progress report on the Fair Work Action Plan (FWAP) was included in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) annual report in 2024. It is anticipated that the next FWAP progress report will be published alongside the third NSET annual report later this year. This will provide updates on the FWAP outcome progress indicators, in line with the approach set out in the Fair Work Evidence Plan.

Oversight of the FWAP is provided by the Fair Work Oversight Group who meet biannually to consider progress against outcomes.

While employment law is reserved, the Scottish Government is using the levers we have to strengthen effective voice and collective bargaining, with a focus on low-paid and precarious sectors, including through our flagship Fair Work First policy. Work is ongoing through the Fair Work in Social Care Group to finalise an approach to sectoral bargaining for the adult social care sector. Although complex, once developed and introduced, this will encourage improvements in the terms and conditions of the social care workforce, specific to the roles and responsibilities across this sector.

The Scottish Government is committed to promoting collective bargaining and, despite financial constraints, we continue to provide funding and support to trade unions, recognising their role in advancing fair work across Scotland.