Jim Martin Chair Environmental Standards Scotland Ìrean Àrainneachdail na h-Alba Edward Mountain MSP Convener Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee Scottish Parliament Edinburgh EH99 1SP 26 October 2023 Dear Convener, I write to inform you that Environmental Standards Scotland’s (ESS) first set of Accounts and accompanying Annual Report for the 18-month period ended 31 March 2023 have been laid before the Scottish Parliament today, Thursday 26 October 2023, under Schedule 1(12)(1) of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021 (“the Continuity Act”).