Chamber and committees

Marine Directorate officers do not record how many boxes of fish they physically check. When undertaking a monitor of a vessel, officers are expected to assure themselves that the quantities landed are consistent with quantities declared. Where species are sorted and landed together, officers are required to undertake sample checks by physically inspecting containers to check that all fish is the same species and correctly recorded. Where fish is not sorted and landed by species, officers are required to inspect each box.

The Scottish Government publish Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics. In the latest publication, supplementary table 19 details the Tonnage and value of landings by foreign vessels into Scotland by main species 2018 to 2022. See Supporting documents - Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

In 2023, Coastal officers carried out 177 inspections from 266 non-UK vessel landings into Scotland, or 67%. Routine inspections by Coastal officers include document checks, box counts, species identification and assurance sampling checks of catch landed. The level of sample checks will depend on risk, which considers the likelihood and impact of an infringement.

The Scottish Government publish Enforcement Data which details the number of inspections by nationality. Marine and fisheries compliance: boardings of vessels in Scottish waters - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) The latest period will shortly be published. The Marine Directorate has observed 421 inspections of non-UK landings between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2024.

The Scottish Government does not make estimates of the percentage of fish transported out of Scotland without appropriate landings documentation, this is because no vessel would be given authorisation to land without appropriate Port State Control authority, a condition of which is that all documentation is correct. All non-UK vessels landing into Scotland are subject to documentation checks prior to landing.

The specification of the review of the Highlands and Islands Air Discount Scheme has yet to be determined. The review will, however, include consultation with scheme members and other stakeholders.

I fully appreciate the need to get bookings released in good time so that businesses and individuals can plan ahead. Bookings for dates beyond 31 December 2024 will be opened as soon as possible.

The Scottish Government has not held any discussions with the General Teaching Council for Scotland regarding the establishment of a national standardised system for disciplinary or investigative procedures regarding teachers.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), as the Independent Professional and Regulatory Body for teachers in Scotland, has a published Fitness to Teach process at https://www.gtcs.org.uk/fitness-to-teach which sets out how the GTCS will investigate serious concerns about teachers.

The Scottish Government takes the potential impact of use of chemicals on public health and the environment very seriously. We continue to support the regulatory decisions taken to restrict the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, including thiamethoxam which is used in Cruiser SB, due to their environmental effects, particularly on bees and pollinators.

Pesticide products authorised for use in Scotland are tightly regulated and are subject to thorough analysis by the Chemicals Regulation Division of the Health and Safety Executive before authorisation to demonstrate that the product is effective and poses no unacceptable risks to people, animals or the environment.

The Scottish Government is analysing landings and liaising with industry in order to understand the impact of the new economic link licence conditions and keep the policy under review.

It is our intention to produce an update on the impact of the changes later this year. However, analysis of provisional landings data for 2023 indicates that the policy change has succeeded in driving up the share of landings for pelagic stocks into Scotland and Shetland in particular.