Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is committed in its Programme for Government to start consultations this year on proposals to improve animal transport legislation. It is expected that these consultations will largely relate to the transport of livestock and horses initially. The transport of dogs and other animals will however also be considered in due course.

The 2020-21 Programme for Government (PfG) stated that over £500 million will be invested in active travel over the next 5 years. The 2021-22 PfG states that by 2024-25 at least £320 million or 10% of the total transport budget will be spent on active travel.

Budget allocations for 2022-23 have yet to be set.

The relevant parties are those who opted in and participated in the appeal inquiry as set out in Appendix 1 of the reporter’s report from 22 December 2016. That is the Park of Keir Partnership as appellant, Stirling Council as planning authority, Dunblane and Bridge of Allan Community Councils, Arnbathie Developments Ltd, and Residents Against Greenbelt Erosion. This is in keeping with the Planning Appeals Regulations (2013).

As highlighted in the 2021-22 Programme for Government, at least £320 million or 10% of the total transport budget will be spent on active travel by 2024-25.

Our primary focus is on reducing waste and increasing the proportion of waste we reuse and recycle. As set out by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport in May 2021 and in the shared policy programme agreed between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party, we will review the role incineration plays in Scotland’s waste hierarchy, including the need for new incineration capacity. To that end, we will appoint an independent chair to oversee the review, with a view to having a chair in place in October. And will update Parliament with a statement.

We intend that the review will prioritise consideration of national capacity requirements for incineration, given the Scottish Government’s ambitious targets for waste reduction. The review will also have scope to consider how emissions from existing incinerators can be reduced and residual heat may be reused; and consider the societal impacts of residual waste treatment, including health and community impacts. The independent chair will determine the detailed shape of the review.

The timeline for the review will be agreed with the independent chair. However, we are aware that the outcomes of this review will be important to inform ongoing discussions around local authority planning decisions and wider investment decisions. Therefore, we aim to begin to invite evidence for the review in November and to review available evidence between December 2021 and March 2022. We will publish the review as soon as possible once the review has been completed.

Currently, there has been no discussion with the UK and Danish Governments on the newly announced Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance. However, Scottish Ministers expect to meet with the Danish Government ahead of COP26 to discuss climate change and other areas of mutual interest.

In line with the Scottish Government’s evidence based approach to policy development, we have committed to undertaking a programme of work and analysis to better understand Scotland’s energy requirements as we transition to net zero and how this aligns with our climate change targets.

Between 1 May 2021 and 31 August 2021, there were 336 landings of wrasse, weighing a total of 36,363kg, recorded by 43 Scottish vessels into Scottish ports. Unfortunately, due to the small number of vessels involved, it is not possible to supply information by creek or week. Summary information on wrasse landings by month is given in the following tables. This information is provisional, based on management information and may be subject to change. Any numbers based on less than 5 vessels have been starred out in the tables below to preserve confidentiality.

Number of wrasse landings by Scottish vessels by month and district, 1 May 2021-31 August 2021.

Between 1 May 2021 and 19 June 2021 Marine Scotland received landing notifications of 18,557 Ballan, 255 Corkwing, 13 Cuckoo, 720 Goldsinny and 274 Rock Cook wrasses. Licence conditions dictate that landings of wrasse are recorded in terms of number of wrasse, by species and per ICES rectangle. This information is provisional, based on management information and may be subject to change.

Number of wrasse landings by Species, 1 May 2021-19 June 2021.

The Minister for Transport will have oversight of Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 actions which are within his portfolio responsibilities.

The Scottish Government has made clear its commitment to maintain or exceed EU standards, including air quality limit values, following the UK's departure from the European Union (EU). This commitment includes ensuring that EU environmental principles continue to sit at the heart of environmental policy and law in Scotland.