Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government recognises the emerging seaweed industry is growing in scale and can provide a host of benefits to local communities, the environment, and contribute to the sustainable development of a Blue Economy through production of innovative and low-carbon products.

We commissioned research on ' Understanding the potential scale for seaweed-based industries in Scotland ', which was published in February 2022. This report explores the key areas of growth potential for the seaweed sector and the wider economic and social impacts of possible growth scenarios. As a result of this report, and to ensure that the seaweed sector in Scotland develops sustainably, the Scottish Government is funding, in partnership with Crown Estate Scotland, a 3-year business development manager position at the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association to support the growth ambitions of the Scottish seaweed sector.

The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) is the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) for Scotland. Its remit is to promote human rights and, in particular, to encourage best practice in relation to human rights.

The SHRC is statutorily independent and the exercise of its functions is not subject to the direction or control of the Scottish Government. Information about its current programme of work can be sought direct from the SHRC.

The Scottish Government welcomes the SHRC’s investigation and looks forward to the publication of its report.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). The actual fill rate in recruitment rounds 1 and 2 for Acute Internal Medicine ST4, is 100%. The figure of 75%, published by HEE on 17 June 2023, has been superseded by updated data published by NHS Education for Scotland, on 25 July 2023. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). 95.45% is a very high fill rate for Obstetrics and Gynaecology ST1 in rounds 1 and 2 of 2023 recruitment. Within that context there will always be a small number of posts that will not fill. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). 95% is a very high fill rate for Intensive Care Medicine ST3 in rounds 1 and 2 of 2023 recruitment. Within that context there will always be a small number of posts that will not fill. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). 97.14% is a very high fill rate for Anaesthetics ST4 in rounds 1 and 2 of 2023 recruitment. Within that context there will always be a small number of posts that will not fill. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

The Scottish Government has led on rail freight growth, setting the first target of its kind in 2017 for the period 2019 -2024. This was consolidated further in 2023 with a more stretching rail freight growth target of 8.7% for the rail period 2024-2029 (through the Scottish Ministers’ High Level Output Specification) and a requirement for Network Rail to set out a longer-term strategy for growth by 2027. The Scottish Government welcomes the UK Government’s interest in promoting freight modal shift and notes that the target for England and Wales for 2024 -2029 is 7.5%.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). 87.5% is a very high fill rate for Combined Infection Training ST4 in rounds 1 and 2 of 2023 recruitment. Within that context there will always be a small number of posts that will not fill. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

In response to the recommendations of the independent review of aquaculture which were accepted in principle, I established and chair the Scottish Aquaculture Council (SAC) which was convened in June 2022 as a strategic forum to advise Scottish Ministers. It includes representation from the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association, alongside other key organisations with interests in the aquaculture sector and its environmental, economic and social impacts. The SAC has met on 4 occasions to date, most recently in November 2023.

The Scottish Aquaculture Council provided advice on the development of our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture (July 2023), applicable to finfish, shellfish and seaweed sectors. The SAC expects to discuss the developing National Marine Plan at its next meeting.

Our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture sets out the Scottish Government’s long-term aspirations to 2045 for the finfish, shellfish and seaweed farming sectors, and the wider aquaculture supply chain, with the aim of ensuring that aquaculture is sustainable and diverse, and economically viable.

We are committed to improving the efficiency and the coordination of the aquaculture consenting process, while maintaining high environmental standards. We have made progress since Scottish Ministers accepted in principle the findings from the independent review of aquaculture consenting, led by Professor Griggs, and we continue to do so.

As a priority, we established a Consenting Task Group that is focussing its work to identify, pilot and review new measures to streamline the administration of the fish farm consenting processes. This will be subject to an evaluation process and lessons learned may be applicable to processes within other aquaculture sectors, i.e., shellfish and seaweed cultivation.

In addition, Scottish Government has commenced development of a new National Marine Plan, applicable to all sectors and, following the Scottish Government commissioned review of seaweed cultivation, we are funding a Scottish Seaweed Industry Association business development post to consider the sector’s development needs which will help to inform consideration of policy in the longer-term.