Seòmar agus comataidhean

Regulation of veterinary medicines is a reserved matter for the UK Government. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for enforcing Veterinary Medicines Regulations and undertaking appropriate monitoring in fulfilment of their regulatory duties.

Antibiotics are only prescribed by veterinarians and must be used responsibly where required for the health and welfare of farmed fish, as legally required under the reserved Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013.

Scotland participated in the development of the UK’s 20 year vision to contain and control antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by 2040, and is committed to delivering the strategic outcomes of the 2024 – 2029 National Action Plan, through a national implementation plan. This includes a commitment to support operators to protect animal health, including aquaculture, and reduce the need for antibiotics.

The Scottish Government is committed to the “One Health” approach of the 20 year AMR vision, which recognises human health is linked to the health of animals, plants, the environment and food. The VMD monitors levels of antimicrobial resistance in animals which is combined with data regarding levels of antimicrobial resistance detected in humans as part of this One Health approach.

Our current focus remains on supporting local authorities to meet their statutory duties, including under Part 8 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and the associated statutory guidance.

Responsibility for raising public awareness of Common Good assets, their registers and decision-making processes lies with local authorities.

Under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, councils have statutory duties to establish, and maintain a Common Good Register and ensure members of the public can access the Register free of charge. Any decisions relating to proposed disposals or changes of use of common good land must be published by the council and representations should be sought from specified bodies.

Councils must have regard to Scottish Government guidance designed to improve transparency and community involvement. This includes the 2018 Community Empowerment and Common Good Property Guidance for Local Authorities.

The Scottish Government supports the work of the Scottish Land Commission in promoting good practice and transparency. The Commission’s work includes the development and maintenance of the Land Rights and Responsibilities Protocol on Common Good land, developed to support local authorities in managing Common Good assets consistently and engaging communities in decision-making.

There is an opportunity for Scotland to become a leader in green data centres given our capacity to generate energy from renewable sources.

The Scottish Government recognises the longstanding importance of Common Good assets and the need for a clear and effective framework for their governance. We note the Scottish Land Commission’s publications on Common Good which explore options for reform of the legislative framework.

With the exception of the Scottish Government’s statutory consenting function, issues relating to the design and operation of the electricity networks, including the process to obtain a grid connection, are reserved matters.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting local authorities to ensure the proper management and governance of Common Good assets within the framework of their statutory responsibilities.

Under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, councils must have regard to any guidance issued by Scottish Ministers in relation to the management and use of property that forms part of the common good. This includes the 2018 Community Empowerment and Common Good Property Guidance for Local Authorities. The Scottish Land Commission’s protocol also provides good practice principles for local authorities to consider.

Decisions on applying guidance and protocols rest with individual councils, and any concerns about a council’s handling of Common Good matters should be raised through its established complaints process.

The budget invests over £2.4bn in post school education and skills and reinforces our steadfast commitment to free education. It includes a significant real terms increase in our investment in Scotland’s College and University sectors so that people of all ages have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, while also ensuring that priority workforce needs are met.

The Scottish Government is working to identify a shortlist of sectors for focused skills planning. Beginning in February, my officials will engage employers, colleges, universities, and regional partners to help refine this work. We will also share further details with the Education, Children and Young People Committee, including our emerging findings. Our intention is to formally publish this work in the Spring.

Section 315 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 provisions are already in force which allows a local authority to take forward byelaws for the standard of accommodation for seasonal workers within its area should it decide it is the most appropriate route for its local area.

All mortality data collected by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to Scottish salmon farming is already made public on Scottish Government and Scotland’s Aquaculture websites, resulting in a high level of transparency and more data being available for salmon farming in Scotland in comparison to other farming sectors.

A formal assessment of impacts of data collection has not been undertaken. However, additional data is not required for regulation and its provision would generate data collection, handing and processing by producers at both a site and company level, as well as by the Scottish Government’s Fish Health Inspectorate, and this is disproportionate to the regulatory need.