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The Principles for Just Trade state that trade should be democratic, work in the public interest and do good.

This is consistent with the Scottish Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy.

The UK Government and the European Commission that trade agreements must not adversely affect the delivery of public services, or lower standards or limit the Government’s right to regulate in the public interest.

Since the vote to leave the EU, the UK Government’s approach to withdrawal has seemed to reject the principles of devolution, and the sharing of decision making across these islands. We will continue to challenge this approach and to promote the best possible outcome for Scotland.

We will seek to represent Scotland’s interests internationally and to ensure that these interests are met in future discussions.

The Scottish Food Commission are holding a Summit on 28 September to seek stakeholders views on the content of the consultation for the Bill. The consultation is on track to be published as planned at the end of 2017.

The Scottish Government published the Marine Litter Strategy in 2014 with over 40 actions to reduce the amount of litter entering our seas, including plastic pellets or 'nurdles'. The Marine Litter Strategy Steering Group is meeting 7 September 2017 and the subject of nurdles has been added to the agenda at the request of one of the members Fidra. Fidra runs The Great Nurdle Hunt and promotes Operation Clean Sweep, an international programme designed by the plastics industry to prevent the loss of material by those who make, ship and use nurdles. Marine Scotland chairs the Steering Group and it will work with the group to agree actions to promote this programme with relevant organisations in Scotland.

Scottish Water has no current experience or technologies in place to separate out and treat microplastics, microbeads or micro fibres from the organic content on an operational scale and at reasonable cost.

Land Use Strategy Policy 7 encourages the further development of the regional land use partnership approach. It also recognises that further work is required to clarify a range of issues relating to regional partnerships and proposes that a limited life expert group be established to provide advice. We are considering possible approaches to securing expert advice on a number of issues related to any next steps for the regional land use partnership approach.

Article 7 of the EU Habitats Directive makes provision for the application of Article 6 (2), (3) and (4) of that Directive with the effect of superseding the requirements of Article 4(4) of the EU Birds Directive for Special Protection Areas (SPAs). The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 make the necessary provisions for the protection of European Sites.

In relation to any proposed development at Coul Links, it would be the responsibility of the Highland Council, on receipt of a planning application, to consider all significant environmental effects likely to arise from a proposed development prior to making a decision whether to grant planning consent and whether any conditions would be attached. Scottish Planning Policy (available at www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/06/5823/7) describes the circumstances where proposed development might affect SPAs.

Any guidance produced in relation to regional land use partnerships will take into account all relevant policy.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has yet to denotify any part of the Foveran Links Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). SNH will undertake a review of the impact of the golf course on the scientific interest of the SSSI as part of its periodic consideration of impacts of developments on SSSIs across Scotland. Only after this review will consideration be given to whether any action to denotify part or all of the SSSI is required.

In relation to the Loch Fleet SSSI, it would be the responsibility of the Highland Council, on receipt of a planning application, to consider all significant environmental effects likely to arise from a proposed development prior to making a decision whether to grant planning consent and whether any conditions would be attached. Scottish Planning Policy (available at www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/06/5823/7) describes the circumstances where proposed development might affect SSSIs.

The Scottish Government commissioned Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to scope the potential to develop a strategic vision for the uplands, which was a proposal in The Land Use Strategy 2016-2021. SNH submitted its report, Scoping a Strategic Vision for the Uplands, to the Scottish Government earlier this year and the report was published in July 2017. We are considering the content of the report and its recommendations and will respond in due course.

Ash lagoons on industrial sites such as Longannet are authorised through the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012. The license for Longannet set conditions requiring the operator to minimise the emission of dust to the atmosphere and to provide dust suppression water spraying equipment. The site specific measures for doing so are detailed in their management plan. This plan has been updated since the dust events of April/May 2017.

General guidance on Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and landfill regulation are available on SEPA’s website. https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/waste/landfill/#two