Scottish Government consultations

We asked for views on a minor amendment to road works legislation. We sought views on the proposal to revoke the Scottish Statutory Instrument which accounts for the target cost of operating the Scottish Road Works Register and replace it with a new Regulation to account for the overall running cost in the 2026/27 financial year. The projected running cost for 2026/27 will increase to £1,192,625 from £1,008,819.

In total, seven responses to the consultation were received, primarily from roads authorities. Brief analysis of these responses is detailed below.

There was strong support for the proposal; six of the seven responses gave support for the proposal. One organisation was not content with the agreed cost sharing matrix developed by the Roads Authority and Utility Committee (Scotland).

In relation to the response in opposition to the proposal, the organisation suggested a different splitting model for future years in addition to opposing the current one.

The consultation responses have been carefully considered, most of the respondents supported the proposal to replace the 2025 Scottish Statutory Instrument. As a result, we will now revoke the Scottish Statutory Instrument, “The “Scottish Road Works Register (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 2025”, and replace it with a new Regulation as proposed. 

On 29th July 2025 the Scottish Government published a consultation seeking views on a draft Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan. Publishing the plan is a commitment under the first Delivery Plan for the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) Objective 1: to accelerate restoration and regeneration. A total of 88 responses were received to the consultation. Sixty-one responses were submitted by organisations, with the remaining 27 responses from individuals. The consultation was structured around the five themes within the draft plan, each of which included a series of proposed objectives and underpinning actions. The consultation sought views on respondents’ priorities for the plan and whether actions should be included in this plan, future plans or not at all. Once respondents provided their views on the five themes, there were also more general questions relating to views on the contribution the plan as drafted would make to accelerating restoration in Scottish coasts and waters, and the overall content.

Analysis of consultation responses was carried out by social research agency The Lines Between. For each theme, the package of objectives and actions generally received good levels of support. The consultation yielded very rich and helpful suggestions for how actions could be implemented. There was also support for the plan as a whole and its potential to accelerate active restoration in Scotland. The main recurrent theme from respondents with critical feedback, was the focus of the plan on active restoration. The Scottish Government Response to Consultation outlines our response to the results of that analysis (including issues raised which we will need to consider as actions within the plan are implemented) and how we have used the outcomes of the consultation to finalise the plan and associated impact assessments. Our response looks first at overall feedback on the draft plan - including overall priorities across the themes - and then the analysis for each of the five themes in turn.

The consultation responses generated a large amount of constructive feedback which will be invaluable in implementing actions within the plan. Based on the feedback provided, we have not removed or significantly amended the existing objectives and actions which were proposed in the draft plan, but have added one action under Theme 1: Restoration opportunities and priorities, to work with nature conservation advisors to identify potential opportunities for active restoration in areas where measures to manage pressures are in place (see more detailed section on Theme 1 below). We recognise that some stakeholders have fundamental concerns about the scope of the plan, in particular the primary focus on active restoration rather than pressure management (or ‘passive’ restoration). We recognise the intrinsic links with pressure management. This is why we have been clear throughout the development of the plan that pressure management is within the remit of the plan where it is needed to support active restoration. Given the significant body of policy work with a focus on pressure management already underway or in development, the actions set out in this plan primarily target active restoration in the first instance as this is an area where Scottish Government has not had a clear policy to date, unlike with pressure management. However, the plan includes a specific action to ensure that pressure management supports active restoration where necessary, and elements of pressure management are a core part of several actions across the plan. Further measures relating to pressure management may be revisited as part of the five-year review cycle of the plan. As we implement the plan we will also continue to link in with wider marine environmental policies.

Our response on this point is covered in more detail in the Scottish Government Response to Consultation. The finalised plan has been published and includes the full list of objectives and actions which will be implemented over the five years covered by this first plan.

We conducted a six-week public consultation, from 19 August and 30 September 2025, to gather views on a Scottish Marine Recovery Fund (MRF) and its associated impact assessments.

This policy outlines Scotland’s proposed approach to establishing a Scottish MRF, as enabled by the UK Energy Act 2023. A Scottish MRF will support developers of relevant offshore wind activities (as defined in the Energy Act 2023) to fulfil requirements to secure environmental compensation.

During the consultation period, two online engagement events were held to facilitate participation from stakeholders and the wider public.

A total of 26 responses were received, of which 25 were from organisations and 1 from members of the public. A range of organisations responded including the Offshore Wind Sector, Environmental NGOs, Public Sector and other Marine Industries.

We commissioned an independent analysis of the consultation responses, undertaken by ABPmer and Arup. This analysis report has been published on the Scottish Government Website.

We have published the consultation responses, where permission has been given, on Citizen Space.

The Scottish MRF, shaped by this consultation, will enable offshore wind developers to discharge their environmental compensation conditions, wholly or in part, through making agreed payment to the MRF. The MRF will then be responsible for delivering the agreed compensation measures.

The consultation will also inform MRF guidance on how the MRF will operate in Scotland and how it can be accessed. 

These proposals are part of wider UK reforms. We continue to work closely with the UK Government to ensure broad, general alignment of the two MRFs wherever practicable.

Finalised impact assessments will be prepared, for publication alongside the final MRF policy and guidance.