Open Consultations
Closed Consultations
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Prison population and penal reform: working towards sustainability
Scotland’s prison population is growing rapidly and reached record levels in May this year, with over 8,600 prisoners being held in an estate designed for 7,805. Scotland is not alone in this. England and Wales are facing similar challenges, as are other jurisdictions, driven in particular by increases in the number of long-term prisoners and longer average sentence lengths. ...
Closed 20 August 2026
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National Strategy for Community Justice: review of 2022 strategy
The National Strategy for Community Justice provides the direction for community justice across Scotland, setting out aims, ambitions and priority actions. In addition to delivering justice, a community justice approach seeks to address the underlying causes of offending behaviour, such as drug and alcohol addiction, and put people on a better path that reduces the likelihood of them...
Closed 20 August 2026
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Herring in the Firth of Clyde: recommending the total allowable catch for 2026
This consultation relates to the 2026 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for herring in the Firth of Clyde. The Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government is carrying out this consultation on behalf of the UK Fisheries Administrations to seek views on the level of the 2026 TAC. Read the consultation paper . The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation....
Closed 8 July 2026
We Asked, You Said, We Did
Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes
We asked
What is your view on the proposal for Clyde herring in 2026?
You said
A range of responses were received, as can be found in the outcome report.
We did
Having considered the best available scientific information, the wider obligations and analysed all responses submitted through the consultation process, the TAC for 2026 has been recommended to the UK Secretary of State at 583 tonnes and retains the existing management measures.
We asked
Whether Scotland should amend the Renewables Obligation to implement BICS and exempt eligible businesses from ROS costs.
You said
Most agreed with alignment across Great Britain but raised concerns about transparency and supplier certainty.
We did
We will proceed with the legislative changes and work with UK Government to support an orderly introduction to the BICS scheme from 2027.
We asked
The consultation was a starting point for a discussion about possible measures that could be deployed to accelerate the build-out of housing in Scotland. Informed by research in this area, and approaches in other administrations, it sought views on four broad options:
- Fiscal measures to encourage timely build out of homes on allocated or consented sites.
- Stronger monitoring of build out rates, with powers to intervene where progress is unreasonably slow.
- Simplifying planning processes for smaller sites, to reduce costs and delays for SME housebuilders.
- Encouraging more diverse housing delivery on larger sites, to increase market absorption and speed up development.
You said
Respondents provided a wide variety of views in relation to options proposed.
102 responses were received from a wide range of stakeholders, of which 89 were from groups or organisations and 13 were from individual members of the public.