Scottish Government consultations

We held a public consultation seeking views on the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP) and associated assessments, as part of the process to update our existing SMP (adopted 2020). The SMP provides the spatial planning framework for the ScotWind and Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG) leasing rounds, and considers the potential environmental, social and economic opportunities and constraints associated with offshore wind development across Scotland and its seas.

The consultation ran from 30 May to 22 August 2025.  During this period, a total of 17 in person engagement events took place around Scotland, with a further three webinars held online.

A total of 304 responses were received, of which 70 were from organisations and 234 were from individual members of the public. A range of organisations responded including offshore wind developers, local authorities, community councils, public bodies and representatives from sectors such as fisheries, nature conservation, other marine energy and tourism and recreation

We commissioned an independent analysis of the consultation responses, undertaken by 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 Government is committed to producing an updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy in 2026. Consultation responses will be used to inform the scope of and implementation measures for the final Plan. A final Island Communities Impact Assessment will be prepared, for publication alongside the final Plan, to take account of specific feedback received from communities on proposed development in their area.

We sought views on how to approach cross-border taxation to support the introduction and effective operation of Scottish Aggregates Tax (SAT). The consultation also invited feedback on a range of issues to inform relevant impact assessments. The consultation opened on 23 June and closed on 18 August 2025. 

Eight responses were received to the consultation from a range of stakeholder groups. These included two individuals and six organisations – comprising a tax professional body, three stakeholders from the primary aggregates industry, and two sectoral interest groups.  

In terms of the direct supply scenarios set out in the consultation, respondents broadly supported the option of a tick box on sales tickets to indicate the destination of materials in a collection scenario. This approach was seen as proportionate despite adding some administrative burden for quarry operators.  

For indirect supplies involving producer-based deliveries, it was broadly agreed that the tax point should be kept with quarry operators for simplicity and continuity with current UK Aggregate Levy practices.  

An exemption option was broadly favoured for over-the-counter sales from middlemen due to their complexity and small scale, though concerns about tax avoidance were noted. Alternative options involving middlemen declarations were viewed as overly burdensome.  

Additional cross-border scenarios were flagged for further review to prevent double taxation and avoidance. 

The views gathered through the consultation activities have informed the development of SAT policy in advance of the proposed introduction date of 1 April 2026. The Scottish Government’s policy position, in response the consultation feedback, is set out in the consultation analysis report. 

The Scottish Government launched its consultation on a Long Term Conditions Framework on 23 April asking a range of questions on the issues that mattered to people with long term conditions and the organisations that support them, to assist in the development of a new integrated Framework. 

Our consultation on a Long Term Conditions Framework took place 23 April – 20 July 2025 and received 371 validated responses – 60% from individuals and 40% from organisations. 

From the responses, 80 % agreed that the Scottish Government should move from a condition-specific policy approach to one that has a balance of cross-cutting improvement work for long term conditions alongside condition-specific work.  The benefits of this were deemed to be: 

• Whole-system, person-centred, holistic, and integrated models of care; 

• Equitable and sustainable access to care, treatment, and support; 

• An increased focus on prevention and early intervention; and 

• An unified approach could be easier to communicate 

The overarching themes from the consultation analysis were: 

• Equitable and sustainable access; 

• Whole-system, person-centred, holistic and integrated models of care; 

• Prevention and early intervention; 

• Tackling inequalities in accessing information, care and support; 

• Access to non-medical services; and 

• Workforce education and training. 

The consultation analysis report will form part of the evidence base that will be used by the Scottish Government to help develop and finalise the Long Term Conditions Framework which will set out principles, priorities, and themes to then guide action.  Insights from work delivered through the existing condition-specific Scottish Government policies will also help to inform an integrated approach. It is expected that the finalised Long Term Conditions Framework will be published by the Scottish Government before the end of December 2025, with the first in a series of action plans published by March 2026.