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988 results

  • Process for determining electoral boundaries in Scotland

    This consultation will discuss some of the processes used to approve changes to electoral boundaries in the UK and around the world, and ask for your views on which of the models may be a best fit for Scotland. It will also ask whether any other changes should be made as a result of any change to the approval process. Read the consultation paper . The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while... More
    Closed 7 August 2025

  • Supporting Scotland's Transition - Land use and Agriculture

    Between now and 2045 Scotland is aiming to transition to a Net Zero economy. Just transition is how we get to this net zero and climate resilient economy in a way that delivers fairness and tackles inequality and injustice. Land use and agriculture has a vital role to play in achieving that ambition. Alongside other sectors, it has been tasked with reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike other sectors, land use and agriculture has been asked to work on behalf of all of... More
    Opened 6 August 2025

  • Scotland’s Fourth Land Use Strategy

    We are seeking your views on our proposed approach to the next Land Use Strategy (LUS). The proposals are set out in our consultation paper which you should read before answering the questions. The LUS is a document that sets out our strategic direction and vision for sustainable land use in Scotland, and the objectives, policies and actions that will help deliver it. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires Scottish Ministers, by law, to produce a Land Use Strategy every five... More
    Opened 6 August 2025

  • Salmon fishing: proposed river gradings for 2026 season

    We are seeking views on the proposed river gradings for the 2026 fishing season, which have been calculated from the annual assessment of the conservation status of wild Atlantic salmon populations in rivers across Scotland. Read the consultation paper . The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to it while responding. As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come... More
    Opened 6 August 2025

  • Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Research Strategy 2027-32

    The Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) Research programme is a multidisciplinary portfolio of research. It is structured in five-year cycles to enable long term strategic research and provide clarity on research priorities and programme structure. This is a draft version of the 2027-32 ENRA Research Strategy for public consultation. The programme covers a broad range of issues critical to Scotland's environmental and agricultural futures including: ... More
    Opened 4 August 2025

  • 2025 Fatal Accident Inquiry Review – call for evidence

    This call for evidence by the 2025 Fatal Accident Inquiry Review aims to gather views on the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) system in terms of the efficiency, effectiveness and trauma-informed nature of investigations into deaths in custody and the specific barriers that families face in engaging with the process. More information on the review, including the full remit, can be found on the Review webpage Justice: 2025 Fatal Accident Inquiry Review - gov.scot . The Review is... More
    Opened 1 August 2025

  • Clyde Seasonal Closure

    Background Since 2002, a specific area in the Firth of Clyde has been closed to fishing each year between 14 February and 30 April to protect spawning cod. This was implemented by a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) annually until 2009 and on a biennial basis since. Exemptions were previously provided for Nephrops trawlers, creel vessels and scallop dredgers in the area due to their minimal cod by catch. These exemptions were removed in 2022 and 2023 on the basis that research... More
    Opened 31 July 2025

  • Draft Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan

    This consultation is on the draft Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan, the first plan of its kind in Scotland with a dedicated focus on the marine and coastal environment. The plan will work to address the growing pressures on our marine environment and set out how we intend to accelerate marine restoration in Scotland, including identifying actions to help prioritise habitats and locations suitable for restoration. Accelerating active restoration in Scotland’s marine... More
    Opened 29 July 2025

  • Strategic Compensation Policy for Offshore Wind

    The Strategic Compensation Policy for Offshore Wind sets out Scotland’s proposed policy for Habitats Regulations reform for offshore wind. Enabled by the UK Energy Act 2023, the policy proposes to amend the Habitats Regulations for offshore wind to enable a more flexible and pragmatic approach to environmental compensation. The proposals aim to provide new opportunities for investment to conserve Scotland’s marine environment by enabling a more flexible approach to the requirements for... More
    Opened 22 July 2025

  • Northern Isles Ferry Services 4

    Ministerial Foreword I am pleased to launch this public consu ltation on the future of the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract (NIFS4). The ferry routes linking Orkney and Shetland with mainland Scotland are essential not only for local communities, but for the wider economic, cultural, and social wellbeing of the Northern Isles. It is essential that these services are reliable, resilient and delivering to the needs of islanders, businesses and visitors alike and... More
    Opened 22 July 2025

  • Nitrate Vulnerable Zones Action Programme review

    We invite stakeholders to respond to our review of the Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2008. We are reviewing the measures in the current Nitrate Vulnerable Zones Action Programme to evaluate whether they remain sufficient to achieve the aims of the Nitrates Directive. The review considers the latest scientific research and new evidence affecting Action Programme measures - taking account of the variation in agricultural, soil and climatic... More
    Opened 21 July 2025

  • Health: Long Term Conditions Framework

    The purpose of this consultation Many people in Scotland live with the challenges of a long term condition; recently reported as 38% of our population. Long term conditions can impact a person’s whole life: their physical health, mental health, relationships, finance and work. The Scottish Government has a number of strategies and policies in place to improve care and support for a range of long term conditions and condition groups. The approaches taken focus on... More
    Closed 20 July 2025

  • Housing (Scotland) Bill

    This consultation seeks views on how powers within the Housing (Scotland) Bill ("the Bill") could be used to exempt certain types of properties from rent control and the circumstances where rents could be increased above the level of any introduced rent cap. The Bill, as introduced to Parliament on 26 March 2024, creates a power for Scottish Ministers to introduce rent control areas. This would only be done following an assessment of an area’s rents by the local authority and a... More
    Closed 18 July 2025

  • Fees for appeals on non-domestic rating valuations

    This consultation seeks views on the potential introduction of fees for appeals on non-domestic rating valuations. The non-domestic rates system was reviewed in 2017 by the independent Barclay Review which aimed to support growth, improve administration and increase fairness of the non-domestic rates system. The report of the Barclay Review called for reforms to the appeals system to modernise the approach, reduce appeal volume and ensure greater transparency and fairness. A new... More
    Opened 16 July 2025

  • Land and Buildings Transaction Tax: Property Investment Funds

    As part of the 2025-26 Scottish Budget, the Scottish Government committed to bring forward draft legislation in respect of the interaction between Co-Ownership Authorised Contractual Schemes (CoACS) and Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT). Reflecting that commitment, this consultation seeks views on three specific issues focussed on the interaction between investment and devolved tax legislation. More
    Opened 11 July 2025

  • Building Standards: Flooding and groundwater guidance

    The 2018-19 Programme for Government included a commitment to develop a property flood resilience action plan and in December 2018, the Scottish Government published the ‘ Flood resilient properties: framework for Scotland ’. This established the Property Flood Resilience Delivery Group (PFRDG), which was tasked with preparing and delivering an action plan to help property owners take action to make their properties more resilient against the impacts of flooding. As a member... More
    Opened 11 July 2025

  • Developing an ecosystem restoration code for Scotland

    In the 2024 Natural Capital Market Framework, the Scottish Government (SG) committed to supporting the development of an Ecosystem Restoration Code (ERC) for Scotland as a new high-integrity market mechanism that could attract responsible private investment into nature restoration and biodiversity projects. This commitment is being delivered in 2025 via an SG-NatureScot partnership project. SG has published an Engagement Paper which summarises the results of the Discovery Phase of the... More
    Closed 7 July 2025

  • Community right to buy: review

    The Community Right to Buy, introduced in Scotland in 2003, has empowered rural, urban, and crofting communities to acquire land and assets. The Scottish Government is consulting as part of a review aimed at simplifying the process and exploring improvements. The Scottish Government committed to a public consultation on Community Rights to Buy in the Programme for Government 2024 to 2025 . Through this consultation, the Scottish Government wants to understand how these... More
    Opened 7 July 2025

  • A review of Scotland's shellfish water protected area designations

    This consultation is on the on the proposed designations and de-designations of Shellfish Water Protected Area’s (SWPAs), as part of work to meet a statutory obligation. SWPAs are designated zones aimed at safeguarding shellfish waters from pollution, ensuring the sustainable development of economically significant shellfish production. The purpose of the review is to identify areas where it may be appropriate to designate a new SWPA or de-designate... More
    Opened 7 July 2025

  • Qualifications for teachers of children and young people who are blind, partially sighted, deaf, or deafblind

    This consultation seeks to capture views on proposed changes to the guidance on appropriate qualifications and teacher competencies for teachers who teach children and young people who are blind or partially sighted, deaf, or deafblind. The proposed changes take into account developments in sensory impairment education since 2007, with the overall aim of enhancing attainment for children and young people with these specific learning needs. We would like to hear your views on the... More
    Closed 4 July 2025

  • Draft Environment Strategy

    The draft Environment Strategy sets out a holistic framework for delivering Scotland’s role in tackling the global crises of nature loss, climate change and pollution. It brings together the Scottish Government’s existing policy response, highlighting the importance of carefully managing synergies and trade-offs. It builds on these existing policies by outlining new priorities and proposals. These focus, in particular, on opportunities for supporting the economic and societal changes... More
    Opened 3 July 2025

  • Polypharmacy Guidance: appropriate prescribing, making medicines safe, effective and sustainable 2025 - 2028

    Polypharmacy (use of multiple medicines) can be appropriate or inappropriate. Polypharmacy becomes inappropriate when the medication risks begin to outweigh the benefits for an individual, and this is the important area to consider rather than the number of medicines an individual is taking alone. The aim of addressing this is to identify those at greatest risk of harm and to agree a medication regimen that is tailored to their changing needs and expectations, so that the use of medicines... More
    Opened 30 June 2025

  • The Scottish Register of Tartans: fees review

    We want to hear your views about the fees associated with the Scottish Register of Tartans (the Register) . Since 2009, National Records of Scotland (NRS) has maintained and overseen the Register. It is internationally recognised as the pre-eminent repository for the promotion and preservation of tartans. With more than 10,000 tartans, the Register promotes and protects information about one of Scotland’s most recognisable cultural assets. NRS is a non-ministerial... More
    Closed 29 June 2025

  • Support for part-time study and disabled students: Survey for students, potential students, parents and carers

    This consultation seeks to capture views on student support available for further education (FE) and higher education (HE) part-time and distance study; and on the support available for full-time and part-time disabled students undertaking FE and HE study. We are pleased to be taking forward this work as part of our continued commitment to ensure that all students who choose study on a part-time or distance learning basis and students with a disability or long term medical... More
    Opened 26 June 2025

  • Support for part-time study and disabled students: Survey for the Higher Education and Further Education sector, training providers, third sector and interested organisations

    This consultation seeks to capture views on student support available for further education (FE) and higher education (HE) part-time and distance study; and on the support available for full-time and part-time disabled students undertaking FE and HE study. We are pleased to be taking forward this work as part of our continued commitment to ensuring that all students who choose to study on a part-time or distance learning basis and students with a disability, long term medical... More
    Opened 26 June 2025

  • Scottish Aggregates Tax - proposed approaches to cross-border taxation

    The Scottish Government is seeking views on options for approaching cross-border taxation for Scottish Aggregates Tax (SAT). The Aggregates Tax and Devolved Tax Administration (Scotland) Act 2024 (“the 2024 Act) provides for the key elements of a new devolved tax on the commercial exploitation of aggregates in Scotland - the Scottish Aggregates Tax (“SAT”). SAT is intended to replace UK Aggregates Levy (UKAL) from 1 April 2026. This is subject to the successful... More
    Opened 23 June 2025

  • Pathway Action Plans for Invasive Non-native Species

    We want your views on five Pathway Action Plans to reduce the risk of invasive non-native species spreading in Great Britain. What the plans cover The plans focus on stopping invasive species from spreading through: recreational boating and angling - preventing species moving between waterways horticulture - stopping invasive garden plants and soil contaminants spreading zoos - preventing animals escaping from zoos or wildlife parks pets - stopping released or... More
    Opened 23 June 2025

  • Call for input on the future of the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme in Scotland

    The Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme is a legacy EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) scheme. It provides aid to groups of fruit and vegetable growers, recognised as producer organisations, to encourage them to work collaboratively and increase the quality and quantity of the produce they grow. The EU legislation was brought in to domestic law so it could carry on as it originally operated. Since leaving the EU, the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme in... More
    Opened 23 June 2025

  • The Scottish Bus Open Data Consultation

    In 2019 the Scottish Government brought in new primary legislation for transport (the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019), which included new provisions to better define bus open data, and to require it be shared for the new purpose of directly informing passengers (or potential passengers) about services. We believe that bus open data is essential to make travel on public transport more accessible, and to increase patronage of public transport in Scotland. We intend to introduce new... More
    Closed 21 June 2025

  • Herring in the Firth of Clyde: recommending the total allowable catch for 2025

    This consultation relates to the 2025 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 2025 TAC. Read the consultation paper . The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding. The consultation questions are... More
    Closed 20 June 2025
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