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1005 results

  • The Future of Council Tax in Scotland

    The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) are seeking your views on the future of council tax in Scotland. Council tax is a vital source of funding for local services such as schools, social care, roads, libraries and waste collection. The council tax system has remained largely unchanged since its introduction over 30 years ago. This consultation forms part of a joint programme of work led by the Scottish Government and COSLA which is... More
    Opened 27 October 2025
  • Forestry and Land Scotland Draft Corporate Strategic Plan 2026 - 2030

    Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for managing Scotland's national forests and land. We are launching a public consultation on our next Corporate Strategic Plan which sets out the proposed direction of travel and priorities for our organisation . The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding. Read the consultation... More
    Opened 27 October 2025
  • Permitted development rights to support provision of new homes

    The Scottish Government is exploring whether permitted development rights (“PDR”) can play a greater role in helping to address the housing emergency. This consultation primarily relates to potential PDR changes that might help to address the housing emergency . It also seeks views on measures to support the deployment of heat networks and domestic air source heat pumps . Feedback from respondents will inform the formation and refinement of any proposals... More
    Closed 27 October 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
    Closed 24 October 2025
  • Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Levels for Decriminalised Parking Enforcement

    Since 1997, 23 local authorities in Scotland have introduced decriminalised parking enforcement (DPE) regimes into their areas. These regimes enable local authorities to administer their own parking penalty charge schemes to encourage compliance with on-street parking controls. Parking policies are an essential part of a local authority’s traffic management strategy as they are designed to effectively manage the traffic network, improve and maintain traffic flows whilst... More
    Opened 24 October 2025
  • Enforcement of the Temporary Accommodation Standards Framework

    Scotland has some of the strongest homelessness rights in the world. Having somewhere to call home is a basic human right and housing is one of the most important factors in a person’s quality of life. Anyone experiencing or at risk of homelessness is entitled to help from their local authority, including access to temporary accommodation if it is needed. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that temporary accommodation is of good quality and meets all the needs of the... More
    Opened 22 October 2025
  • Draft Circular Economy Strategy

    The Scottish Government is committed to moving from a linear “take, make and dispose” economic model to a circular economy where materials and goods are valued and kept in use for as long as possible. This draft circular economy strategy sets out the rationale and benefits of a more circular economy within the wider economic framework and describes our overall vision to 2045 and the outcomes that we are working towards. Read the consultation paper . The... More
    Opened 21 October 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
    Closed 20 October 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
    Closed 19 October 2025
  • SSI to add "sex" as a characteristic to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021

    About this consultation This consultation seeks views on new criminal law measures to be added into the hate crime legal framework. The effect of the new measures is to add new protections for women and girls as well as men and boys where behaviour is undertaken displaying prejudice in relation to the characteristic of sex. Executive summary Hate crime is a term used to describe behaviour which is both criminal and rooted in prejudice. T he... More
    Closed 17 October 2025
  • Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 thresholds

    This consultation seeks views on amending the goods, services, works and community benefit thresholds within the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (the Act) . When public bodies buy goods, works or services they must follow certain rules set out in law. Which rules apply to the award of a contract is determined by the value of that contract. Public procurement in Scotland can be broadly divided into three categories, based on the value of the contract: ... More
    Opened 16 October 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
    Closed 13 October 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
    Closed 9 October 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
    Closed 9 October 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
    Closed 8 October 2025
  • Financial transparency and profit limitation in children's residential care

    This consultation relates to provisions made in the Children and Young People (Care and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill , which was introduced to Parliament on 17 June 2025. The legislation is being developed in order to meet the commitments made in The Promise , and to ensure that excessive profits are not being gained through the care of children is an important section of this work. The Promise is clear that there is no place for profiting in how Scotland cares for its children... More
    Closed 6 October 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
    Closed 5 October 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
    Closed 5 October 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
    Closed 3 October 2025
  • NHS Delivery - a new national delivery organisation to lead transformation across our health and social care system

    We are seeking views on our proposals to reform national support and delivery services for our health and social care system. We believe such reform is necessary if we are to be able to provide continuing high-quality health and social care services to the Scottish public in the years ahead. The consultation paper seeks comments on our intention to combine the functions of NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) from 1 April 2026 as a first step in... More
    Opened 1 October 2025
  • Scottish Marine Recovery Fund

    Delivering Scotland’s offshore wind ambitions is critical to addressing the climate and nature crises, and to realising the significant economic opportunities of Scotland’s path to net zero. There is an ambitious pipeline of offshore wind projects in Scotland, with a current reported potential pipeline of over 40GW of offshore wind projects on top of our existing operational capacity. To maximise the delivery of offshore wind in Scotland and fulfil our environmental... More
    Closed 30 September 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
    Closed 29 September 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
    Closed 29 September 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
    Closed 25 September 2025
  • Regulation of fish and shellfish farm deposits

    The Scottish Government Programme for Government 2025 to 2026 sets out the commitment to streamline the consenting process for aquaculture, to improve efficiency, and clarify the consenting process for aquaculture development between 3 – 12 nautical miles. Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are the responsible authority for the regulation of fish farm environmental discharges between 0-3 nautical miles, and Marine Directorate - Licensing Operations Team... More
    Opened 24 September 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
    Closed 22 September 2025
  • Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland

    The Scottish Government wants compulsory purchase to fulfil its potential as a tool for delivering projects in the public interest – one that encourages authorities to make positive and proactive use of their powers, including in partnership with third parties. We want to reform the system to make it simpler, more streamlined and fairer for all parties. Compulsory purchase is a powerful tool. It can help to deliver a wide range of projects – large and small – that would... More
    Opened 19 September 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
    Closed 14 September 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
    Closed 13 September 2025
  • Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations - Dissolution Regulation Amendments

    This consultation gives you the opportunity to provide your views on our proposals to improve the current law on the dissolution of Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (SCIOs) . This would involve making changes to the existing regulations . You do not need to answer every question but, the more information we have, the better we will be able to understand what you feel is needed. The consultation was published on Friday 20 June 2025 and... More
    Closed 11 September 2025
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