The Scottish Government has committed to replacing Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) with Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) on a like-for-like basis. Given the significant number of clients who will be transferred to Social Security Scotland with this benefit and the need to ensure a safe and secure transition, the focus of this consultation is around gathering evidence on people’s views of the current benefit and considering how we could improve the system already in place.
...More
Scotland’s sea fish quotas are a national asset, and this consultation seeks your views on how the Scottish Government should allocate a portion of this national asset – what is termed Additional Quota (“AQ”).
Scotland has AQ following the implementation of the Trade & Co-Operation agreement (TCA) between the UK and the EU after the UK left the EU on 1 January 2021.
The Scottish Government’s Future of Fisheries Management (FFM) body of work , sets out an intention to...More
The purpose of this consultation is to set out the Scottish Government’s final proposals for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform and to seek stakeholder views ahead of the introduction of new legislation.
We are consulting on reforms to both domestic and non-domestic EPCs. The content, methodology, and policy environment for the two types of EPC are very different. Neither the metrics nor methodology can be compared, as described later in the consultation. However, we...More
Independent hospitals have been regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) since 1 April 2011 and from 1 April 2016, independent clinics where services are provided by a medical practitioner, dental practitioner, registered nurse, registered midwife or dental care professional have also been regulated by HIS.
Following a consultation in early 2023 on various aspects of the regulation of independent healthcare services, we intend to amend current regulations in order...More
Given the importance of sandeel to the wider ecosystem and the subsequent benefit in aiding long-term sustainability and resilience of the marine environment, it remains an overarching Scottish Government position, which is reflected in Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy , not to support fishing for sandeel in our waters. For this reason, the UK, supported by the Scottish Government, has not allocated sandeel quota since 2021.
There are several measures in place for the...More
Following the publication of the Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) Strategy on 1 December 2023, the Scottish Government has gathered evidence on the effectiveness of environmental governance.
The evidence gathered has helped to inform the Report into the Effectiveness of Governance Arrangements, as required by section 41 of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021 .
The content of this consultation is...More
The Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture , published in March 2022, outlines our long term vision to transform how we support farming and food production in Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. As outlined in the Agricultural Reform Route Map , the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that tenant farmers, smallholders, crofters, new entrants and land managers are effectively enabled to exercise their essential role in making our...More
This is a consultation on proposals regarding a definition for ice wine and changes to permitted oenological methods.
The first proposal is to amend retained EU law (REUL) relating to the marketing of wine to introduce rules that will regulate how products marketed as “ice wine” must be produced, which will include a definition of ice wine.
The second proposal is to amend REUL to update the lists of approved oenological processes, practices and...More
In Scotland, a Ministerial Working Group was set up following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower in 2017, to review building and fire safety regulatory frameworks. The Group commissioned two reviews of building standards; one to cover compliance and enforcement and the other fire safety. The Review Panel on Building Standards Compliance and Enforcement identified the need for improving aspects of the building standards system (covering procedural compliance, built compliance and enforcement...More
Scotland is a modern, inclusive nation which respects, protects, and fulfils all internationally recognised human rights. We have made great strides in our collective human rights journey and have committed to go further through a new Human Rights Bill that will incorporate international human rights standards already signed and ratified by the UK into domestic law in Scotland.
Embedding international human rights in Scotland will further emphasise the importance of all...More
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) is a Non-Departmental Public Body, set up under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 , with statutory public protection functions to regulate social service workers and to promote their education and training. They protect the public by registering over 160,000 social work, social care and early years workers (as of April 2023); setting standards for their practice, conduct, training and education and by supporting their...More
This consultation is seeking views on topics related to wildlife management and the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill ("the Bill").
It is set out in 2 parts. Part 1 relates to the use of snares and cable restraints in Scotland and Part 2 addresses matters relating to the powers of Scottish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (“Scottish SPCA”) inspectors. You can complete both sections in the consultation or only the section which is of...More
This consultation seeks views on proposals to introduce new licensing regulations in Scotland covering a range of animal-related activities when carried on in the course of a business. The consultation also seeks views on proposals to licence greyhound racing in Scotland, and replace existing legislation covering animal boarding (including day care) and riding establishments, replacing it with updated licensing requirements.
Read the consultation paper
More
Since 2001, a specific area in the Firth of Clyde has been closed to fishing each year between 14 February and 30 April, in order to protect spawning cod. The Scottish Government has responsibility for the closure via a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI). Prior to 2022 exemptions were provided for Norway lobster trawlers, creels and scallop dredgers due to the low amounts of cod that they catch. However, in 2022, these exemptions were removed due to the disturbance that these fishing methods...More
The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA - on behalf of local government) are inviting responses to this consultation on a fairer council tax system, which concerns the council tax charges (also referred to as multipliers) for properties in valuation bands E to H.
The present council tax system is perceived by some as unfair and regressive because it levies a higher tax rate on lower value properties, and a lower rate for higher value...More
Digital connectivity is changing the way we work, do business and deliver public services. We want to ensure that new build homes are built with future proofed connectivity. To support this ambition the proposals outlined in this consultation will amend building standards with a consistent approach requiring developers to ensure that:
all new build homes are installed with the gigabit-ready physical infrastructure necessary for gigabit-capable connections
a...More
We want to hear your views on the Statutory Guidance that will be issued by the Scottish Ministers to accompany the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019. Specifically, we would like to hear whether the guidance is clear and readable and enables you to understand the duties placed on relevant organisations by the Act.
About the Act
The requirements of the Act will take effect from April 2024. The aims of the Act are to enable safe and high quality care and improved...More
This consultation is about guidance on effective community engagement in the local development planning process. It is for planning authorities and communities. The guidance forms part of the Government’s work on reform of the planning system and implementation of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. It supports the new approach to local development planning on which further new regulations and guidance are available.
Read the consultation paper and impact assessments .
More
We are seeking views on the proposed river gradings for the 2024 salmon 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
More
Read the consultation paper
This consultation is seeking views on a range of topics and proposals related to biodiversity and tackling the nature emergency in Scotland.
It covers three parts of the Biodiversity Strategic Framework:
The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy which sets out our vision to halt and reverse biodiversity loss;
The first five-year Delivery Plan which contains the actions to deliver the vision; and
The proposed Natural Environment Bill which will...More
Ministerial Foreword - Jenny Gilruth MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
British Sign Language (BSL) is a vibrant and important language, with its own grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. It is a language that enables many Scottish Deaf and Deafblind citizens to learn, work, be creative and to make their contribution to our communities, our culture, and our economy. We are committed to making Scotland the best place in the world for BSL users to live, work, visit and...More
Somebody, somewhere is making decisions on your behalf. Democracy Matters conversations have already started to explore whether far more of these decisions could be made by communities themselves. This is a key and connected part of the wider Local Governance Review which is looking across all of Scotland’s vital public services to consider how power and resources should be shared between national and local government.
Read the full discussion document
Read the easy...More
The Scottish Government is carrying out a review of permitted development rights (PDR) as part of our wider planning reform programme. The PDR review is being taken forward in phases, with each phase focussing on specific development types. Phase 3 of the review considers PDR in relation to renewables equipment, thermal efficiency improvements, development by electricity undertakers, reverse vending machines and the temporary use of land for shooting ranges. Read the consultation paper
More
Local authority members (i.e. councillors) take strategic decisions that affect all our lives. They decide how best to use taxpayers’ money and manage local authority resources, including property, land and assets. They also have a leading role to play in building and preserving a society where the rights and freedoms of individuals are respected.
It is vital, therefore, that they have the trust of the communities they serve.
The Scottish Government considers that there should be...More
There is increasing global consensus around the urgent need to address the interlinked crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.
The natural environment underpins our economy and our society. It affects our jobs, our health, the food we eat and the water we drink. It supports food production and security and provides the blueprint for many modern medicines. Healthy biodiversity prevents soil erosion, purifies water and helps prevent and mitigate flooding. Nature...More
The Scottish Government has been working to improve parking legislation in Scotland in order to tackle the impact of inconsiderate and obstructive parking and ensure that our roads and pavements are accessible for all.
As part of this work, the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 bans pavement parking, double parking and parking at dropped kerbs, and gives local authorities the relevant powers to enforce these new provisions. The Act also gives local authorities the power to exempt footways...More
This paper sets out Scottish Government's directions to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) on the application of a new EQS for EmBz. This ensures that SEPA exercise its regulatory and river basin management planning functions. Emamectin benzoate is widely used in the fish farm industry to control sea lice in marine finfish farming.
The new standard for EmBz is lower than the standard SEPA has used previously to set discharge limits for marine finfish farms. We are...More
This consultation is seeking views and comments on the draft local living and 20 minute neighbourhood planning guidance.
The guidance is intended to assist and support local authorities, communities, and others with an interest in local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods. It is expected to be of particular relevance in the preparation of Local Development Plans (LDPs), Local Place Plans (LPPs) and to support planning decision making.
National Planning Framework (NPF4) ...More
Our aim is for everyone in Scotland to live in safe, secure and warm homes. We want your views on how local taxation and existing housing can help achieve this. Your responses will help inform policy development and what actions we take next.
The consultation asks whether councils should have additional powers giving them discretion to:
charge up to 100% premium (double the full rate) on council tax for second homes
charge more than 100% premium on...More
We wanted to hear your views on what a new National Events Strategy should look like. We asked a series of questions in the consultation paper and held a number of workshops. Your answers to these and more generally feedback from individuals and organisations are helping to inform the final Strategy.
Both the on-line survey and regional engagement workshops led by VisitScotland had a crucial role in providing information on which the analysis was based. All of the...More