The doctrine of prescription serves a vital function in the civil justice system. Negative prescription sets time-limits for when obligations (and rights), such as obligations under a contract, are extinguished. The Prescription (Scotland) Act 2018, when commenced, will make a number of...More
We have been through many months of lockdown, with broad restrictions on everyone’s activities to slow down the spread of coronavirus. We have tried to open up as much of society as we can and this a difficult balance to strike. In recent days we have re-imposed some broader restrictions.
...More
The Energy Consumers Commission has been established to strengthen the voice of energy consumers in Scotland.
The Commission is independent from Government, consisting of representatives with a wealth of experience in national consumer advocacy and advice bodies, academia and local groups...More
The Scottish Government is committed to a plan-led planning system. Development plans form the basis of planning decision-making to enable the right developments in the right locations.
We want the planning system to support the delivery of good quality homes in the right locations. This is...More
In advance of the Scottish Budget 2021-22, the Scottish Government is seeking views on the role of Scotland’s devolved taxes and Fiscal Framework in supporting the COVID-19 economic recovery.
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The 2019-20 Programme for Government made a commitment to consult on ‘enabling joint reporting to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Principal Reporter of all 16 and 17 year olds’ offence cases’.
Ministers have since agreed to widen the consultation to seek views on...More
The purpose of the draft Respiratory Care Action Plan is to highlight the Scottish Government’s vision for driving improvement in the diagnosis, care, treatment and support of people living with respiratory conditions in Scotland.
This draft Plan identifies key priorities and...More
The number of non-surgical cosmetic treatments carried out across Scotland and the UK has risen considerably over the years and continues to do so.
In Scotland, independent clinics run by a doctor, nurse, dentist, dental nurse, midwife or dental care professional and who...More
The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets)(Scotland) Act 2019 recently passed by the Scottish Parliament contains some of the most ambitious statutory emission reduction targets in the world. The transition required to meet these targets will be one of a number of long-term structural...More
We have come a long way since the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 was passed; setting out the rights of parents to be involved and engaged with their children’s education.
This new draft guidance explains the purpose of the legislation and the duties placed upon...More
The UK Digital Economy Act 2017 (“The Act”), Part 5 introduces new information sharing powers to reduce debt owed to, or fraud against, the public sector.
To be able to use the information sharing powers, public authorities (and bodies which provide services to public authorities in...More
The Advisory Group on Economic Recovery has been established by the Scottish Government to provide independent expert advice on supporting the sectors and regions of Scotland's economy to recover from the impact of Covid-19. In establishing this Advisory Group, the Scottish Government has...More
The aim of the Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008 is to protect public health, by monitoring water quality at locations popular with large numbers of bathers; providing public information on that water quality; and taking steps to improve water quality where the necessary standards are...More
A review is being carried out into the way mental health law is working in Scotland. This review was set up by the Scottish Government but it is independent from them.
John Scott QC is leading the Review and wants to hear about your experience of mental health law in Scotland. Your views...More
The Scottish Government is committed to developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy for Scotland, as set out in Protecting Scotland's Future: the Government’s Programme for Scotland 2019-2020, published in September 2019. The strategy will help ensure that Scotland maximises the...More
There is evidence that some payment practices prevalent in the construction industry are a barrier to investment, productivity improvements and growth. Cash retention, where the process is misused or abused, can be one such practice .
The retention system is a long-standing...More
The emergence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the biggest global challenge that humanity has faced for generations.
We want your views on how we overcome the challenges ahead.
On 23 April 2020 we published Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making. This sets out the issues...More
The purpose of this consultation is to seek views about whether the Scottish Government should introduce mandatory measures to control the harvesting of live wrasse for the salmon farming industry.
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The purpose of this consultation is to seek views from individuals and companies including Professional Operators (seed merchants, seed processors, seed packers), Licensed Crop Inspectors, Licensed Seed Samplers, Licensed Seed Testing Stations (LSTS), farmers and interested members of the public...More
European Territorial Cooperation (otherwise known as Interreg) programmes are EU funding programmes that give money to organisations from different countries to work together on a project.
These programmes cover different geographical areas and have different aims. Each of the...More
Improving energy efficiency and reducing the demand for heat in owner occupied homes will play an important part in helping to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and fuel poverty. This consultation outlines proposals to tackle these issues. It sets out details of an energy efficiency standard...More
The Draft Offshore Wind Policy Statement aims to set out the Scottish Government's ambitions for the future of offshore wind policy in Scotland, in light of the recent net zero by 2045 commitment made by the First Minister. The Policy Statement will also set the context for Marine Scotland's draft...More
This updated consultation seeks views on drafts of the 2 statutory inputs Scottish Ministers must make to the Strategic Review of Water Charges for the regulatory period 2021-2027 and key issues arising. The documents are the Principles of Charging statement and the Investment Directions and they...More
On 11 June 2019 the Scottish Parliament passed the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Act 2019 (‘the 2019 Act’). The 2019 Act provides for a deemed authorisation system of deceased organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Scotland. This is more commonly referred to as an...More
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring secure, reliable and affordable energy supplies within the context of long-term decarbonisation of energy generation. Continued growth of the renewable energy sector in Scotland is an essential feature of the future clean energy system and a...More
As part of the joint review of the Scotland – Ireland relationship—a collaborative first for both our Governments—this questionnaire is intended to gather the views of all those interested in how Ireland and Scotland associate, cooperate, and collaborate as close neighbours. Whatever your...More
The consultation on the draft Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill closed for responses on March 17 2020. The Scottish Government thanks everyone who submitted a response.
Around 17,000 responses were received through Citizen Space or by post.
On 1 April 2020, the...More
The decommissioning responsibilities and powers for Offshore Renewables Energy Installations in Scottish Waters transferred from the Secretary of State to Scottish Ministers in April 2017. Until then the UK Government's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy...More
Under the auspices of the Scottish Cancer Taskforce, National Cancer Quality Performance Indicators (QPIs) were developed to drive continuous quality improvement in cancer care across NHSScotland. The Lung Cancer QPIs were first published in December 2012. The QPIs are subject to formal...More
This consultation sets out updated Statutory Guidance to education authorities to support them in exercising their functions in relation to the delivery of early learning and childcare from 1 August 2020. Statutory Guidance was previously published in 2014 to support the implementation of the...More