What is a Public Inquiry?
Work is currently underway to establish a Scottish Public Inquiry to investigate the handling of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Scotland.
The purpose of a public inquiry is to:
investigate events causing public concern
establish the facts...More
This consultation has now closed. A full analysis of responses will be published in due course.
This consultation concerned a legal liability that arises as a result of the Public Health Etc. (Scotland) Act 2008. This Act includes a provision for Health Boards to provide compensation to...More
As part of the National Cancer Quality Programme, Cancer Quality Performance Indicators (QPI's) were developed to drive continuous quality improvement in cancer care across NHSScotland. The Head and Neck Cancer QPIs were first published in April 2014. The QPI's undergo formal review...More
What is a Minimum Income Guarantee?
A Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) is an assurance that no one will fall below a set income level that would allow them to live a dignified life. A MIG can be delivered through employment, targeted welfare payments and also through other types of support or...More
Smart ticketing is an important element of a modern public transport system and is increasingly prevalent in major cities in the UK and in countries around the world. During 2017, Transport Scotland sought the views of stakeholders and the wider public through a consultation into various...More
Since 1997, 21 local authorities in Scotland have introduced decriminalised parking enforcement regimes into their areas. These regimes enable local authorities to administer their own parking policies and penalty charge schemes to control on-street parking.
We believe parking...More
Scotland’s long term climate change targets will require the near complete decarbonisation of our energy system by 2045, with renewable energy meeting a very significant share of our needs. The Scottish Government's draft Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out a pathway to zero emission...More
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are a useful tool to help property owners, buyers and tenants compare information on the energy performance of a property. C onsidering how we use EPCs to regulate and encourage change is a key part of achieving net zero. This consultation forms the first...More
This consultation seeks to obtain the views and opinions of stakeholders on a review of building standards relating to the fire safety of cladding to help ensure the safety of people in and around Scotland's buildings.
The consultation covers five main areas, as follows:
the...More
The Scottish Government recognises that Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland’s heritage, national identity and current cultural life.
The Scottish Government has taken action and has put in place the necessary structures and initiatives to ensure that Gaelic has a sustainable future in a...More
The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 is designed to protect those adults who are unable to safeguard their own interests and are at risk of harm because they are affected by: disability; mental disorder; illness; physical or mental infirmity.Harm means all harm including self-harm...More
Bus Services are an economic and social cornerstone for Scotland. The sector accounts for three quarters of all public transport journeys and is set to play an increasingly important role in achieving a just transition to net zero by 2045. However, bus patronage in Scotland (and the UK) has been...More
The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 (the Act) was implemented in 2008, at which time the Scottish Government published an Adult Support and Protection Code of Practice and also Guidance for Adult Protection Committees (APC). A revised Code of Practice was published in 2014.
...More
The first phase of this study, the Initial Appraisal (Case for Change), was published in March 2021 and concluded that there was evidence for a ‘Case for Change’ within the study area. We are now progressing through the Initial Appraisal stage of this process which involves reviewing the...More
The 'Once for Scotland' Workforce Policies Programme is designed to review and transform existing workforce policies (previously known as Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policies) in line with our vision:
"'Once for Scotland' workforce policies will promote NHSScotland as a modern,...More
This consultation seeks views on the Scottish Government's short-term lets draft Licensing Order and Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA). The Scottish Government intends to lay the Licensing Order at the Scottish Parliament in September 2021.
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Section 7 of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 (“2007 Act”) empowers the Scottish Ministers to approve a code of practice, in whole or in part, in order to give practical guidance to fish farmers, promoting desirable practices with respect to the containment of fish on fish...More
What this consultation is about
This consultation consists of two sections. The first considers changes to how fireworks can be sold and used in Scotland; while the second section considers the use of pyrotechnic devices.
More specifically, Section 1 seeks views on four...More
This consultation seeks views on the Scottish Social Housing Charter. The Charter was introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010, which requires Ministers to set standards and outcomes that social landlords should be achieving for tenants and other customers through their housing activities....More
We are consulting with employees and retail businesses on whether the law should be changed to close large retail businesses on New Year’s Day. A large shop is defined as one with a relevant floor area over 280 square metres (for comparison purposes a tennis court is 260 square metres). The...More
The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 introduced a discretionary power for local authorities to implement Workplace Parking Licensing (WPL) schemes. The Act provides the legislative framework for WPL and confers powers on Scottish Ministers to make regulations in relation to certain elements. This...More
The Scottish Government has heard various calls over the last few years from Local Authorities detailing how they think improvements can be made to the regulations which govern how traffic flows on our roads and streets. Some view the current processes as no longer fit for purpose hence why...More
This consultation seeks views on the impact on island communities of the introduction of free bus travel throughout Scotland for those under age 22 .
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Whether the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) should provide a Further Education Teaching Programme for individuals seeking registration as a further education teacher with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS)
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The Scottish Government, in collaboration with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Welsh Government (WG), Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Northern Ireland (DAERA) and the UK Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, have developed this UK...More
The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 (the 2020 Act) gained Royal Assent on 1 October 2020. The 2020 Act builds on the existing Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (the 1995 Act).
During the passage of the 2020 Act through the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government committed to a full...More
Child contact centres can play an important role in allowing a child to have a relationship with a parent. Child contact centres are safe venues for conflict-free contact between children, parents, and other people in the child’s life.
The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 gives the Scottish...More
We are seeking views and comments from stakeholders and the general public on the draft Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products and Oxo-degradable Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations to inform our work on finalising the regulations.
Why we are engaging
These...More
Local Place Plans are community led plans providing proposals for the development and use of land. Introduced by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 these plans will set out a community’s aspirations for its future development.
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In October 2020, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice announced that the Scottish Government accepted in principle the recommendation made by an independent review panel, that subject to establishing suitable criteria, the Scottish Government should introduce legislation to pardon miners convicted...More