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The Operational Delivery Division in Food Standards Scotland has a contingency plan for all meat plants in Scotland. This ensures a continuous service of Meat Hygiene Inspectors (MHIs) and Official Veterinarians (OVs) and to minimise disruption to supply chains during times of severe weather, industrial action, or other extraordinary events.

NatureScot intends to have the report ready for external review by 31 March 2025 and will then send to Scottish Ministers for consideration once the external review has been completed.

The remit of the review includes assessing the potential to apply the principle of full cost recovery to species licensing and this will be included in the review report.

The most common type of schemes funded under Freight Facilities Grant since 2016 has been for the creation and expansion of rail terminals.

The information on potential job creation as a result of an award is unavailable to the Scottish Government as it does not form part of the criteria for an applicant to receive a grant under the scheme.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-32419 on 17 December 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-32419 on 17 December 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

There have been no recent discussions with the UK Government regarding upgrades to the A77 trunk road.

Food Standards Scotland was established in April 2015 as the public sector food body for Scotland, to protect the health and wellbeing of consumers through three objectives set under the Food (Scotland) Act 2015. FSS has a unique

role in government, working independently of Ministers and industry, to provide advice which is impartial, and based on robust science and data. The Act includes a statutory objective to improve the extent to which members of the public have diets conducive to good health.

Since 2015 FSS have advised government policy regarding dietary improvements as outlined in the following Board papers which are published here: Board meetings | Food Standards Scotland.

A number of the recommendations outlined within the Board papers have been incorporated into Scottish Government policies and action plans including the Diet and Healthy weight delivery and Out of Home action plans. An overview of their public health nutrition strategy is available here: Public Health Nutrition Strategy | Food Standards Scotland which sets out their approach to addressing the statutory objective to improving the diet. It signals a greater focus on measures to influence the food environment supporting healthier and more sustainable options for consumers.

The Solway Cost and Marine Pilot Project (SCAMPP), business justification case was assessed by the Scottish and UK Governments using HM Treasury Green Book guidance. Appropriate due diligence was undertaken and, following further work by the project development partners to clearly articulate its economic and environmental benefits and demonstrate value for money, it was endorsed by Scottish and UK Government on 20 February 2025. This will allow the research element to proceed.

The Scottish Government draws on the best available international evidence when developing policy, including considering the effects of public health legislation in other countries such as Ireland.

The Scottish Government is a member of the British-Irish Council Drug and Alcohol Work Sector. The Scottish Government engages with officials from Ireland and the UK nations as part of that Work Sector to discuss policy developments including in relation alcohol harm.