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Following a public consultation (https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/change-to-basis-of-pitch-uprating-consultation/), the Scottish Government has confirmed its intention to update the Mobile Homes Act 1983 to change the presumed basis of pitch fee uprating from the Retail Prices Index to the Consumer Prices Index, for both existing and future contracts.

We also propose to make a further change so that the statistical basis for uprating pitch fees can be amended by secondary rather than primary legislation in the future. Provision for the change was included in the Housing Scotland Bill which was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 26 March 2024 and is currently at Stage 2. No new regulations are being considered.

Through the work of the Scottish Government funded Scotland Food & Drink Export plan, Scottish Development International (SDI) will be organising a learning journey to Saudi Arabia & Qatar for Scottish food & drink companies later in 2025, including those in the seafood sector, who are looking to enter or grow their business in the Middle East region.

The purpose of the mission will be to raise the ambition of the companies and their awareness of the opportunities in these emerging markets, as well as help them to identify routes to market. SDI will be arranging a programme of activity that will include attending in-market events, stakeholder/meet-the-buyer meetings and receptions that will allow companies to showcase their products.

More generally, SDI and Seafood Scotland will continue to work with key partners to monitor any potential emerging opportunities for Scottish Seafood companies in the Middle East.

We are taking decisive action to reduce the number of households with children in temporary accommodation. Increasing affordable and social housing supply is the best way to do this and the reinstated budget of £768 million for
2025-26 will enable the delivery of over 8,000 homes.

Additional investment of £42 million this year has been targeted to five local authorities with sustained temporary accommodation pressures. That funding is to increase the supply of social and affordable homes, including larger properties that are suitable for families, through acquisitions and bringing empty social homes back into use.

The homelessness prevention duties in the Housing (Scotland) Bill will mean people get help to avoid housing crisis and an additional £4 million will be available in 2025-26 to support services to prevent homelessness before it occurs.

Recommendations and key outputs will be made available via a public information document shortly after the study’s conclusion, expected in the coming weeks.

The Scottish Government has provided £8.25m to Seafood Scotland since 2021 in their role as Scotland’s national trade and marketing organisation for the seafood industry. This includes funding to help Seafood Scotland facilitate projects which support export market development. We are also providing £672k in 2024-25 towards the Scotland Food & Drink Export Plan, which is helping the food and drink industry exploit the most significant opportunities for Scotland with a team of Scottish Development International (SDI) food and drink in-market specialists situated in key countries around the globe.

SDI has a dedicated food and drink specialist based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who works to promote and support Scottish food and drink companies, including the seafood sector, to unlock new opportunities and increase their exports to the UAE and the wider Middle East. Seafood Scotland, alongside SDI’s in-market specialist, has also worked with Scottish seafood companies to expand opportunities in the UAE. Examples of upcoming activity include:

• SDI hosting a pavilion at the Gulfood Trade show from 17-21 February 2025, collaborating with Seafood Scotland to showcase and promote Scottish seafood to international delegates.
• SDI hosting a showcasing & tasting networking event at Gulfood for international buyers which will include Scottish seafood, shellfish & salmon.
• Coordination of a learning journey experience to look at specific opportunities for Scottish seafood sales within a group of high end UAE based restaurants.

The SDI in-market specialist is also working with Emirates’ catering and in-flight shopping experience buying teams to promote Scottish products, influence and educate them on the breadth and quality of Scotland’s food and drink offering. Activity is underway to ensure that Scottish suppliers are fully aware of any relevant tenders and opportunities with the airline.

Scottish Enterprise have confirmed there are 8 Scottish Development International (SDI) staff based in the UAE, that operate out of FCDO offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence for 2024, a webpage was launched on the Transport Scotland website that brings together information on the research undertaken by Transport Scotland's programme on women and girls’ safety on public transport. It also references broader work being undertaken in this area by Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government.

The ‘launch’ of the website was timed to coincide with an event organised by White Ribbon Scotland at Waverley Station in Edinburgh to raise awareness of the 16 Days of Activism, which was attended by the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity and received media coverage.

As part of the 16 Days of Activism, Transport Scotland officials have presented at events to promote the research and website, including a cross party meeting on women’s safety on public transport at the Scottish Parliament; and a workshop organised by the UK Government's Department for Transport and the Bus Centre for Excellence in London. Material from these presentations including details of the website have been shared online by the relevant organisations involved.

Since then, Transport Scotland officials have shared details of the website directly with relevant contacts from British Transport Police and Scotrail as well as internally via the Violence Against Women and Girls Policy Forum, attended by over 100 policy colleagues across the Scottish Government. The website will also feature in the latest Equally Safe monthly Bulletin, which is distributed to a wide range of stakeholders from national and local government and third sector, who have an interest in Violence Against Women and Girls and Equally Safe policy. Officials have also shared the website with colleagues in Public Health Scotland with a remit around violence prevention.

Transport Scotland officials will continue to take every opportunity to promote the website via relevant channels.

Communities in Scotland now have more options than ever before to take ownership of land and assets, including several distinct rights to buy, and they can now choose which route to community ownership best suits their aspirations.

The Mobile Homes Act 1983 controls the consumer rights of mobile home owners in relation to their pitch. The terms of the Written Statement, set out under the Mobile Homes Act 1983, include a number of provisions to encourage communication and consultation between residential mobile home site owners and residents. For example, there is a requirement for site owners to provide documentary evidence in support and explanation of fees. There is a requirement for site owners to consult occupiers about improvements to the site in general and in particular about those which the owner wishes to be taken in to account in determining the new pitch fee. There is also a requirement to consult a qualifying residents association, if there is one, on all matters which relate to the operation and management of the site, or improvements to the site, which may affect occupiers directly or indirectly.

Recommendations and key outputs will be made available via a public information document shortly after the study’s conclusion, expected in the coming weeks.