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We are unable to provide this information in the format requested. The various agencies involved in the regulation of aquaculture which includes finfish, shellfish and seaweed sectors, undertake a wide range of duties in relation to aquaculture including governance, policy development, research and supporting Ministers.

We are unable to provide the information requested. The aquaculture sector is governed by multiple agencies in both Scotland and the UK, for example APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency). These agencies provide different legislative functions and charging schemes. The agencies and their respective employees who work on aquaculture undertake a wide range of duties relating to the governance of aquaculture in the round, not only to the salmon sector.

The Scottish Government is currently developing the mandatory planning training for elected members. This includes commissioned research by Planning Aid Scotland to inform the development of the content and roll-out of the training, working with stakeholders in the creation of a training package and piloting and evaluation of the training. This is to ensure the end product meets policy objectives to build trust and confidence in the planning system and to ensure the effective implementation of the mandatory training. The Regulations will be brought forward following the completion of this work, which is scheduled for 2026, to be ready in advance of the Scottish Local Government elections in May 2027. In the meantime, based on a survey that was completed at the start of the year, by Heads of Planning Scotland, a high number of Councillors receive planning training at the local level.

We intend to publish this report in autumn this year.

The Scottish Government wrote to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (RAIC) on 13 March 2025 committing to explore how to gain greater insights into cleaner fish health and welfare outcomes, as part of our overall response to the RAIC’s report on salmon farming in Scotland, and through delivery of our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture. We will provide an update to the RAIC in due course.

Owners and occupiers of land within an SSSI must apply to NatureScot for consent to carry out certain operations. When a planning application is submitted in relation to a development that may affect an SSSI, the planning authority must consult NatureScot and take its advice into account. Should any proposed future use of land require planning permission, that would be a matter for the planning authority to consider under relevant planning legislation and policy.

We are continuing to progress a Nature Conservation Order to prevent further damage to the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as per the answer to question S6W-37759 on 30 May 2025.

ICES statistical rectangle is the finest spatial resolution data that the Scottish Government hold on the number of individual wrasse extracted from an area. ICES statistical rectangles are approximately 30 nautical miles by 30 nautical miles in size.

Loch Sunart is contained within ICES statistical rectangle 42E4 along with other areas of sea. Therefore, it is not possible to deduce the number of individual wrasse specifically taken from Loch Sunart.

Wild wrasse fishing activity is not currently authorised in Sunart Special Area of Conservation.

We have not had any engagement with OSCR concerning the proposed sale of Armadale Castle and estate by the Clan Donald Lands Trust.

Charities and OSCR are independent of government, and so it would not be appropriate for Scottish Ministers to intervene in any complaints that have been submitted.

The Parliament email system receives approximately 700,000 email messages sent to Members every month, and like every modern organisation, the Parliament utilises automated tools to identify and manage unsolicited email messages including ransomware, phishing and spam emails. 

With the automated tools we use we have a high degree of confidence that the email messages identified are spam emails or contain harmful content such as viruses or ransomware. These messages will then be blocked automatically and not delivered to Members mailboxes.  Messages automatically identified as spam email, but with a lower level of confidence are delivered to the quarantine area where they can be viewed and released if appropriate.

The SPCB recognises that releasing quarantined email is challenging for their staff who have delegate access to a Members mailbox due to the way our email system works.  We have raised our concerns with the supplier and our officials are investigating ways of best managing the issue.

While Improving Public Access (IPA) is not currently included in Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) or Tier 3 of the Agricultural Reform Programme (ARP), the historical impact of the scheme is acknowledged, with over £12 million committed to 181 contracts between 2015 and 2022. No final decision has yet been taken regarding the future of IPA grants or their inclusion within the new Tier 3 of ARP. The design of the future rural support framework is still ongoing, and while the focus of Tier 3 will be on delivering the outcomes set out in the Vision for Agriculture, this does not preclude consideration of how access improvements might be supported through alternative mechanisms.