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NatureScot Peatland ACTION undertakes compliance checks of peatland restoration projects post completion on a sample basis each year. The latest check of 24 sites identified herbivore impacts (from low to high) linked to deer populations on 5 of these sites with some, limited, reparation required. None of the sites where high damage has occurred have left the overall site at serious risk. High damage is in all cases extremely localised e.g. several square meters within a much bigger site (50ha+).

To manage the risk of deer populations impacting sites, and ensure the appropriate use of public funding, the Peatland ACTION partnership assesses the potential impact that deer may have on all projects prior to issuing grant offers. This includes consideration of a range of associated information e.g. deer population counts and trend data, and deer management plans which cover the area in question. As part of all Peatland ACTION contractual agreements landowners accept the responsibility to repair damage caused by deer across the restoration area. This is not done at a cost to the public purse.

Support for landowners to manage deer is available through the Peatland Training Fund and through the Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme.

The fisheries policy authorities intend to deliver the Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) according to the timescales set out in Annex A of the Joint Fisheries Statement.

The current public consultation on 11 draft FMPs for demersal fish stocks will run for 16 weeks, closing on 11 March 2026. Following the consultation, responses will be analysed and FMPs will be amended ahead of publication later in 2026.

A significant amount of work on the remaining Scottish-led FMPs, including two Nephrops and eight pelagic stocks, has already been completed and consultations will be launched next year.

LFASS is an area-based payment under article 31 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 focuses on providing financial support to farmers operating in areas that face natural or other specific constraints.

The eligibility is contained within The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2010 which were developed and approved by the European Union at that time.

The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) in Scotland excludes farmers and crofters without livestock because the scheme is designed to support active farming activity, defined primarily through minimum stocking density requirements linked to specific types of livestock farming. The Scottish Government has assessed this approach against EU Rural Development Regulation Article 31 and concluded that the livestock-based activity test is consistent with EU rules.

The use of livestock requirement is within the discretion allowed by EU RDRs, to focus support on the predominant and necessary farming systems (grazing) in naturally constrained areas to prevent land abandonment.

Scottish Government remains fully committed to co-developing the future payment framework of the four-tier support system. We will work with our farmers, crofters and stakeholders to ensure we bring them with us on our journey to deliver the vision for agriculture in a way which ensures a just transition to make Scotland a world leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

NatureScot has begun work to carry out a review of the Deer Code and has set up Steering Group to help with this task, the Group began meeting in November 2025. Membership of this group is taken from a wide range of deer experts in Scotland and reflects the spectrum of opinions that exist.

Previously NatureScot published a Commissioned Report: SNH Research Report 1095: Review of compliance with the Code of Practice on Deer Management in 2019 which reviewed compliance with the Code.

As required by the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 (the Act) NatureScot must have regard to Deer Code of Practice when exercising their functions under the Act, including when exercising functions under section 7(1) (control agreements) and section 8(1) (control schemes).

The documentation relating to this case explicitly states that regard was had to the Deer Code when exercising their section 7 functions. This documentation was published at the following link: Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 - section 8 control scheme: Loch Choire Estate - gov.scot.

The 2021 Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out the role of solar thermal technology, which can help to supplement the supply of hot water.

Our Heat in Buildings Programme offers a wide variety of schemes that provide funding to reduce heat demand and decarbonise heat in our homes and buildings. This includes loan support for the installation of solar thermal systems through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme. There are no planned changes regarding the funding for solar thermal systems.

As stated in the answer to question S6W-41965 on 27 November 2025, the Scottish Government intends to adopt the Home Energy Model (HEM) methodology as the basis for calculating the ratings on a domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The reformed domestic EPC will contain a new Heating System Rating. We expect solar thermal systems will largely operate as part of a hybrid system with other technologies. This will be reflected in the rating awarded. Our intended Heating System Rating bandings were published in the updated response: 1. Overview - Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 - EPC reform consultations: SG response - update - gov.scot to the 2023 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform consultation and 2025 technical consultation.

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.

As in the Chief Planner letter dated 27 August 2020, the Scottish Government considers that a battery storage installation generates electricity and is therefore to be treated as a generating station for the purposes of deciding whether Section 36 consent is required. This position has not changed. The letter can be accessed at: Battery storage consents: Chief Planner letter August 2020 - gov.scot.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are calculated in Scotland and the rest of the UK by an approved methodology for both new and existing buildings. The current methodology for assessing new domestic buildings is the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) and for existing domestic buildings is Reduced data SAP (RdSAP).

The presence of solar thermal installations is assessed as part of the SAP methodology and so its installation would improve the EPC rating by reducing the heat required from the main heating system and so reduce the cost of heating hot water. Solar Domestic Hot Water systems can also appear as a recommendation automatically generated as part of an EPC assessment.

As stated in the answer to question S6W-41965 on 27 November 2025, the Scottish Government intends to adopt the Home Energy Model (HEM) methodology as the basis for calculating the ratings on a domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The reformed domestic EPC will contain a new Heating System Rating. We expect solar thermal systems will largely operate as part of a hybrid system with other technologies. This will be reflected in the rating awarded. Our intended Heating System Rating bandings were published in the updated Government Response on 10 October. This can be found at: Supporting documents - Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 - EPC reform consultations: SG response - update - gov.scot.

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.

NatureScot Peatland ACTION does not hold this information. Any costs incurred are funded by landowners not the public purse. As part of all Peatland ACTION contractual agreements, landowners accept the responsibility to repair damage caused by herbivores across the restoration area.

NatureScot have been informed by the Deer Code in every section 7 (control agreement) intervention it has taken since the publication of the Code in 2011, as required under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996.

NatureScot has also had due regard to the Code in undertaking its actions under section 6A (deer management plans) since 2011 and considers it in much of their advisory work with Deer Management Groups, landowners and occupiers as it necessarily informs their approach.

The approach set out in the Code is also used as part of their deer authorisation functions regarding out of season and night shooting.