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The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a moratorium on data centres.

The environmental implications of all developments which require planning permission are considered through the planning process, and all proposed developments are considered on their own merits. In cases where a proposal is likely to have a significant environmental effect, these powers are further supplemented by the procedures set out in environmental impact assessment legislation. National Planning Framework 4 makes clear that significant weight will be given to the global climate and nature crises when considering all development proposals. We continue to review emerging evidence on energy use, resource implications and good practice in the operation of data centres.

The Scottish Government previously received an information request under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, for the following:

“All documents, records, assessments, briefings, reports, emails, and meeting notes created, held or considered by the Scottish Government in relation to the decision to remove email as a method for members of the public to submit representations on energy consent applications, and to require use of the Energy Consents public portal for public submissions.”

Our response has been published and can be found at the following address:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202600502867/

It is also important to distinguish between the different roles and relationships in the Section 36/37 consenting process.

Developers, or applicants, have an ongoing working relationship with the Energy Consents Unit throughout the application process. They are required to pay fees, provide additional information, respond to queries, submit technical reports, and engage in iterative dialogue about their applications. This necessitates direct communication channels.

Statutory consultees are public bodies and agencies with specific statutory duties to provide expert advice on applications. Their consultation responses are part of an ongoing professional dialogue and often require discussion and exchange, which again necessitates direct communication channels. It should also be noted that whilst not statutory consultees by definition, we engage Community Councils during this period and through this mechanism.

Members of the public making representations are exercising a right to submit views on applications during a defined consultation period. This is a different type of engagement from the ongoing professional relationships described above. The portal and postal routes are designed specifically for this purpose: to capture representations during the public consultation period in a standardised, accessible, and compliant manner.

Ultimately, these are different functions with different needs. The distinction is based on the nature of the engagement, not on favouring one category over another. Members of the public retain the same right to participate in the decision-making process, it is only the submission method that has changed.

The Scottish Government previously received an information request under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, for the following:

“All documents, records, assessments, briefings, reports, emails, and meeting notes created, held or considered by the Scottish Government in relation to the decision to remove email as a method for members of the public to submit representations on energy consent applications, and to require use of the Energy Consents public portal for public submissions.”

Our response has been published and can be found at the following address:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202600502867/

The decision to transition from email-based submission to a structured digital portal was taken to address operational, legal, and service improvement objectives. This included responding to longstanding public feedback about delays in the publication of submitted representations.

Complaints from developers about the number of public representations being submitted were not a consideration of the decision to transition from email-based submission to a structured digital portal. The decision was taken to address multiple operational, legal, and service improvement objectives.

No discussions have taken place to consider reinstating email as a valid method of submitting public representations since the Energy Consents Unit introduced its improved portal functionality on 16 January 2026.

The regulation of veterinary medicines is a reserved matter for the UK Government. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for market authorisation of antibiotics and undertaking appropriate monitoring. It also publishes sectoral antibiotic sales and usage figures annually in its Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance Sales and Surveillance (VARSS) Report.

VMD works in partnership with various animal sectors to develop, facilitate and coordinate antibiotic usage data collection systems. These data are reported on a voluntary basis and, for salmon farming, cover both freshwater and marine production. Data is collected by Salmon Scotland representing 100% of the salmon farming sector. Recently Salmon Scotland discovered an error in their 2024 return which was swiftly corrected and is now reflected in the VMD’s 2024 report.

For the purpose of environmental protection, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) places licence conditions on marine fish farm operators to record and report antibiotic treatments to SEPA, including the product and volume used. Figures for 2024 remain unchanged.

Figures published by SEPA and VMD are inherently different as they each report on different phases of production.

Scottish Government confirmed that Salmon Scotland identified an error in its 2024 antibiotic usage figures submitted to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and that it would correct the public record and in future introduce additional verification of their antibiotic usage data collection and reporting system.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44092 on 11 March 2026. 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 question S6W-44092 on 11 March 2026. 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.

The Scottish Government agrees that it important for every young person to be aware of, understand and actively use their access rights and responsibilities.

The Curriculum for Excellence is a broad framework rather than a set of specific topics of study prescribed to all schools which means that it is not possible to prescribe specific topics. However, as indicated in Professor Higgins’ comments to committee, the curriculum framework includes an entitlement to Learning for Sustainability (LfS), which covers outdoor learning, sustainable development education and global citizenship. This provides opportunities for teachers to cover a range of sustainability themes, including the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC).

NatureScot has developed a SOAC Education Resource Pack for schools, containing educational activities that can be adapted for all age groups. The landing page for the resources includes a professional learning session with Education Scotland.

Further information on Learning for Sustainability is available at:

https://education.gov.scot/resource-themes/learning-for-sustainability/

Further information on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code Activity Education Resource Pack is available at:

https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/act-and-access-code/education-resources

The Scottish Government draft Budget 2026-27 put in place a new annual £50m package of Whole Family support that will wrap around families and help to break the cycle of poverty. This will further enhance existing support and includes £20m for third sector organisations. Details of how the funding will be allocated will be published in the third Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan in March.