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The Scottish Government has long committed to increasing the proportion of Scotland's key fish stocks landed into Scotland to strengthen economic benefits for coastal communities and safeguard processing capacity. As a result of processor calls (following the publication of pelagic TAC advice for 2026) for support in light of exceptional quota cuts for mackerel and herring in 2026, the Scottish Government engaged in a process to evaluate if action was in the public interest.

Marine Directorate held targeted discussions with processors, individual catching businesses, port authorities and representative bodies and carried out analysis of landings and socio-economic evidence to understand impacts and options. A series of statutory impact assessments were produced, including a Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), which can be found here:

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436347 - BRIA

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436330 - Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436323 - Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436316 - Consultation Outcome Document

The (BRIA) sets out that Scottish Government intervention is being introduced to increase the proportion of mackerel and herring landed into Scotland during 2026. Without action, landings into Scotland will decrease significantly (a drop of around 60% for mackerel compared to 2024 landings is estimated), undermining local economies, reducing employment, increasing market volatility, and weakening investment in processing and port infrastructure.

The significant cuts in quota will have an impact across the supply chain, including the 21 vessel pelagic trawl fleet. Changes to economic link conditions will have no direct impact on the smaller (handline) pelagic vessels, with vessels under 10 metres in length exempt from these provisions.

This intervention is designed to be proportionate, targeted, and consistent with the Scottish Government’s Better Regulation principles. The policy will be kept under review and engagement maintained with pelagic industry sectors.

As stated previously, it is the Scottish Government’s long-held position that it is inappropriate for Scottish Ministers to comment on live litigation. In all cases, we have an obligation to uphold the independence of the judiciary. Therefore it would also be inappropriate to meet with For Women Scotland to discuss a live case. I met with For Women Scotland in May last year, and Scottish Government officials have also met with them to discuss the impact of the judgement and their priorities for the forthcoming Women’s Equality Strategy.

There are both minutes taken and papers considered by the Working Group. The minutes are published on the Scottish Government’s website here: UK Supreme Court Judgment (For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers): working group - gov.scot The outstanding minutes will be published in early 2026.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with companies in the offshore wind supply chain. Our strategic investment in critical enabling infrastructure and supply chain facilities is leveraging significant private investment and crowding in additional funding from UK public finance institutions. Under our Just Transition Fund, our 2025-26 projects have a particular focus on enabling offshore wind infrastructure and the wider supply chain, as does our funding for the Energy Transition Zone.

Our enterprise agencies work closely with companies through innovation accelerators including the Launch Academy and CAN-DO feasibility funding calls as well as through manufacturing factsheets and masterclasses. And our agencies’ demand-led programmes connect offshore wind projects with innovative Scottish floating wind technology and service providers.

Offshore wind developers have made commitments to invest an average of £1.5bn in Scotland per project across the ScotWind projects. We expect developers to honour their Supply Chain Development Statement (SCDS) commitments, which were a condition of their being awarded Lease Option Agreements.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42632 on 13 January 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.

Locally-led and participatory adaptation is essential to climate justice programming and projects – including our Climate Just Communities project.

During COP30 the Scottish Government announced £100,000 funding to the Regions4 Network to deliver projects aimed at supporting communities in the Global South adapt to climate impacts such as extreme weather or food and water insecurity in a way that tackles existing inequalities.

Officials are currently exploring the next stage of the Climate Justice Fund pending finalised budget – including on how to ensure locally-led adaptation is included as part of future programmes and projects.

The Scottish Government Travel Management system does not record personal membership or usage of travel loyalty schemes. SG guidance for staff, including Ministers, states that any such schemes should be used sparingly and not for personal gain. All ministerial travel is arranged by civil servants through the Scottish Government travel management system. All Ministerial air travel and associated costs are proactively published to the SG website

We remain committed to climate justice, with over £12 million allocated in the draft Scottish Budget to support vulnerable communities in the Global South, particularly women, young people and people with disabilities in ways that are participatory, rights-based and inclusive.

The current round of contracts will not continue beyond March 2026, as the contracts with Climate Just Communities Lead Partners are set to reach completion.

Officials are currently exploring the approach to delivering programmes under the Climate Justice Fund in the next financial year, pending final budget agreement and recognising the importance of maintaining urgent support to communities on the ground.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42632 on 13 January 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 is committed to seeing Fair Work embedded in practice across the public sector and beyond in Scotland. Implementation of Fair Work First must be the guiding criteria to promote fairer work practices for staff within tertiary education, and in particular in colleges and universities. The Scottish Government made this clear in its most recent Letter of Guidance to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The SFC monitors compliance of fundable bodies through annual reporting and accounts, and as part of their Outcomes Framework and Assurance Model, and considers any appropriate interventions to support compliance.

Colleges and universities in receipt of government funding through SFC are currently expected to meet two mandatory Fair Work First criteria (payment of at least the real Living Wage; and provision of appropriate channels for effective workers’ voice, such as trade union recognition), while being encouraged to meet all other non-mandatory Fair Work First criteria.

I can announce today that, from April 2027, fundable post-16 education bodies in Scotland will be expected to adopt all Fair Work First criteria and that SFC will look to include these as a condition of grant. In acknowledgement of the fact that these bodies will be at different stages of implementing the five currently non-mandatory Fair Work First criteria, the SFC will take forward appropriate transition periods for planning. Therefore, an individual body may be given a longer lead-in time to implement a specific criterion, where they, in partnership with recognised trade unions or work representatives, can make a case to do so. This will be done alongside ongoing work by the SFC to undertake closer monitoring of governance at colleges and universities, and consider enhancements to its current processes, including in relation to Fair Work, through its Outcomes Framework and Assurance Model.