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Air Weapons licensing statistics are published by Police Scotland annually. Most recent statistics were published in August 2024 .

A table has been provided below noting the number of Air Weapons Licence applications made since 1 November 2016 including the numbers (a) received, (b) processed, (c) granted and (d) refused.

Total Number of Air Weapon Licence Applications

ScotRail was brought into the public sector under Scottish Government control.

Transport Scotland carries out, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, the role of the Franchising Authority. ScotRail Trains Limited (SRT) is a train operating company who provides certain rail passenger services.

Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH) is an arm’s length entity, who manages and oversees delivery of SRT services.

The reduction of the working week for Agenda for Change staff was agreed in partnership between the Scottish Government, Agenda for Change Staff Side representative groups and NHS Scotland employers, and the implementation of the first 30 minute reduction has been overseen in partnership through a sub-group of the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee. The Implementation Sub-Group agreed guidance at the beginning of the process which was published as NHS Scotland circular PCS(AFC)2024/2, and this continues to be updated as required.

The guidance provides a set of overarching principles, but it is recognised that the specifics of how the reduction will be achieved are best discussed and agreed locally through NHS Board partnership structures. The guidance makes clear that the reduction should only be implemented when this can be done safely. Where staff continue to work their previous hours, there is provision for payment of a Transitional Allowance until the reduction can be achieved.

Since 2021, Scottish Ministers have regularly met with Council Leaders, including Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.

The First Minister and previous First Minister have also committed to meeting with the COSLA Presidential team biannually to discuss key priorities and issues for local government. The First Minister and previous First Ministers have also delivered keynote speeches at the COSLA Annual Conference since 2021.

The Scottish Government is determined to play our part in eradicating racism, inequality and injustice – and in building a better, fairer world.

On the recommendation of the Anti-Racism Interim Governance Group to Develop National Anti-Racism Infrastructure (AIGG), a public procurement process has commenced to identify a host organisation for the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS). The tender process closed on the 2nd September and tenders are currently being evaluated. The contract award is scheduled to take place at the end of October and the contract will commence in January 2025.

AROS will support the development of a detailed workplan to track and measure progress being made with the Scottish Government’s antiracism commitments, including relevant Key Performance Indicators. Working in partnership with partners, including third sector organisations and communities, AROS will develop robust governance and accountability mechanisms to ensure effective oversight of the workplan and strategic objectives that will drive anti-racism change.

If a resident believes that a local authority is not upholding site license conditions, they should report this to the relevant team at the local authority in the first instance. If the response received is unsatisfactory, the resident can make a complaint under the Council’s complaints process. If, after completing all stages of the complaints process the resident is dissatisfied with the response or the way the local authority has dealt with the complaint, they can ask the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman to look at it. Residents may also wish to discuss any concerns with their local Councillor.

Engagement on the development of the gambling levy has continued at official level with UK Government and Welsh officials since the UK General Election on 4 July 2024.

The formal consultation process has concluded; we are currently awaiting publication of the consultation response to facilitate further discussions on the structure of the levy. The next steps will include how a levy could be implemented across GB and we will continue to work with UK Government and Welsh Government on this issue.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with the UK Government at both official and Ministerial level in relation to the development of gambling policy across Great Britain.

The Digital Strategy 2021 “A changing nation: how Scotland will thrive in a digital world”, set out actions for how Scotland can develop as an ethical digital nation. which commits the Scottish Government to developing and embedding an agreed ethical framework and principles into the way we design and build digital public.

We recognise that the law has struggled to keep up with the pace of change on the internet and acceleration of digital technologies and by setting the example in the public sector through ethical and transparent digital services we would seek to lead the way in fair and ethical practice.

In July 2023 the games industry trade body UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) developed and published UK games industry guidance on loot boxes in response to a UK Government call for evidence.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with the UK Government and Wales on this issue.

Since 2020 Marine Directorate have issued thirty Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) totalling £95,000 in relation to suspected fishing in restricted areas where the fishing method involved was prohibited. Of those thirty incidents, four were specifically within Marine Protected Areas which are protected by a Scottish Statutory Instrument implemented under powers provided by the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and/or the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984.

Fines totalling £20,000 were issued for these four cases, one of which was paid and no further action taken. The remaining three cases, following non-payment, were subsequently reported to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for consideration of prosecution. Two of these cases were convicted in court and fined £2,000 and £5,000 respectively. The third case has recently been submitted to COPFS and has not as of yet proceeded to trial.

In addition to these four cases where Fixed Penalty Notices were issued by Marine Directorate, One further case was not offered an FPN and was referred directly to the Procurator Fiscal resulting in a conviction and fine of £2,075.

The level of grant-in-kind potentially available to households participating in Area Based Schemes is not affected by these fees. Councils are required to separately claim a proportion of overhead costs such as surveys, scaffolding and project management as enabling funding.