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As part of their applications for consent under the Electricity Act 1989, developers undertake environmental impact assessment (EIA), including collision risk modelling to estimate annual collisions in respect of ornithological receptors. The results of such modelling for offshore wind are available within the EIA Reports published on the Marine Directorate – Licensing Operations Team website: .

Data provided by offshore wind developers indicate a total of 2 confirmed collisions have been reported at operational offshore wind farms in the last 5 years – one kittiwake (date not provided) and one herring gull (July 2024).

NatureScot collect data for bird strikes at onshore wind farms via their online reporting tool. The reporting is voluntary, meaning it is likely they only receive reports on a proportion of strikes. Where possible the data is supplemented with information they receive from general correspondence.

In respect of offshore wind farms, three consents have been issued since 1 January 2022. All three have requirements for ornithological monitoring via a condition for a Project Environmental Monitoring Programme (PEMP). In the event that further potential adverse environmental effects are identified, for which no predictions were made in the application, the Scottish Ministers may require the developer to undertake additional monitoring through the PEMP condition.

All information related to determinations made by Scottish Ministers in respect of onshore wind farm developments, including related conditions, is publicly available on our Energy Consents website: In cases where deemed planning permission is granted, any conditions of that deemed planning permission would be discharged by the Planning Authority.

Regarding the consenting process for new energy infrastructure, the environmental impacts of developments are examined according to provisions of the Electricity Act 1989, relevant Environmental Impact Assessment regulations, and habitats regulations, alongside relevant policy.

The Scottish Government does not currently have plans to update the Scottish seabird sensitivity map. The Scottish seabird sensitivity map was last published in August 2024 following updates in over 2021-2023. There are various streams of work underway through the Scottish Marine Energy Research Programme (ScotMER) that will improve relevant parameters including seabird distributions, population trends and collision risk, required to update the tool. Once this work is completed, we may revisit and update the seabird sensitivity map.

The mitigation of bird strikes at onshore wind farms is decided on a case-by-case basis. Any mitigation measures provided in the development's application documentation, specifically the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), is subject to statutory and other relevant consultees analysing the data and providing their technical expertise. If necessary, consultees will request additional ecological, ornithological and environmental data and information that will inform any decisions on mitigations.

Scottish Government has not funded any projects into technical or operational measures to reduce bird collisions since 2020. Since 2020 Scottish Government has focussed on improving the evidence base on bird collision risk by funding research on establishing seabird flight heights and the quantification of potential collisions of seabirds with wind-turbine blades through modelling.

In respect of offshore wind farms, six reports have been submitted to the Marine Directorate – Licensing Operations Team. Reports consider the distribution and abundance of seabirds around wind farms or protected sites and what this may mean in terms of their displacement from wind farm areas, with some reports discussing implications for collision avoidance rates used in modelling.

All information related to determinations made by Scottish Ministers in respect of onshore wind farm developments, which may include conditions such as post-construction ornithological monitoring, is publicly available on our Energy Consents website: .

The First Minister announced to the Scottish Parliament on 6 May 2025 that we intend to remove the ban on alcohol on trains and replace it with new restrictions which will allow alcohol consumption between from 10am to 9pm every day. ScotRail will reserve the right to implement alcohol restrictions on specific services where BTP and rail industry intelligence indicates it necessary, for example major concerts or sporting events.

The current ban will be lifted and the new rules will come into force on 2 June 2025.

We have had extensive engagement with stakeholders – including consumer organisations such as Consumer Scotland – to ensure we understand all perspectives in this debate and represent this in our engagement with the UK Government.

Decisions on the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) are reserved to the UK Government. The UK Government has published impact assessments and is updating its analysis ahead of a final decision this summer. We are awaiting sight of this updated modelling.