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The Scottish Government is committed to reducing water pollution at beaches across Scotland.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is responsible for protecting and improving water quality at Scotland’s 87 designated Bathing Waters. This bathing water season Scotland has more bathing waters rated as ‘excellent’, ‘good’ or ‘sufficient’ than at any point since tighter bathing water standards first came into force in 2015. Last year, 99% of designated bathing waters achieved the bathing water quality standards.

SEPA has analysed 1,297 water quality samples from 87 designated Bathing Waters this season and 93% were found to be at safe levels. Short term fluctuations in water quality do though occur following heavy rainfall – causing sewer overflows, agricultural run-off from land, and surface water discharges from roads, car parks, and pavements etc., which are all sources of bacteria.

SEPA investigates poor water quality results and works with partners to reduce “short-term pollution” after heavy rainfall. Bathers are also advised on its website or electronic beach signs at 29 Bathing Waters if the water quality is predicted to be poor so they can make an informed choice before entering the water.

To help address the impact of sewer overflows, Scottish Water is investing up to £70m in 1000 new Combined Sewer Overflow event monitors across Scotland, including those at designated Bathing Wates, by December 2024. This spill monitoring information will be used to inform and prioritise investment to improve bathing water quality as well as informing the public.

The Scottish Government is in regular discussions with Scottish Water on a wide range of issues. In relation to spill monitors, the first programme of installation has been focussed on proximity to bathing waters, particularly those that are at risk of failing to meet minimum water quality standards. In line with Scottish Water’s Improving Urban Waters Route Map, it aims to install 1,000 new monitors by 2024. Scottish Water is continuing to define the priority locations for installation of monitors and it is expected that around 400 will be required to monitor overflows within 2km of bathing waters.

Scottish Water is working on developing a specification for the monitors by reviewing lessons learned from the roll out in England and Wales and by consulting with its supply chain. Scottish Water is looking to leverage maximum value from the monitors it installs so that overall intelligence in how the sewerage system is operating can be improved.

Following the opening of the consultation on 4 July 2022 a programme of six public meetings has taken place. Five in-person “Town hall events” have been held, as follows:

Langholm (20 July)

Invermoriston (25 July)

Helmsdale (26 July)

Stornoway (27 July)

Ballater (28 July)

An online event was held on Thursday 22 July, which was open to all and which attracted participants from across Scotland.

At each of these events the Minister and officials made presentations setting out what the SG aims to achieve with the next Land Reform Bill, and explaining the measures being put forward in the consultation. Local community groups also made presentations at the in-person meetings. This was followed by questions and discussion.

All six events were well attended.

Those attending included individuals, businesses, owners of farms and estates and their land managers and legal representatives, charity and third sector organisations, local authorities, and academic and research organisations/institutions.

The following stakeholder organisations registered to attend the consultation meetings:

Architecture and Design Scotland

Bòrd na Gidhlig

Central Association of Agricultural Valuers

Communities for Diverse Forestry

Community Land Scotland

Community Woodlands Association

Fauna & Flora International

Food, Farming and Countryside Commission

Foundation Scotland

National Sheep Association Scotland

National Farmers Union of Scotland

Paths for All

Scottish Land and Estates

Scottish Renewables

Scottish Rural Action

Highlands Regional Land Use Partnership

Trees for Life

We anticipate written consultation responses from a range of stakeholder organisations and members of the public. Engagement with stakeholders will continue after the consultation closes, in the light of the responses received.

This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS). She advises me that RoS does not hold information on transfers which may have occurred but for which no registration application has been submitted.

In relation to registrations in each of the last 10 years the position is given in the following table.

These numbers include transfers for value (sales) and transfers which are not for value (such as succession), but do not include voluntary registrations (where a property owner voluntarily moves their property from the Register of Sasines to the Land Register with no change in ownership).

As at 22 July 2022, in total there are 396 titles with an area over 3000 hectares registered in the Land Register of Scotland. A further 32 titles with a provisional extent over 3000 hectares are currently undergoing first registration.

Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme is an industry-led scheme, based on the polluter pays principle. Circularity Scotland, who were established by the industry to deliver the scheme, will therefore lead on communication with businesses and the public. We intend to mark this milestone through media communications and the Scottish Government's net zero social media channels.

The National Strategy for Economic Transformation contains bold and ambitious actions - within the powers currently available to us - to deliver economic prosperity for all Scotland’s people and places. The strategy sets out our ambition that, by 2032, Scotland will be an international benchmark, showcasing how an economy can transform itself, de-carbonise and rebuild natural capital whilst creating more, well-paid and secure jobs and developing new markets based on renewable sources of energy and low carbon technology.

One of the strategy’s transformational programmes of action is developing a more skilled workforce. Actions contained within the strategy include implementing the next phase of the Green Jobs Workforce Academy and launching a new skills guarantee for workers in carbon intensive industries. Looking forward, we are committed to delivering a lifetime upskilling and retraining offer that is straightforward, accessible, and ambitious. We are also supporting a Just Transition. The Just Transition Fund is a ten year, £500m investment to support a fair transition to net zero and to diversify the regional economies of the North East and Moray.

The strategy introduces a streamlined delivery model and a robust governance structure, co-led by business and with immediate access to Ministers, which will hold the public sector and industry to account for delivery. We will work together with the public, private and third sectors – as well as with individuals and communities – in a genuine “Team Scotland” approach to develop and implement delivery plans for each programme.

As we discussed in our meeting of 24 March and in my letter to you of 19 May, skills recognition is central to Scottish Government’s just transition ambitions, and is also set out in the North Sea Transition Deal. You will be aware that on 24 May OPITO published the People and Skills Strategy and the first of five Action Plans, which is focused on Aligning Offshore Standards. This work is supported by the Skills Passport Industry Steering Group which meets monthly, providing insight and sharing information to support the development of a Skills Passport. A range of energy industry organisations are represented on the Steering Group, ensuring different needs and perspectives across the industry are represented.

This must be an initiative led by industryand taken forward in partnership with the workforce. OPITO continue to engage with stakeholders, including the offshore unions. The Aligning Offshore Standards Action Plan, which includes key activities and timescales, was supported by unions at a recent meeting of the North Sea Transition Deal Delivery Group, attended by UNITE. The North Sea Transition Deal Delivery Group will continue to oversee delivery of the Deal commitments, including oversight of the Strategy and Action Plans.

We are committed to bringing forward an ambitious new Land Reform Bill in 2023, which will build on our land reform measures to date and will further tackle Scotland’s historically unequal patterns of land ownership. The public consultation on the Bill, “Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation” , launched on 4 July, and will be open until the 25 September.

The consultation includes measures to regulate the market in transfers of large-scale landholdings, including through the introduction of a Public Interest Test. This measure will ensure that the public interest is considered on transfers of large-scale landholdings and is pursuant to recommendations made in this regard by the Scottish Land Commission.

We will work with all stakeholders to develop the proposals outlined in the consultation document, and welcome views on the proposals. The public consultation will play an important role in building the evidence base to support the development of our proposals.

We are committed to bringing forward an ambitious new Land Reform Bill in 2023, which will build on our land reform measures to date and will further tackle Scotland’s historically unequal patterns of land ownership. The public consultation on the Bill, “Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation” , launched on 4 July, and will be open until 25 September.

The consultation includes measures to regulate the market in transfers of large-scale landholdings, including through the introduction of a Public Interest Test. This measure will ensure that the public interest is considered on transfers of large-scale landholdings.

As we develop the proposals for the Land Reform Bill, we will consider measures regarding the acquisition, use and management of land in place in other European countries, taking into account the rationale and legal basis for these measures, and consider other sources of evidence.

We will work with all stakeholders to develop the proposals outlined in consultation document, and welcome views on the proposals. The public consultation will play an important role in building the evidence base to support the development of our proposals.

Our proposals will be fully compliant with the ECHR, including the right to private property, and the terms of the current devolution settlement. But they will also be ambitious, and designed to ensure that land plays it full part in delivering the vision set out by the Just Transition Commission - a fairer, greener future for all. This reflects the principled position of the Scottish Government, and our explicit commitment to respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights for every member of society.