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Seabed leasing for offshore wind is administered by Crown Estate Scotland. Crown Estate Scotland appraises lease applications as part of its internal assessment and due diligence process to confirm developer suitability, experience and financial strength, only making awards to organisations that satisfy this assessment process. As part of this process companies must provide a written statement to Crown Estate Scotland to confirm they have not been convicted of unlawful activity, including corruption, bribery, fraud, and human trafficking and exploitation, within the last five years. The criteria underpinning this assessment process is published for the purposes of transparency and accountability.

For the ScotWind leasing round, Crown Estate Scotland required a statement of commitment from each applicant and any project partners confirming that they are not, and have not been, in contravention of a range of legislation, including sanction regimes. This requirement safeguarded against the successful participation of companies convicted of unlawful conduct either within the UK or internationally, including unlawful conduct in relation to ecologically damaging developments. In terms of ScotWind, companies that have proposed a change in ownership or structure following the award of a lease option agreement, Crown Estate Scotland undertakes a review of any incoming party to ensure they have the required capability, financial standing and have provided a duly signed statement of commitment, before consent to such a change in the project is granted.

Crown Estate Scotland also has responsibilities under the Scottish Government’s Slavery and Human trafficking statement and follow guidance on due diligence in relation to human rights.

Crown Estate Scotland are committed to taking all appropriate action to prevent the Scottish seabed from being used by any company that does not meet its terms of lease.

Crown Estate Scotland reserves the right to void any application (or terminate agreement) in relation to ScotWind, or other developments which is found to have provided false information.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39428 on 28 July 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The Scottish Government is not planning to undertake a Council Tax revaluation. Any suggestion of a revaluation could only proceed if a broad political consensus in favour existed – no such consensus currently exists.

Any changes to Council Tax must also be informed by robust evidence and wide public consultation. Our joint programme of engagement with COSLA on options for reform is intended to inform that public debate. This process will run for a number of years. Consequently, any substantial reform thereafter, including any suggestion of revaluation, would require a mandate from a Scottish Parliament Election and will not be possible this decade.

The powers relevant are contained within the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and related regulations.

The Scottish Government is working with COSLA through the Joint Working Group on public engagement on Council Tax Reform. We have procured the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) to carry out expert and independent analysis to support this work.

The analysis is planned to be published in September 2025, in advance of any engagement activity. The budget for this independent analysis is £49,750, and is being managed within the existing resources.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38980 on 23 July 2025. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38980 on 23 July 2025. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The Northern Isles Ferry Services contract sets out the requirement for a Revised Base Case exercise. Transport Scotland and Serco NorthLink completed the contractual requirement to rebase the bid submission figures for Contract Years 7 & 8. As the costs were agreed by Ministers the contract runs to 30 June 2028.

CMAL are not the employer of any seafarers working on either MV Hellier or MV Hildasay.

Fair Work First principles are included in the Northern Isles Ferry Service (NIFS3) contract, including the support of progressive workforce engagement, such as Trade Union recognition and representation where possible, or otherwise alternative arrangements to give staff an effective voice.

Scottish Ministers require that those who deliver public contracts adopt fair employment practices for all workers engaged on delivering these contracts. Crew on board the freight vessels MV Helliar and MV Hildasay continue to benefit from the principles set out in the Fair Work Framework such as; access to training, genuine workforce engagement and payment of at least the Living Wage. Transport Scotland hold regular meetings with SNF to cover a variety of matters, including updates on union and employment issues. Scottish Ministers regularly engage with Trade Unions.