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The Scottish Government is aware of the judgment in this case. We consider that the advice on determining planning applications contained in Planning Circular 3/2022: Development Management Procedures is consistent with the judgment.

In determining any application or appeal, it is for the planning authority, or as the case may be the Scottish Ministers, who are considering the proposed development to decide what matters are material to their consideration on a case by case basis.

It is also for the decision maker to consider what weight to give to each material consideration in determining the application. Any planning application is required to be determined in accordance with the development plan unless there are material planning considerations that individually or collectively justify a departure from the development plan.

The Chief Planner advised the Chief Reporter in a call on 10 June 2025 that Ministers intended to recall the appeal. On 12 June 2025, the Chief Planner, the Chief Reporter and I subsequently discussed the next steps for the appeal, following the debate in the Scottish Parliament. The merits of the appeal itself were not discussed.

The following table sets out the planning applications called in by the Scottish Ministers which have yet to be determined, along with the dates the applications were notified to the Scottish Ministers before they were called in. Decisions by Scottish Ministers will be made on these cases in due course.

The Scottish Government has conducted an evidence review on hybrid working to support decisions on hybrid expectations for its own staff but has not undertaken analysis on the economic impact of hybrid and remote working policies on city centre economies.

The Scottish Government regularly monitors evidence on the prevalence of home or hybrid working through our publication of data from the Office for National Statistics Business Insights and Conditions Survey(BICS). The most recent iteration of data on home or hybrid working (for 19 May to 1 June 2025) indicated that 13.8% of businesses in Scotland are using or intend to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model, rising to 68.5% of businesses in the Information & Communication sector. Around 4 out of 5 businesses (79.6%) that are using or intending to use increased homeworking are doing it because it improves staff wellbeing, while 43.9% indicated that it offered them the ability to recruit from a wider geographical pool in the UK, and 34.4% indicated it supported improved productivity.

Around two thirds of businesses (65.5%) indicated they were not using or intending to use increased home working as a permanent businesses model going forward, with 84.9% of these businesses giving the reason that homeworking is not suitable for their business.

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 requires the Scottish Ministers to publish a five-year Rural Support Plan and have regard to it when exercising functions under the 2024 Act. The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025 came into force on 16 June 2025. In the first instance it provides the legal basis for the introduction of the Rural Support Plan, which will set out how support over each five-year period will deliver to 2024 Act objectives and wider Scottish Government priorities.

It will build upon for the Vision for Scottish Agriculture and the Agricultural Reform Route Map and outline the phased transition from legacy EU Common Agricultural Policy support to the new four-tier framework. It will reflect the on-going engagement and co-development taking place within the Agriculture Reform Programme. The Rural Support Plan will collate this information into a single strategic and coherent package, add programme level input and ensure the totality of measures is considered. This work is part of normal duties within the Agricultural Reform Programme and any costs will be met within existing budgets.

The initial Rural Support Plan is intended to be drafted through the remainder of 2025 and laid in Winter 2025, to reflect the Route Map, the on-going work of the Agricultural Reform Programme and published ahead of the first plan period of 2026-2030.

The information requested is not held centrally. The member is welcome to review the latest Mental Health Inpatient Census 2024 which can provide an overview of beds available, and occupied by, ward type for NHS Scotland mental health facilities. NHS Assure may also hold relevant ward-level information.

The finding that 21% of crime is reported to the police comes from the 2023-24 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) main findings report, which was published on 10 June 2025.

This figure is heavily influenced by the inclusion of fraud and computer misuse crimes, which were included for the first time in SCJS analysis in the most recent publication. Victims of these crimes only reported the matter to the police in 9% of cases, but were much more likely to report the incident to another body such as a bank. For example, in a significant majority (80%) of fraud crimes, the victim reported the incident to a bank, building society or credit card company in 2023-24.

More generally, the survey estimated that 31% of property and violent crimes combined were reported to police in 2023-24, which is a similar level to the prior survey in 2021-22. This included 24% of property crimes being reported, and 44% of violent crimes.

Where someone has been a victim of crime, we want them to tell the police so they can access the justice they deserve.

Victims are not provided, in whole or in part, the criminal record of any offender in the context of a prosecution.

Prosecutors may present an accused person’s previous convictions to the court for specific purposes, including the consideration of bail and bail conditions, or in determining the most appropriate sentence. This information is obtained from Police Scotland using the accused person’s Scottish Crime Records Office (SCRO) number, which is a unique identifier used across the justice system in Scotland. This ensures that relevant information is accurately linked to the individual, regardless of any change of name or gender identity.

NatureScot, on behalf of Scottish Government, currently run a Long Distance Trails Forum which brings together trail managers, including the 4 Long Distance Routes and wider ‘Great Trails’, from across Scotland to share good practice, knowledge and experience. NatureScot also fund Scotland’s Great Trails website promoting Scotland’s long distance trails. There is currently a review being carried out of Scotland’s Great Trails, which includes active travel provision, visitor experience, enjoyment of the outdoors, connection with nature, green tourism and community connections.

Local Authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships can apply for funding for active travel from Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund, which could include long distance walking routes where they deliver against Scotland’s Active Travel Framework. The Scottish Government also funds the National Cycle Network which is also used for walking and wheeling, forming long distance active travel routes that are also used for everyday journeys.

The Scottish Government have no current plans to change the fine balance of rights and responsibilities in relation to access which was agreed by the Parliament and is set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. NatureScot work with the National Access Forum (NAF) to address access issues that do arise though providing new guidance, resources and advice.