Seòmar agus comataidhean

We consulted on powers required to realise the Vision for Agriculture. The Scottish Government has repeatedly made clear that there will be no funding cliff edge for our farmers and crofters.

We do though face the reality that EU Exit means that we no longer have long-term certainty of funding.

The level of support available is dependent on the UK Government responding to our numerous requests for confirmation of the level of future funding that will be provided to replace current support. HM Treasury have provided yearly allocations for the current UK Parliamentary term, but as of yet, there is no funding commitment from 2025.

The Scottish Government fully understands the frustration expressed by stakeholders over the lack of future budget clarity, and the impact this has on the development of future policy.

Revenue from Council Tax is retained in full by councils and is not part of the Scottish Government’s funding allocation to local government. Council Tax is expected to contribute around £2.9 billion towards the funding of local public services in 2023-24. The consultation has closed, the responses will be considered carefully along with the analysis and no decisions have been taken.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21029 on 13 September 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The table below details the average number of purposeful activity hours per week for convicted prisoners across the prison estate, in each financial year that incorporates 2021, 2022 and 2023:

The new Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy sets out our vision to improve mental health and wellbeing – including the role of other key areas such as poverty, housing, employment and our communities. The Strategy recognises that in order to address the wide-ranging factors that impact people’s mental health and wellbeing, a cross-government, cross-sector approach is required.

A range of work is already taking place throughout the Scottish Government to promote positive mental wellbeing, prevent poor mental health, and provide support, care and treatment where needed. In addition we are working closely with our stakeholders, including Public Health Scotland, to develop and embed a collaborative health-in-all-policies (or HiAP) approach, which takes consideration of key health issues into decision-making at national and local level. As part of this approach, we will promote a more robust, efficient and effective use of impacts assessments across government.

The Scottish Government delivers support for energy efficiency measures in owner occupied household through a number of schemes.

Information about the number of measures installed by councils as part of our Area Based Schemes is not reported on a monthly basis. Annual returns based upon the information provided by councils are published on the Scottish Government website:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/area-based-schemes/

Information about the number of measures installed by the scheme managing agent, Warmworks, as part of our Warmer Homes Scotland scheme is not reported on a monthly basis. Annual reports are published on the Warmworks website:

https://www.warmworks.co.uk/our-work/warmer-homes-scotland/

The number of households supported with energy efficiency measures through the HES Grant and Loan, including payment for funding offers issued under the predecessor HES Loan and Cashback Scheme are set out in the following table.

Scottish Government is leading on development of the new payment system, and the intention is to create a system that is streamlined, accessible, and administered internally.

While it has published historic data for reported overflows for 2018-22 at Overflow Spill Data - Scottish Water , the reasons for spills is not available for historic events reported to SEPA, and this information is not correlated to rainfall data. However, Scottish Water publishes all reportable pollution events each year to SEPA and this information can be found at: Annual Reports - Scottish Water .

Our recently published Cash-First Plan recognises the role of the community food sector, including pantries, in helping people to access cash and wider support in a crisis to reduce the need for emergency food parcels.

That is why we are providing The Scottish Pantry Network with £16,000 in 2023-24 to support the development and evaluation of cash-first models to tackle food insecurity within the context of pantry-type organisations. This funding will support them to work with their membership of around 20 pantry initiatives to increase access to cash-first support alongside access to dignified food services, and to develop learning and resources that can be shared with pantries beyond their network.

Pantries and the wider community food sector can also contribute to Scotland being a Good Food Nation by promoting healthier diets, increasing access to local and sustainably sourced foods and supporting our climate ambitions.

Scottish Water’s list of high priority assets identified for investment under Improving Urban Waters commitments can be found at High Priority UIDs.pdf (scottishwater.co.uk) . There are currently 163 High Priority Unsatisfactory Intermittent Discharge (UID) needs across Scotland, 155 Medium priority UID and 259 Low priority UID needs. Whilst this list is not updated annually, classification and prioritisation of unsatisfactory combined sewer overflows is ongoing in response to instances of pollution and water quality monitoring. More information about how these assets have been prioritised is available at: Prioritisation of Sewer Overflows in Scotland - Scottish Water