Seòmar agus comataidhean

All staff have the right to a rest break if they work more than 6 hours a day. I recognise the challenges this poses for ambulance crews and a protective measure has been put in place. Where they have passed their rest break window and/or been called out whilst on a rest break, a fully protected rest break should be offered to these staff.

Compliance with rights to rest breaks are matters for employers and I have been clear that all trade union partners need to work with the Scottish Ambulance Service to resolve any ongoing issues.

We continue to work with leaders across health, as well as hearing directly from trade unions to understand where the current pressures are, and what further actions can be taken to mitigate the impact on staff.

There is a currently a mixed delivery of breakfast provision across Scotland with a range of service providers including public, private and third sector. We have begun work with local authorities and key stakeholders to better understand and map that provision. This mapping work will inform the development of a delivery strategy for breakfast provision designed around the needs of children and families.

Scotland’s independent environmental regulator, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), monitors and investigates impacts on our water environment and takes steps to ensure it is protected on a daily basis.

Scottish Ministers introduced the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, updating legislation first introduced in 2005, giving SEPA enforcement powers and a duty to control activities liable to cause pollution of the water environment.

On Monday 11th September, SEPA responded to reports it received of large dead fish along a section of the River Spey. SEPA has conducted a range of water quality and ecology monitoring of the River Spey along with investigating local regulated activities. However, no water quality issues have been identified and no impact on other aquatic species and smaller fish has been observed. This would not be expected from a chemical spill where all aquatic species and fish populations would be impacted.

A multi-agency group has met in response to the incident to consider all potential causes of the incident. SEPA is continuing to liaise with partners and assess all reports in an effort to identify any possible factors responsible for the fish mortalities and the outcome of this will determine next steps.

We take reports of this kind very seriously and encourage anyone who finds dead fish on or near any watercourse to contact SEPA via our Pollution Hotline 0800 80 70 60 or online at www.sepa.org.uk/report .

Noting that Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition (TNZJT) is a significant portfolio, there are currently a number of Scottish Government working groups that fall under the remit of TNZJT. The following non-exhaustive list includes currently active groups that would fall under TNZJT portfolio and are managed by the Scottish Government.

• National strategy for 20mph Working Group
• Zero Emission Truck Taskforce
• Private Water Supply Working Group
• Scottish Blue Carbon Forum
• Contaminated Land Advisory Group
• Zero Emission Truck Taskforce
• Marine Litter Strategy Steering Group
• Transport Sector Skills & CESAP Transport Policy Working Group
• Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan Implementation Steering Group
• Single Use Cups Charge Advisory Group
• Waste Data Strategy Board
• National Flytipping Forum
• Food Waste Reduction Programme Board
• Recycling Improvement Fund Programme Board
• Waste & Resources Sector Forum
• Joint Scottish Government/Local Government Strategic Steering Group on Circular Economy & Waste
• National Strategy for Economic Trans Private Investment in Natural Capital Working Group
• Biodegradable Municipal Waste Landfill Programme Board
• Biodiversity Programme Advisory Group
• Biodiversity Programme Stakeholder Engagement Group
• Science Advisory Group for Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
• Deposit Return Scheme Ministerial Strategic Assurance Group
• Deposit Return Scheme Executive Oversight Group
• Deposit Return Scheme Sector-specific Producers and Hospitality Providers Working Group
• Deposit Return Scheme Sector-specific Retailers Working Group
• National Transport Strategy Delivery Board
• National Transport Strategy Business Group
• Orkney Ferry Replacement Task Force
• Shetland Ferry Replacement Task Force
• A83 Taskforce Group
• Forth Bridges Forum
• LEZ Leadership Group
• LEZ Communications Group
• LEZ Consistency Group
• LEZ Enforcement Group
• Queensferry Crossing Ice Accretion Working Group
• Queensferry Crossing Ice Accretion Peer Review Group
• A9 Road Safety Group
• Road Safety Strategic Partnership Board
• Road Safety Operational Partnership Group
• Motorcycle safety group
• Three Local Partnership Forums for Road Safety across Scotland (east, west and north)
• The Parking Standards Advisory Group
• The Traffic Regulation Order Review Group
• Scottish Road Research Board
• National strategy for 20mph Working Group
• Road Traffic Fatality Working Group
• Transport Scotland Pavement Forum
• Scottish Traffic Signs Working Group
• Roads for All forum
• The Active Travel Delivery Partners’ Data, Monitoring and Evaluation Group
• Mobility as a Service Working Group
• Accessible Travel Steering Group
• Operators Smart Steering Group
• Zero Emission Truck Taskforce
• Bus Taskforce
• Environment and Economy Leaders' Group (EELG)
• Cleaner Air for Scotland 2: Ministerial Group

The most recent Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) found that the proportion of adults undertaking any gambling activities in Scotland (including the National Lottery) has decreased significantly between 2012 and 2021 – from 70% to 58%.

However, notwithstanding this positive trajectory, the Scottish Government recognises the adverse impacts that gambling can have on health and wellbeing, such as debt and deterioration of physical and mental health, and that this can lead to an increased risk of suicide for people affected by problem gambling. A recent evidence review by Public Health England (updated in January 2023) sets out the many health and social harms associated with gambling – including homelessness, crime, relationship harms, mental health problems and suicide.

At present, comparable Scotland specific data is not available. However work is underway in Public Health Scotland to identify and understand what data is currently available, analyse that data to inform future developments (linking to Scottish Health Survey data), and consider what further data collection may be necessary. PHS are also piloting a whole systems approach, working with partners in Glasgow, to mitigate the impact of gambling harm in a specific local authority area.

The Emerging Energy Technologies Fund (EETF) is a £180m package of funding up to 2025/26 that will provide capital support to accelerate low-carbon infrastructure projects and unlock private sector co-investment that will be essential to deliver net zero.

Through the EETF, we have committed up to £100 million to renewable hydrogen funding this Parliamentary term. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21610 on 29 September 2023.

The remaining up to £80m has been made available for Carbon Capture Utilisation and Support (CCUS). Due to the unfortunate delays from the UK Government in confirming Acorn and the associated emitter projects, it has not yet been possible to deploy support from the EETF for CCUS. We are committed to supporting and accelerating the deployment of the Acorn project and the Scottish Cluster but until the UK Government award Acorn and the emitter projects, it is not possible to move forward with investment decisions.

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

The Scottish Government is considering options around the appointment of an independent Chair of the National Joint Negotiating Committee.

This must be explored fully, and in partnership with employers and trade unions, to ensure the Scottish Government continues to maintain its position of not intervening directly in the national collective bargaining process.

The Scottish Government is not currently involved in any modelling work relating specifically to BA.2.86 (known in the media as the Pirola variant), but we continue to work closely with Public Health Scotland and other partners to monitor, assess and be ready to respond to any new outbreaks of COVID-19.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) include analysis on COVID-19 variants as part of their “ National respiratory infection and COVID-19 statistics ”. The report published on 14 September 2023 included the latest COVID-19 cases, wastewater levels and hospitalisations, as well as analysis on BA.2.86. Additionally, PHS currently publish a weekly update providing the latest information on BA.2.86 ( SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 variant in Scotland - weekly update - COVID-19 data and intelligence - COVID-19 - Infectious diseases - Health protection - Our areas of work - Public Health Scotland) .

The risks continue to be low but in response to the identification of changes in variant BA. 2.86, we have taken the precautionary measure of bringing forward the planned vaccination of those at highest risk.

There are currently no plans to amend the gambling questions in the Scottish Health Survey.

However, the Gambling Commission have commissioned NatCen Social Research to run a new UK wide survey, which will include approx. 20,000 adults annually, with a sample of approximately 1,000 adults in Scotland.

To date the Gambling Commission results have been experimental statistics but the Gambling Commission will be publishing their first set of Official Statistics in a quarterly publication in Spring 2024. Once this new data is available we will consider it and any implications for the Scottish Health Survey.

Foster carers are classed as self-employed and, therefore, receive payments in the form of foster carer allowances and fees. Responsibility for providing financial support to foster carers registered with Glasgow City Council is a matter for Glasgow City Council.

The Scottish Government recently introduced a new Scottish Recommended Allowance (SRA) for foster and kinship carers across Scotland, to be backdated to 1 April 2023. This will ensure that a consistent and transparent level of financial support is provided to all eligible foster and kinship carers across Scotland.

We are committed to maintaining the 2023-24 levels of support for the SRA going forward, and to reviewing the funding implications for future years from 2024-25.

Responsibility, however, for setting levels of foster carer fees along with consideration of any adjustment to fees in line with inflation - lies with the relevant local authority.