Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Carbon Levy was implemented in financial year 2006-7. Historical data on the amount collected each year prior to 2017-18 is not available.

2017-18 - £33,321

2018-19 - £32,211

2019-20 - £40,534

2020-21 - £558

2021-22 - No money collected

2022-23 - No money collected

2023-24 - No money collected

2024-25 £40,512

Between 2021 and 2024 no money was transferred from the travel provider. The money accumulated and was paid in 2024-25

The cumulative total spend to date is £440,000.

The current balance is £147,136

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The member may wish to contact NHS Grampian directly for this information.

(a) The objectives of the levy

The levy is designed to raise money from business flights to be invested in carbon reduction and active travel projects to reduce the impact of business travel and improve health and wellbeing.

In 2018 the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform approved a proposal to focus the money raised from the levy to reduce the Scottish Government’s carbon emissions to help compensate for the carbon emitted from business travel, which was the original purpose of the Levy. This has the benefit of reducing the Scottish Government’s carbon emissions in a measurable and reportable way.

(b) Projects are selected based on the potential for carbon reduction either via fully or partially funding projects, funding behaviour change initiatives, training or promoting active travel options.

(c) The carbon levy is administered by the Environmental Management Team within Workplace Division in the Scottish Procurement & Property Directorate.

(d) The rate of the carbon levy has not been reviewed since it was created in 2009. Officials are currently carrying out a review. The operation of the levy was reviewed in 2018.

(e) A review is currently underway. No changes have been made to the rates since the levy was introduced. The review in 2018 resulted in a change to the way the levy was spent. Agreement was given to support using the levy to fund carbon reduction projects on the Core Scottish Government Estate.

3 Projects have been funded since the levy was introduced.

1) Project 1

(a) Climate Change Saltire Fellowships

(b) Greener Scotland

(c) The Scottish Government agreed to set up a carbon emissions off-set/reduction fund as part of the bid to secure the 2014 Commonwealth Games for Glasgow. The fellowship scheme targeted resources to students from Commonwealth countries least able to deal with the impacts of climate change.

(d) N/A

(e) £40,000

(f) Not Measured

(g) N/A

2) Project 2

(a) Scotland Lights up Malawi

(b) 2020 Climate Group, Keep Scotland Beautiful and Glasgow Caledonian University

(c) To bring safe, solar energy to rural communities in Malawi replacing paraffin lights with rechargeable solar lighting.

(d) N/A

(e) £200,000

(f) Not Measured

(g) N/A

3) Project 3

(a) Solar PV

(b) Scottish Government

(c) To provide funding to install solar panels on SAH to demonstrate installing renewables on a listed building in a conservation area and world heritage site.

(d) GHG Protocol

(e) £200,000

(f) 39,128 Kg CO2 saved to date.

(g) N/A

Decisions on any potential future funding rounds of the Future Farming Investment Scheme have not taken place. If the scheme was to be run again, the Scottish Government would engage with stakeholders to determine any changes to the scheme.

There is an existing and established Orthopaedic pathway in place for patients in Argyll & Bute to receive treatment in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. This has been the position for some time and we understand from Health Boards that patient feedback on this arrangement is largely positive.

More recently, the Haematology service was redesigned and repatriated to NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde due to the sub specialist nature of the many blood cancers and treatments now available, ensuring patients can continue to be treated safely. Patients are also supported through consultant consultations via NearMe within NHS Highland’s McMillan Suite with specialist nursing support.

To deliver case closer to home, many services across Argyll & Bute are also provided via an outreach service level agreement (SLA) which allows local access to consultant clinics.

As part of my plan to reform the NHS, I have announced that Health Boards will plan on a sub-national basis in 2026-27. This will ensure NHS Boards work together in the East and West of Scotland, allowing teams to work across their boundaries and share resources to ensure capacity is maximised and that long waiting patients can access treatment more quickly.

I expect all Health Boards to support across boundaries to deliver for their patient population ensuring timely access treatment.

NatureScot Peatland ACTION undertakes compliance checks of peatland restoration projects post completion on a sample basis each year. The latest check of 24 sites identified herbivore impacts (from low to high) linked to deer populations on 5 of these sites with some, limited, reparation required. None of the sites where high damage has occurred have left the overall site at serious risk. High damage is in all cases extremely localised e.g. several square meters within a much bigger site (50ha+).

To manage the risk of deer populations impacting sites, and ensure the appropriate use of public funding, the Peatland ACTION partnership assesses the potential impact that deer may have on all projects prior to issuing grant offers. This includes consideration of a range of associated information e.g. deer population counts and trend data, and deer management plans which cover the area in question. As part of all Peatland ACTION contractual agreements landowners accept the responsibility to repair damage caused by deer across the restoration area. This is not done at a cost to the public purse.

Support for landowners to manage deer is available through the Peatland Training Fund and through the Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme.

The Scottish Government held discussions about its plans for walk-in services with the British Medical Association on 12 and 15 October and on 12 November. Walk-in services were discussed with the Royal College of General Practitioners on 15 October and on 12 November.

There have been no discussions with the Royal College of Nursing.

As outlined in my response to the chamber on the 27 November, we are focused on securing a Just Transition for workers, including at Mossmorran. Our focus is on securing new opportunities for workers, utilising the experience through Scottish Enterprise’s work at Grangemouth, to bring propositions to Mossmorran.

The Scottish Government has granted ministerial approval for the introduction of charging for access to Calanais Standing Stones.

This decision follows a community consultation exercise and will ensure a sustainable income for the site management, ongoing conservation work and help support the local economy. The income generated will also be essential to sustaining the adjoining Calanais Visitor Centre which has key investment from the Scottish and UK Government jointly funded Islands Growth Deal as part of the Outer Hebrides Destination Development programme. Importantly the local community will retain free access.