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I am delighted to be able to confirm that, following an intense period of scrutiny, that I am approving the plan for Integrated Maternity Services for the North, with consultant-led obstetric services at Dr Gray’s hospital. This is supported by an initial commitment of £6.6m to support implementation. I am also pleased to report that Linda de Caestecker, as lead for the external assurance panel has agreed to continue her involvement for at least the next 12 months as Boards move forward with implementation. The collaboration and innovation from NHS Grampian and NHS Highland on this plan provides a solid platform to build from as we look to strengthen maternity services in the north in a safe and sustainable way.

Mairi Gougeon: From the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) programme, seven of the eight 2022 priorities have been met. They made 265 hectares of publicly-owned land available to new entrants in 2022, with an additional 263 hectares, originally planned for 2022, being made available in Spring 2023.

The FONE group’s members have worked incredibly hard to reach positive, year-on-year results. And I continue to support them as they aim to make 600 hectares available for new entrants in 2023.

We do not currently hold data to quantify the provision of school childcare clubs within schools in particular local authority areas.

There are a variety of delivery models for the range of services being provided before and after school and in the holidays which might provide childcare options for families.

Services whose primary purpose it to provide childcare must register with, and be inspected by, the Care Inspectorate (dependent on their hours of operation). The majority of regulated school age childcare services are delivered by private, voluntary or third sector organisations. Only a minority are delivered directly by the local authority. The Care Inspectorate hold central data about regulated services.

Where a school offers clubs outside the school day as part of its activities programme (such as hobby or activity clubs), or for less than 2 hours each day (such as many breakfast clubs), these are not required to be registered or inspected by the Care Inspectorate. These may be provided by teachers, activity providers or volunteers. Data on these clubs is therefore not collected centrally.

It is not entirely clear as to which formal plans the questions refers, however the Bute House Agreement sets out our commitment to the introduction of a Land Reform Bill by the end of 2023. One of the proposals in the Bill is the introduction of compulsory Land Management Plans that will apply to large-scale landholdings. The public consultation on the Bill, ‘ Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation’ , was open from 4 July until the 30 October 2022, and received approximately 540 responses which are currently being analysed to inform the development of the proposals.

National Planning Framework 4, (NPF4) Policy 22 (e) - Flood Risk and Water Management, sets out a policy that Local Development Plans should seek to ‘ identify opportunities to implement improvements to the water environment through natural flood risk management and blue green infrastructure …’ by taking into account ‘relevant flood risk and river basin management plans.’ NPF4 Policy 6 also sets out that Local Development Plans will be ‘ supported and informed by an up to date Forest and Woodland Strategy’ . The Scottish Government guidance, The Right Tree in the Right Place contains advice to Local Authorities on preparing such Strategies, with direct reference to natural flood management as a suggested area for consideration. NPF4, and the Forest and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018, also set a framework for woodland protection.

In relation to forest management plans, advice on planning woodlands for flood mitigation benefits is included in the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) and supporting guidance. Forest managers must follow this to receive grant aid from Scottish Forestry. New guidance was published in 2022; ‘ Designing and Managing Forests and Woodlands to Reduce Flood Risk’ . Forest and Land Scotland seek to follow the guidance as above in their own Land Management Plans for the public estate, and ensure appropriate consideration of flood mitigation.

We continue to keep these estimates under review and will provide updates later in the year, after our planned consultation on a proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.

Assessing the future needs of places, in collaboration with communities, is a core part of the local development plan process and infrastructure needs should be considered early in the process as part of an evidence based approach.

We continue to engage closely with COSLA and Heads of Planning Scotland to understand the pressures faced by the planning service, including skills shortages, and to promote a highly performing system.

Along with other key stakeholders including Partners in Planning we will develop a skills strategy which will identify the specialist skills required to address the requirements of National Planning Framework 4, and the wider skills required to ensure we have planners with the expertise to deliver on our ambitions for Scotland.

In 2022 we commissioned work on the pipeline of new planners coming into the system. The research report is available at Future Planners Project Report (rtpi.org.uk) . We are working with the Royal Town Planning Institute Scotland and Heads of Planning Scotland to implement the report’s recommendations, and will focus on this as we move forward with delivery of NPF4.

The forthcoming development planning guidance will set out the various stages in plan preparation.

Permitted development rights already allow solar panels to be retro-fitted on domestic properties without a planning application, subject to relevant criteria being met. Permitted development rights grant planning permission for specified types of development through legislation. In doing so, they help provide certainty and save the time and expense associated with applying for planning permission.

The permitted development rights for domestic solar panels do not, however, apply to domestic properties located within a conservation area, meaning a planning application is required. This allows the planning authority to consider the potential negative impacts of solar panel installations on the visual amenity and character of the conservation area. Under the new fees regulations introduced by the Scottish Government in 2021, such applications qualify for a 25% reduction of the normal application fee.

The Scottish Government is currently considering potential for extending the permitted development rights for renewable energy installations, including domestic solar panels, in the light of the current climate and cost crises. We will be publishing a consultation on our proposals shortly.

The responsibilities of Scottish Ministers and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland are set out in the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, as amended. The Principles of Charging, available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/principles-of-charging-2021-2027/ , specify how Scottish Water is to charge for its services, together with the discounts, exemptions and reductions which must be applied.

Scottish Government officials met with representatives from Scottish Power on 10 January 2023 to discuss the publication of the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan. Officials also met with Scottish Power on 15 February 2023 to discuss the use of diesel generators at Arecleoch and Glen App wind farms.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13065 on 20 December 2022, 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 Joint Working Group on Sources of Local Government Funding and Council Tax Reform is next scheduled to meet next on 22 March 2023.