Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09303 on 5 July 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 juvenile grey seal Spearmint was released on the Farne Islands, Northumberland on 30 June 2022.

Grey seals are regularly found injured or sick along the UK coastline. In most cases these animals are taken to rescue centres where, following a period of rehabilitation, are released back to the wild at the locations where they are found. The Scottish Government is not aware of any monitoring that takes place with regards to the release of rehabilitated seals from these centres.

Grey seals are widely distributed around the Scottish coast and in some limited cases, individual animals may enter river systems. The Scottish Government recognises that seal predation is one of several pressures affecting wild salmon in rivers, which is why it continues to work with the sector, stakeholders and scientific community to explore practical ways to address these interactions.

I have decided to publish my reference to the Supreme Court made under paragraph 34 of schedule 6 to the Scotland Act 1998. The reference is available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/reference-to-supreme-court-whether-the-question-for-a-referendum-on-scottish-independence-contained-in-the-proposed-referendum-bill-relates-to-reserved-matters

Yes. The post was filled in 2021.

The COVID-19 Ventilation Short-Life Working Group (SLWG) reported to the Scottish Government at the end of March 2022. Following due consideration, we published our response to the SLWG recommendations on 29 June 2022, as part of a wider update to all MSPs on our progress to deliver COVID-19 adaptation commitments in the COVID-19 Strategic Framework update. A copy of that letter can be found on the Scottish Government website here .

The SLWG made ten recommendations aimed at improving: awareness of the contribution ventilation has in reducing the risk of transmission; regulations; guidance; technical skills; and air quality in buildings. Work is in hand to take forward these recommendations. We are prioritising actions that can be taken quickly to improve ventilation ahead of this winter to improve our resilience against COVID-19 and other infections.

A Women’s Health Plan Implementation Programme Board has been established to ensure that progress is achieved against the actions within the Plan.

Good progress is being been made against the actions in the first year of the plan. A first progress report, which will update on these achievements, will be published in Autumn 2022.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09221 on 28 June 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 consultation document will be published on the Scottish Government’s website on 4 July at 10 am.

https://consult.gov.scot/agriculture-and-rural-economy/land-reform-net-zero-scotland

Prompt payment of suppliers is critical to the sustainability and resilience of our supply chains, particularly our SMEs. Paying suppliers on time, in full and within a maximum of 30 days also supports our economic recovery and growth. The Scottish Government refreshed the 2009 prompt payment policy earlier this year, consolidating existing guidance and providing advice on how public bodies may choose to track and monitor payment performance. This updated policy sends a clear message to industry that late payment is not acceptable for the Scottish Public Sector.

The Scottish Government has been contacted directly and indirectly by 6 local authorities with resource concerns in relation to complying with this policy, mainly regarding the resource required to monitor prompt payment through the supply chain.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01935 on 24 June 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