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NHS Education Scotland (NES) are responsible for the publication of GP data in Scotland.

The most recent data from 30 September 2024 that was published on 3 December 2024 includes a breakdown of GP numbers by Health Board and can be found here. NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence

The Scottish Government commitment to increase the number of GPs by 800 does not include commitments at Health Board level.

NHS Education of Scotland (NES) are responsible for the publication of GP workforce data. The most recent data including a breakdown of GP numbers by Health Board can be found here. NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence

Two businesses were funded in 2021-22, with payments totalling £750,000, located within Mid Scotland & Fife (Region) and North East Scotland (Region).

Two businesses were funded in 2022-23, with payments totalling £570,000, both located within Mid Scotland & Fife (Region).

The Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) is intended to bring about a number of benefits from the removal of freight from roads to other modes of transport. These include environmental and social effects including improved public health through reduced local air pollution; increased road safety through reduced volumes of heavy vehicle traffic; improved traffic flows through reduced congestion; and lower overall emissions from moving freight from heavy goods vehicles to lower-emitting forms of transport.

The Scottish Government continues to support the development of our ports, and the potential for new direct freight and passenger ferry services linking Scotland to Europe.

I have personally engaged with parties interested in introducing new ferry services, and Transport Scotland officials communicate regularly with potential operators and Scotland’s main ports.

The Scottish Government and its agencies have supported a number of maritime initiatives across Scotland, including establishing a Green Freeport at Forth Ports, which includes Rosyth. This involves both seed capital funding, along with businesses locating within the ports being able to access a package of devolved and reserved tax incentives.

We will continue to engage with port operators and others to explore opportunities for new commercial ferry services, so that Scottish exporters and passengers have more direct routes to and from Europe. However, the Scottish Government cannot subsidise routes in ways which would be anti-competitive beyond considering the availability of limited start-up grant funding opportunities for freight initiatives.

No applications for a Freight Facilities Grant have been rejected between 2021 and January 2025.

Category 1 defects are defined within the term maintenance contract as those that present, or could present, an immediate hazard to trunk road users. They are typically detected during the twice weekly driven safety related inspections. Category 2 defects are defined as those which do not present an immediate hazard to road users and are typically identified during walked annual inspections.

The following table contains the number of signs on the routes requested along with the number of signs with open defects of all types as at 12 February 2025.

Transport Scotland’s Operating Companies are required to either repair or make safe Category 1 sign defects within 24 hours of detection. The following table provides the number of Category 1 sign related defects that were not recorded as either repaired or made safe within 24 hours.

Since 1997, Freight Facilities Grants have removed over 50 million lorry miles from Scotland's roads. The exact impact on road congestion and air quality of each project cannot be confidently described due to the effect of other local influences on transport demand.

I am aware of the recently reported worrying that is doing the rounds and that leading up to lambing I will once again be reminding people of their obligations to understand the responsibilities they have when in the countryside with dogs.

The worrying of livestock by dogs is completely unacceptable and is something the Scottish Government takes very seriously, recognising the distress and the serious welfare and financial implications it causes.

That is why we supported the introduction of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, which came into force on 5 November 2021.

The Scottish Access code is quite clear as to what is considered responsible behaviour when dog walking in the countryside. I would encourage people to familiarise and remind themselves of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and to exercise caution and vigilance when in and around farms and fields with livestock to help prevent livestock worrying incidents.

Please see the data below from both the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish Government’s Justice Analytical Service. Please note that The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force on 5 November 2021. The 2021 Act amends the offence under the 1953 Act so all proceedings are still under the 1953 Act (as amended).

Table 1: Charges reported to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) under:-Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 S1(1)&(6)-Worry livestock on a farm – attack.