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National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), published and adopted in February 2023, sets out at Policy 5 (Soils) that development proposals on prime agricultural land, or land of lesser quality that is culturally or locally important for primary use, as identified by the local development plan, will only be supported in limited circumstances. This includes for the generation of energy from renewable sources where there is secure provision for restoration and the layout and design of the proposal minimises the amount of protected land required.

All development proposals are subject to site specific assessments.

As part of the 2018 GP Contract, the Scottish Government amended regulations for the delivery of CTAC Services. Boards are now responsible for providing a Community Treatment and Care service. These services are being designed locally, taking into account local population health needs, existing community services, and optimising benefit to practices and patients.

Our annual statistical publication provides a progress update on implementation of the 2018 GP contract.

Where new development proposals come forward, National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), ensures that the impacts of proposals on communities and nature, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision making process. All applications are subject to site specific assessments and the cumulative impacts of energy development proposals are also considered through statutory Environmental Impact Assessment processes, where relevant and applicable.

The Scottish Ministers have an expectation that communities are engaged at an early stage and can meaningfully influence development proposals in their area. Where there is a need for co-ordination between applicants proposing development in the same area, all parties are expected to work together to co-ordinate development and minimise any impacts on communities and the environment.

When determining applications made under the Electricity Act 1989, Scottish Ministers are required to seek advice from planning authorities to ensure that decision-making is co-ordinated to reflect local circumstances.

Transitionary funding, sometimes known as sustainability payments, were made to GP practices in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and reflected the status of the Primary Care Improvement Plans at that time. Since then we have continued to implement the plans and practices are now supported by over 4,900 multi-disciplinary team staff.

In 2024-25, we are investing over £190 million in the ongoing development of primary care multi-disciplinary teams.

The Scottish Government does not collect specific data on short-term lets who have chosen to stop operating. We have begun to publish regular official statistics on the number of short-term let license applications received, broken down by local authority here: Short Term Lets Licensing Statistics Scotland to 31 December 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) This is an evolving dataset which will give us reliable information on the number of licensed properties, and the size of the sector in Scotland. So far less than 1% of licence of applications have been refused.

We also publish a range of regular statistical updates on tourism, which we use to monitor the health of the sector and take action where appropriate. The Industry Advisory Group, hosted by Visit Scotland also plays a role in considering information on short-term let licensing including the experience of hosts, which has informed several operational improvements to the scheme which will take effect shortly.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) at Policy 11 (Energy) ensures that consideration is given to the decommissioning of developments and site restoration, as well as to the quality of site restoration plans. This includes the measures in place to safeguard or guarantee availability of finance to effectively implement those plans. The enforcement of such matters is a matter for the relevant local authority.

This is an operational matter for the agencies referred to. I have asked the agencies’ Chief Executives to respond directly to you with the information requested.

Any application for public support from our enterprise agencies is subject to robust appraisal and appropriate due diligence.

Ministers have agreed to support new proposals of investment of up to £14.2 million aimed at enabling Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (FMPG) to improve productivity and build a sustainable future.

However, this investment is subject to the plan passing detailed legal analysis and independent financial and commercial assessments, which should be complete by Autumn. The plan also contains commercially sensitive information and as such, details of the business case and investment plan cannot be shared, even after full due-diligence has concluded.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring equitable access to living kidney donation. All nine Renal Units in Scotland are currently supporting living kidney donation, with sixteen living donor co-ordinators in post across the Renal Units. In 2016, the Scottish Government supported the creation of the Living Donation Scotland Board, whose role, working with referring Renal Units and Transplant Centres, is to make it easier to access living donor kidney transplantation. The Scottish Government also supports the Renal Units in their work by hosting an annual event for staff to share good practice and learning.

In addition, the Scottish Government is taking a number of steps to make accessing kidney donation easier as set out in the Scottish Donation and Transplantation Plan: 2021-2026 . The plan makes clear that whilst it will not be feasible for everyone, the aim is to encourage all those who need a kidney transplant to consider and explore options for a living donor transplant as their first transplant.

To ensure that every recipient who would benefit from a kidney transplant receives standard information about living donation during transplant assessment, the Scottish Government provides living donor information packs and a range of resources through the Organ Donation Scotland website, including written information, video and clear pathway contact information access for recipients and donors. Annual living donation multi-media campaigns have also proven successful in increasing awareness for donors.

Finally, following a pilot project, the Renal Education and Choices at Home (REACH Transplant) programme was implemented in 2022. REACH Transplant is funded by the Scottish Government and has involved the appointment of both a REACH transplant programme lead and ten REACH Transplant nurses across Scotland, based in each Renal Unit. The REACH Transplant nurses work with local nephrologists to identify those at an early stage who may need a kidney transplant in the future. A visit is organised with the recipient and their support network in a place of their choice to provide information on living kidney donation and to support the recipient to discuss living donation. The aim of this tailored support and timely referral for living donor transplantation is to increase the likelihood of pre-emptive transplantation by overcoming barriers and ensuring equity of treatment choice.