Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government recognises the emerging seaweed industry is growing in scale and can provide a host of benefits to local communities, the environment, and contribute to the sustainable development of a Blue Economy through production of innovative and low-carbon products.

We commissioned research on ' Understanding the potential scale for seaweed-based industries in Scotland ', which was published in February 2022. This report explores the key areas of growth potential for the seaweed sector and the wider economic and social impacts of possible growth scenarios. As a result of this report, and to ensure that the seaweed sector in Scotland develops sustainably, the Scottish Government is funding, in partnership with Crown Estate Scotland, a 3-year business development manager position at the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association to support the growth ambitions of the Scottish seaweed sector.

The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to our Public Health agenda as well as the range of priority actions that we have set out in relation to various health harming products, including tobacco, alcohol and less healthy food.

We know people living in poverty have poorer health outcomes and are at a higher risk of NCDs. In 2022-23, we invested an estimated £3 billion across a range of programmes targeted at low income households - with £1.25 billion directly benefitting children. This includes over £213 million on the Scottish Child Payment, over £169 million on School Meals, and £33.5 million Whole Family Wellbeing Funding.

In addition, we recently consulted on increasing the current rate of Minimum Unit Price from 50 pence per unit to 65 pence. We have consulted as part of a UK-wide consultation on raising the age of smoking and further restrictions on vapes. We are also committed to legislation to restrict the promotion of less healthy food and drink where they are sold to the public. Our new and ambitious Cancer Strategy and Cancer Action Plan for Scotland was published in June 2023, which outlines 11 ambitions and 8 outcomes.

Arrangements for the 2024 round of the Agri-environment Climate Scheme (AECS) are being finalised following the UK Government’s very disappointing Autumn Statement. An announcement on this matter will be made shortly when AECS 2024 opens for applications.

National Planning Policy 5d) makes clear that, where development on peatland, carbon-rich soils or priority peatland habitat is proposed, a detailed site specific assessment will be required to identify: i) the baseline depth, habitat condition, quality and stability of carbon rich soils; ii) the likely effects of the development on peatland, including on soil disturbance; and, iii) the likely net effects of the development on climate emissions and loss of carbon.

Through our Onshore Wind Policy Statement 2022, we have committed to assess the operation of, and if necessary update or replace, the carbon calculator. Whilst the review is ongoing, the existing carbon calculator, in its current form, can continue to be used by applicants and decision makers to support the carbon assessment of wind farm developments.

This has been the most challenging budget for Scotland since devolution. The UK Government’s Autumn Statement was very disappointing and cut the Scottish Government’s capital allocation by over 10%. This means the Scottish Government faces tough choices on where to allocate the budget available. Previously, budget allocations for Agricultural Transformation Fund (ATF) were allocated to the Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme (SACGS) 2022, to support the purchase of low emission slurry spreading equipment and slurry store covers and to the Agri-environment Climate Scheme (AECS) in 2023 to support the extension nationally of the slurry storage option. In the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24, the demand for support through the Sustainable Agriculture Grant Scheme (SACGS) was around £3m and £2m respectively, which was lower than anticipated and, subsequently, the budget for both years was under-committed. Given this position, it is anticipated that the proposed budget of £3m for financial year 2024-25 should be sufficient to cover demand for slurry storage options, accordingly, there should be no impact on farmers and crofters who wish to apply for installing or upgrading slurry storage facilities.

Much has already been delivered under the Hydro Nation Strategy, as set out in the annual reports.

https://www.gov.scot/policies/water/hydro-nation/

Going forward the programme will continue to benefit from Scottish Government spend, with a proposed £2.8 million allocated to 2024-25, and will deliver through the additional input of partners such as The James Hutton Institute and Scottish Water, who benefit from Scottish Government funding, and the Hydro Nation Chair.

I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-24138 on 16 January 2024. 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 2024-25 Scottish Budget settlement for Forestry and Land Scotland does not impact the use of car park charges at sites on Scotland’s national forests and land as part of the agency’s sustainable forest and visitor management strategy.

There is currently no projected underspend in the 2023-24 Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

Data covering the period 2020-23 is available via the published National Statistics on the Scottish Prison Population.

Over this period, under 18s were held on remand in the following establishments: HMP YOI Cornton Vale, HMP YOI Grampian, HMP YOI Polmont, HMP YOI Stirling, HMP Edinburgh and HMP Inverness.

Section 20 of the 1989 Act permits SPS to hold young offenders (YOs) in a prison whilst arrangements are made to transfer them to a young offenders institution (YOI). A direction made under section 20A(2) of the 1989 Act may also allow a prisoner under 18 years to be detained in a prison but only for a “temporary purpose?. There is no definition of “temporary purpose? in the 1989 Act but an example would be for a young person to attend court.

The following table provides the number of individuals spending any time in each establishment or group of establishments in the course of each year covered by the National Statistics.