Seòmar agus comataidhean

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). The actual fill rate in recruitment rounds 1 and 2 for Acute Internal Medicine ST4, is 100%. The figure of 75%, published by HEE on 17 June 2023, has been superseded by updated data published by NHS Education for Scotland, on 25 July 2023. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). 97.14% is a very high fill rate for Anaesthetics ST4 in rounds 1 and 2 of 2023 recruitment. Within that context there will always be a small number of posts that will not fill. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Based on available evidence, we estimate that the cost of achieving the targets is up to £1.4 billion for the 2027 target, a further £3.7 billion for the 2030 target and a further £1.1 billion for the 2035 target.

Much of this cost will need to be met by the private sector and the Scottish Government is working to introduce a strong policy and regulatory framework to underpin that investment. The extent to which individual projects require public subsidy will vary from project to project. To date, through Scotland’s Heat Network Fund and the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, Scottish Government has committed approximately £62.7 million in capital funding for the construction of heat networks. SHNF is a demand-led programme meaning future funding requirements will be dependent on projects with viable business cases and committed co-investors progressing to capital readiness – based on the current pipeline, we expect to allocate around £25mn to projects in 24/25.

NatureScot advise on marine environmental impacts of proposed seaweed farms in relation to protected features and have best practice advice included in their responses. These responses are written on a case-by case basis.

The Scottish Government’s Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture , published in July 2023, sets out our long-term aspirations for the finfish, shellfish and seaweed farming sectors to ensure that development happens in the right places, underpinned by an effective and efficient regulatory framework informed by the best available evidence.

The Scottish Government published the Seaweed Cultivation Policy Statement in 2017 to help facilitate the growth of the sector by setting out policy on the suitability of seaweed cultivation in different scenarios. This provides those wanting to operate in this sector with a better understanding of the type of development that may be given approval.

In response to the recommendations of the independent review of aquaculture which were accepted in principle, I established and chair the Scottish Aquaculture Council (SAC) which was convened in June 2022 as a strategic forum to advise Scottish Ministers. It includes representation from the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association, alongside other key organisations with interests in the aquaculture sector and its environmental, economic and social impacts. The SAC has met on 4 occasions to date, most recently in November 2023.

The Scottish Aquaculture Council provided advice on the development of our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture (July 2023), applicable to finfish, shellfish and seaweed sectors. The SAC expects to discuss the developing National Marine Plan at its next meeting.

Construction of a seaweed farm is not considered to be a schedule 2 project under the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 and as such no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or EIA screening is currently required.

There are currently no plans to revise the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 to include construction of seaweed farms as a schedule 2 project.

The minutes will be published on the Scottish Government website following their approval at the next meeting of the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools which is currently scheduled to take place on 31 January 2024.

Local authorities are a non-statutory consultee to the marine licence application determination process. This allows the local authority to make representations on any marine licence application for a proposed seaweed farm.

The exception is in the case of Marine Planning Partnerships, who are statutory consultees to marine licence applications. A Local Authority may form the whole, or part of a Marine Planning Partnership as per section 12(2) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. Sole delegates are possible, and Orkney Islands Council is the sole delegate for regional marine planning in the Scottish marine region for the Orkney Islands. Local authorities are not therefore statutory consultees but may be consulted in their remit as part of a marine planning partnership (where applicable).

The recent 4-nation consultation on Creating a Smokefree Generation and Tackling Youth Vaping included suggested action on ‘other nicotine consumer products’ including nicotine pouches. The consultation also provided an assessment of the current evidence on nicotine pouches. The Scottish Government is currently working as part of a 4 nations approach on analysing the consultation response and considering next steps following the consultation.

The Scottish Government is concerned at this breach of security which has been the subject of an investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office. NHS Fife has introduced a system on the ward for documents containing patient data to be signed in and out of each shift and individuals will not be able to commence their shift until their identification has been verified and cross-referenced. The Information Commissioner’s Office has made further recommendations to NHS Fife and requested a progress report by 6 June 2024. The Scottish Government will ask NHS Fife to also provide a copy of that progress report to it.