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This is a matter for individual local authorities. The information is not held centrally.

Officials in the Energy Consents Unit (“ECU”) use internal process guidance to check that the data input by developers into the carbon calculator accords with the relevant information referenced in the application documentation and its environmental impact assessment report (“EIA report”). Once the data is checked, the submission is formally received and then thereafter available for scrutiny in the public domain by using the reference code published in the EIA report. The data check includes:

1. Checking that the number of wind turbines and capacity output of each turbine accords with the information provided in the EIA Report.

2. Checking that the operational period accords with the application information

3. Checking that the capacity factor is credible and backed up by evidence in the EIA report.

The Scottish Government recognises the wide range of careers available in the horticultural sector and the importance of educational pathways to deliver graduates equipped with the skills and expertise demanded by the sector. Officials are therefore currently giving careful consideration to the eight ‘Asks of Government’ included in the Horticultural Trades Association’s (HTA) Scottish Environmental Horticulture Growth Strategy. In regard to the ‘ask’ to raise the presence of horticultural opportunities in careers guidance, officials have been working closely with universities and colleges across Scotland, and Lantra who are the leading provider of training, qualifications and career guidance for land-based industries across the UK. These discussions were recently outlined to sector stakeholders and MSPs at the Gardening and Horticulture cross party group at Holyrood.

Encouraging horticultural skills across the workforce aligns with government ambitions to address current environmental challenges, such as the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. The Scottish Government is committed to respond this year to the 22 recommendations in the Land-based Learning Review. The recommendations we accept will inform our actions to attract more people to work in Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sectors and to improve learning pathways to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed.

Work to encourage people into horticultural careers and develop apprenticeships and higher education programmes designed to create highly skilled horticultural graduates for a range of careers is continuing.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23022 on 28 November 2023. 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 Scottish Government has not explored potential applications for artificial intelligence (AI) specifically focused on the development and delivery of services for the Armed Forces and veterans community. However, Scotland’s AI Strategy , published in 2021, set out a clear vision for Scotland to become a leader in the development and use of trustworthy, ethical and inclusive AI and to do this in a way which offers benefits across all Scottish communities.

The Strategy was written with a desire to look behind the technology and to consider the role and impact which AI has on our people. We want the public to be assured that the products, services and decisions enabled by AI are safe and secure and protect their rights. It is important that we ensure that Scotland is well prepared to maximise the potential economic and social benefits of AI, but will do this in a way which protects and benefits our citizens.

The response to the analysis of responses to the Access to Information Rights in Scotland consultation will be published today. The response concludes that the fundamentals of the access to information rights regime, provided by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), remain fit for purpose. The Scottish Government therefore does not propose to introduce new primary legislation to amend FOI law within the current session of the Scottish Parliament.

Rather, the Scottish Government proposes to address issues which have been raised in the post-legislative scrutiny process within the framework provided by the existing primary legislation – including through the use of existing secondary legislation making powers.

This includes a commitment to a future consultation on extension of FOISA to private and third sector care homes, and care at home services, with that consultation to take place once the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill has been passed by the Parliament. The full response will become available shortly on the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781835217252

Scotland's Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan 2023-27 has been published today by Scottish Government and COSLA. This strategy – which is a world first in its dedicated focus on self-harm - is an early deliverable from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan published earlier this month.

The views of people with lived experience of self-harm, and insights from services that support them are at the centre of the strategy. This has shaped our vision, which is for people who have self-harmed, of who are thinking of self-harming, to receive compassionate, recovery-focused support, without fear of stigma or discrimination.

• The three year action plan – which will prioritise support for people which evidence suggests are at higher risk of self-harm - focuses on three areas:deepening knowledge and compassionate understanding of self-harm to reduce stigma and discrimination;
• building support and services across Scotland;
• and improving and sharing data and evidence.

We have already invested £1.5m in the development of new, bespoke self-harm support services over the last two years through Self-Harm Network Scotland, and early evidence shows this is having a positive impact. We are committing a further £1.5 million to back delivery of the action plan, and this will secure the continuation of these vital services over the next 2 years (2024-25 and 2025-26).

We are extremely grateful to all the people who have contributed to this important work over the last 18 months, particularly those who shared their own experiences of self-harm to help shape our approach.

The Behaviour in Scottish Schools research has been published today and is available at https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781835216668 .

I will update Parliament on the Government’s response, including the behaviour summit process, in a Parliamentary statement on 29 November.

Our aim is to introduce a Bill that strikes an appropriate balance in applying to significant landholdings whilst not disproportionately impacting smaller businesses and farms. A suite of impact assessments is being developed for Bill introduction, which will further help to inform final policy proposals. Final decisions on the Bill’s contents will be made in due course by Ministers and the Bill will be published on the Scottish Parliament website following its introduction in line with the established legislative process for Bills.

Product safety is a reserved matter; however, the Scottish Government provides grant funding to the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) to undertake a program of enforcement against the sale of illicit fireworks in Scotland. This work extends to ports and fast parcel outlets, as well as online sales from outwith Scotland. The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 also includes a proxy purchase and supply offence, to prevent the illegal supply of fireworks to those under the age of 18.