Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-17396

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings the First Minister had with the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity between 29 March and 19 April 2023, and on what dates these meetings occurred.

Question reference: S6W-17357

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many full-time equivalent staff currently work at SafeDeposits Scotland.

The role of the Scottish Government is to monitor each of the three deposit schemes for compliance with the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011. This includes being satisfied that the tenancy deposit schemes have clear and substantial processes in place that meet the requirements laid out in the regulations.

The three approved tenancy deposit schemes are private businesses and the Scottish Government is not involved in their business operations. We do not hold information on how many full-time equivalent staff currently work at SafeDeposits Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-17414

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a duty to achieve a biodiversity net gain, or whether this is a matter of general policy ambition, and whether it has set any explicit targets to achieve a biodiversity net gain.

There is no statutory duty on the Scottish Government to achieve a biodiversity net gain.

Scotland’s draft biodiversity strategy published in December 2022 sets out a clear ambition for Scotland to be nature positive by 2030, and to have substantially restored and regenerated biodiversity by 2045. Five year delivery plans will set out the actions we need to take to achieve that ambition. We will consult on the first delivery plan in the summer. We will also bring forward a Natural Environment Bill, which will put in place key legislative changes to restore and protect nature, including, but not restricted to, targets for nature restoration.

The National Planning Framework also places a strong emphasis on securing positive effects for biodiversity as one of its six statutory outcomes (as identified in section 3A(3)(c) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended). The recently adopted National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) includes a cross-cutting theme to improve biodiversity and our strategy and policies support development that helps to secure positive effects for biodiversity. NPF4 Policy 3 sets out that development proposals will contribute to the enhancement of biodiversity, including where relevant, restoring degraded habitats and building and strengthening nature networks.

Question reference: S6W-17411

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether any explicit legal duties fall on (a) it and (b) its agencies to (i) protect endangered species and (ii) increase species abundance, or whether any action on this matter is a matter of policy rather than law.

There is a wide range of legislation which applies to the Scottish Government to protect Scotland’s wildlife and habitats, including specific duties which fall on individual authorities to protect, conserve and restore the protected habitats and species of European sites.

NatureScot’s role as set out in the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 includes securing the conservation and enhancement of the natural heritage of Scotland. All public bodies have a duty under Section 1 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 to further the conservation of biodiversity when carrying out their work, where appropriate and in line with the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity.

Furthermore, for Scotland’s terrestrial and marine environments, the requirements of in the Habitats Directive and the Wild Birds Directive apply, setting out the rules for the protections and management of certain habitats and species, including wild bird species, to ensure their long term conservation.

For example, under Regulation 3A of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994, Scottish Ministers and NatureScot must take steps in the exercise of their functions to preserve, maintain and re-establish sufficient diversity and area of habitat for wild birds in Scotland.

While there is no explicit legal duty on the Scottish Ministers or its agencies to increase species abundance, this does form one of the key outcomes envisaged in the draft Scottish Biodiversity Strategy https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-biodiversity-strategy-2045-tackling-nature-emergency-scotland/ . The protected areas networks on land and sea includes sites for nature conservation, protection of biodiversity, demonstrating sustainable management and protecting our heritage. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Special Ares of Protection (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are just a few examples of the protected areas designated under retained European Law, UK and Scottish legislation by Scottish Ministers which go to form a network of protected sites. These sites ensure protection for some of the most vulnerable species and habitats within Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-17381

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been provided to support sporting activities on Scotland's islands in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) island group and (b) government body providing the funding.

The Scottish Government understand the importance of sport and physical activity and the positive impact that it has on physical, mental, and social health. We want to create and provide every opportunity for participation in sport and physical activity for everyone in Scotland.

As part of The National Islands Plan Implementation Route Map, which can be viewed here , the Scottish Government have committed to support relevant local authorities to plan and develop sports facilities on the islands that respond to the needs of communities.

As the national agency for sport , sport scotland invests Scottish Government and National Lottery resources to help the people of Scotland get the most from the sporting system. sport scotland works in partnerships with Scottish Governing Bodies of sport (SGBs), local authorities, leisure trusts, sports clubs and community organisations, schools, colleges, and universities to provide greater opportunities for all to participate in sport.

The table below details sport scotland’s investment in each island local authority area, in each year, since 2013-14 (10-year period). This data covers investment by sport scotland, in both the local authority and other organisations in the local authority area, including investment for Active Schools, Community Sport Hubs, Sport Facilities Fund, National and Regional Facilities, Cycling Facilities Fund, Cashback for Communities, Active Places Fund, National Lottery Awards for All, Direct Club Investment, and Get Into Summer.

Table 1:

Local Authority area	Investment Period (financial year)											Total Investment by Local Authority area
Local Authority area	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar	£220,328	£311,448	£226,959	£208,100	£196,100	£187,611	£206,871	£197,689	£235,894	£274,032	£2,265,032
Orkney Council	£210,664	£257,114	£176,580	£175,614	£172,114	£194,259	£182,444	£207,043	£230,966	£173,485	£1,980,283
Shetland Council	£370,030	£258,998	£684,669	£237,775	£223,678	£228,178	£226,134	£254,780	£259,549	£264,274	£3,008,065

sport scoltand also invest into the following three local authorities who geographically cover Island communities. The investment covers the whole local authority area and do not hold information on the investment breakdown on the individual islands.

Table 2:

Local Authority area	Investment Period (financial year)										Total Investment by Local Authority area
Local Authority area	2013-14	2014-25	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Argyll & Bute Council	£653,987	£691,752	£441,988	£411,779	£414,673	£334,104	£327,772	£580,282	£357,992	£349,922	£4,564,251
Highland Council	£1,559,566	£1,901,298	£2,423,568	£1,332,407	£1,197,435	£1,448,482	£1,224,698	£1,245,138	£1,748,235	£1,796,204	£15,877,031
North Ayrshire Council	£536,834	£13,274,320	£487,661	£788,037	£400,950	£588,507	£457,305	£631,365	£490,963	£794,331	£18,450,273

Notes for table 1 and 2

1. Investment is recorded in the year of award, and it is the level of award that is reported.

2. The investment is a mix of revenue and capital spend.

3. The investment is a mix of recurring investment in long-term programmes (e.g. Active Schools) and one-off investments through open application processes (e.g. National Lottery Awards for All).

4. The data does not include investment into national organisations. (e.g. sport scotland invests in around 50 Scottish Governing Bodies of sport. This investment is excluded from the table rather than being recorded against the local authority in which the head office of the organisation is based.)

5. The data does not include direct awards to individuals. (e.g. sport scotland Personal Awards to high performance athletes).

Further investment in supporting sporting activities is included in The Islands Programme for financial year 2021-22. This includes three project strands which are being delivered in collaboration with Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), Inspiring Scotland, HIE and other key partners:

o The Islands Infrastructure Fund (IIF)

o The Island Communities Fund (ICF)

o The Healthy Islands Fund (HIF)

£523,782 of IIF investment contributed to projects that developed sporting and physical activities. Geographically this is broken down as follows:

Orkney Islands - £443,782; and
Argyll and Bute Islands - £80,000.

£233,738 of ICF investment contributed to projects that developed sporting and physical activities. Geographically this is broken down as follows:

Argyll and Bute Islands - £75,600.00;
Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) - £80,920.00;
Orkney Islands - £7,477.48; and
North Ayrshire Islands - £69,741.00.

£1,122,954 of HIF contributed to projects that developed sports and physical activities. Geographically this is broken down as follows:

Argyll and Bute Islands – £34,052;
Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) - £392,961;
Highland Council Islands – £108,067;
North Ayrshire Islands - £100,690;
Orkney Islands - £359,567; and
Shetland Islands - £127,615.

In addition the £230 million ‘Restart the Economy’ capital stimulus package was announced by the then Cabinet Secretary for Finance on 16 June 2020. As part of the capital stimulus package, the £2 million Islands Green Recovery Programme (IGRP) launched on 13 September 2020.

£333,289 of IGRP investment contributed to projects that developed sporting and physical activities. Geographically this is broken down as follows:

Argyll and Bute Islands - £92,161; and
Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) - £241,128.

Question reference: S6W-17452

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review any policies in relation to placing young people in adult mental health services.

The Scottish Government has no plans to review policies in relation to placing young people in adult mental health wards.

NHS Boards use the Admission to Adult Mental Health Wards for under 18's Guidelines which were published in 2020, alongside discussions with the young person and their family, to make the most appropriate decision regarding the treatment and support that a young person requires.

The guidelines make clear that we expect children and young people who require inpatient care to be looked after in age-appropriate facilities. There may be occasions when it isn’t possible for a young person to be admitted to a specialist child and adolescent bed – for example, a crisis admission out of hours where there are concerns for the young person’s safety, or the young person and their family have a preference for an admission to a local adult ward. On occasions where young people are placed within an adult ward this will be monitored and reviewed regularly to ensure that the young person is receiving the most appropriate treatment and care.

Question reference: S6W-17099

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the average real terms spending, based on current prices, was for a participant undertaking a (a) modern, (b) graduate and (c) foundation apprenticeship programme, in each year since the scheme was introduced.

Question reference: S6W-17098

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the withdrawal rate was for participants undertaking a (a) modern, (b) graduate, and (c) foundation apprenticeship programme, in each year since the scheme was introduced.

Modern Apprenticeship statistics are published on the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) website at Modern Apprenticeships | Skills Development Scotland . Year-end statistics for 2022-23 are expected to be published in May 2023.

The proportion of individuals who don't complete their apprenticeship or leave early are published by SDS at the following links:

Foundation Apprenticeships - https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/50223/foundation-apprenticeship-report-2022-published-version.pdf

Modern Apprenticeships - https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/49237/modern-apprenticeship-statistics-quarter-4-2021-22.pdf

Graduate Apprenticeships – https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/49924/graduate-apprenticeship-annual-report-2022-final.pdf

Earlier years data can be found in older publications.

Question reference: S6T-01368

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding reports that a new contract has been awarded by the Scottish Police Authority, valued at around £663,000, for the provision of additional forensic testing in relation to suspected cases of spiking.

Question reference: S6T-01364

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to avoid industrial action by junior doctors, in light of the decision in favour of action by almost 97% of BMA Scotland members who voted.

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