Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-12774

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the consultation on the recommendations of the 2016 Sludge Review, into the spreading of sewage sludge on land, is not delayed again.

The legislative changes recommended by the completed Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland (‘The Sludge Review’), are being implemented via the forthcoming Integrated Authorisation Framework (IAF) regulations.

Progress on developing the planned IAF regulations was delayed due to Covid-19 and other priority work such as Brexit. This work has now been reprioritised and has recommenced. A consultation on proposed IAF regulations is due to be published early next year and stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals relating to sewage sludge.

Other recommended actions from the Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland which have already been completed include publication last year of the James Hutton Institute report on the impacts on human health and the environment arising from the spreading of sewage sludge to land, and implementation of the remedial actions that were recommended to be taken by Scottish Water.

Question reference: S6W-12772

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work in implementing the recommendations of the 2016 Sludge Review into the spreading of sewage sludge on land.

Recommended actions from the Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland which have already been completed include publication last year of the James Hutton Institute report on the impacts on human health and the environment arising from the spreading of sewage sludge to land, and implementation of the remedial actions that were recommended to be taken by Scottish Water.

The legislative changes recommended by the review are being implemented via the forthcoming Integrated Authorisation Framework regulations. A consultation on proposed regulations is due to be published in 2023 and stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals relating to sewage sludge.

Question reference: S6W-12761

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Bute House Agreement, whether it plans to update inshore spatial management for Scotland's inshore fisheries prior to the agreement of regional marine plans or the next National Marine Plan, and outwith the marine planning process.

The Scottish Government deploys a range of spatial and technical measures to manage Scotland’s fisheries. In addition, we have delivered a number of projects over the past four years to improve spatial management of inshore fisheries. These have included the Mull Crab Box and the Outer Hebrides Inshore Fisheries Pilot, which have been delivered as part of a co-management approach with our Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups. Fisheries management measures are not a regional marine planning matter.

Under the Bute House Agreement we will also soon consult on measures that will improve spatial management of our inshore waters, namely proposals to cap (to current levels) fishing activity within the three nautical mile area. The Agreement outlines further protections for our marine environment by introducing Highly Protected Marine Areas covering at least 10% of our waters by 2026, and delivering management measures for existing Marine Protected Areas where these are not already in place, as well as for Priority Marine Features at risk from bottom towed fishing gear out with these sites by 2024.

Question reference: S6W-12758

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates a cap on fishing activity in inshore waters, up to three nautical miles, limiting activity to current levels, as per the Bute House Agreement, to impact the level of discards, in light of the relevant proposals in the Future Catching Policy.

The Scottish Government anticipates that the proposed cap on fishing activity (up to three nautical miles) will contribute to our efforts to deliver a step change in marine protection. We will consult on our proposals to apply an activity cap in due course.

Earlier this year the Scottish Government published a draft future catching policy for consultation. The policy is intended to address long-running operational issues with the landing obligation, which bans the discarding of fish. The policy seeks to improve upon current rules, whilst staying true to the principles of the landing obligation, to support fishers to reduce waste and delivering sustainable and responsible fisheries management. We received 244 responses to the consultation, covering the full range of policy proposals, and are now undertaking analysis and evaluation.

Question reference: S6W-13179

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Keith Brown on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the progress of the implementation of the recommendations from the Independent Review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues in Relation to Policing.

I am pleased to confirm the publication today of the Scottish Government’s fourth thematic report on implementation progress following Dame Elish Angiolini’s Final Report. This not only includes a narrative, context and additional information about key recommendations but, importantly, also has a tracker showing what progress has been made.

This shows that 55 of the non-legislative recommendations are now complete leaving only 16 non-legislative recommendations still in progress and one to be kept under review.

Through their leadership and commitment, policing partners have delivered major business transformation and service redesign to improve how complaints are handled, bringing greater transparency, fairness and accessibility to systems, policies and processes.

Building on this and as announced in the Programme for Government, the Scottish Government will introduce a Police Complaints and Misconduct Handling Bill in this Parliamentary year to further strengthen public confidence in policing in Scotland.

I commend Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland for their dedication to this important work.

The report can be accessed here: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781805252610

Question reference: S6W-13000

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of Lady Elish Angiolini’s report of the Independent Review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues in Relation to Policing.

I am pleased to confirm the publication today of the Scottish Government’s fourth thematic report on implementation progress following Dame Elish Angiolini’s Final Report. This not only includes a narrative, context and additional information about key recommendations but, importantly, also has a tracker showing what progress has been made.

This shows that 55 of the non-legislative recommendations are now complete leaving only 16 non-legislative recommendations still in progress and one to be kept under review.

Through their leadership and commitment, policing partners have delivered major business transformation and service redesign to improve how complaints are handled, bringing greater transparency, fairness and accessibility to systems, policies and processes.

Building on this and as announced in the Programme for Government, the Scottish Government will introduce a Police Complaints and Misconduct Handling Bill in this Parliamentary year to further strengthen public confidence in policing in Scotland.

I commend Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland for their dedication to this important work.

The report can be accessed here: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781805252610

Question reference: S6W-12844

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to regional festivals, in light of the cost of living crisis.

The Scottish Government and its agencies support many of our festivals and events in a multitude of ways as set out in the following table:

Financial Support – financial year 2022-23

Funding Stream	Funding Provided	Notes
Scottish Government: EXPO	£1.8m for 12 major Edinburgh and Glasgow Festivals, plus £200,00 provided to Festivals Edinburgh	Since the start of the pandemic upon until now, we have supported the major Edinburgh and Glasgow festivals with approximately £14.1 million in EXPO, PLaCE, Gateway, and Covid emergency funding support, to enable their safe and successful return, as well as a £1m interest free loan to the Fringe Society.
Scottish Government: PLACE	£1m for the Platforms for Creative Excellence Programme (PLACE), which is match funded by City of Edinburgh Council, for the 10 major Edinburgh Festivals, as well as additional funding for Festivals Edinburgh.
Creative Scotland: Regularly Funded Organisations	£2,663,336 has been provided to 11 festivals around the country, other than the major EXPO festivals.	£6,349,510 in RFO funding to 18 festivals or organisations that deliver festivals, which includes 7 of the 12 EXPO funded festivals.
Creative Scotland: Open Funding	£1,423,973 in Open Funding to 29 festivals other than the major EXPO festivals.	All of the festivals or organisations that present festivals in receipt of Open Funding are not EXPO funded.
Event Scotland: International Events Programme	The EventScotland International Events Programme supported 33 events with over £1.9 million funding including the Burrell Collection Reopening, BWA Tiree Wave Classic, The Royal National Mòd and Edinburgh International Festival.
Event Scotland: National Events Programme	In 2022, EventScotland supported a range of events through the return of existing programmes including over £1 million funding to 93 events across Rounds 45 & 46 of the EventScotland National Events Programme. During 2022 EventScotland also supported 18 events across 12 Local Authorities (£160k budget) as part of the Community Cycling Fund (Round 1)	This has been designed to give everyone the chance to experience the joy riding a bike can bring to their everyday lives in a fun and safe environment while also creating a lasting benefit from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. Events included Fife Loves Cycling, Recyke-a-Bike Celebrate Cycling Festival weekend, and Get About Aberdeen Cycling Festival.
Year of Stories	The Scottish Government has supported 180 community-centred Community Stories events and festivals with £735k of partnership funding and 21 Open Funded events and festivals with £600k of funding, the latter via EventScotland.	During 2022 for Scotland’s Year of Stories, Scottish Government has been working in partnership with EventScotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Museums and Galleries Scotland,
Dandelion	In support of the Scottish activity, Scottish Ministers have assigned total funding of £11.002 million (gross) to EventScotland split across two financial years, 2021-22 and 2022-23.	Within the overall sum allocated to EventScotland, funding is included to provide support for identified activities such as: Dandelion project commission - £7.08 million net (£8.5m gross incl. VAT) Commissioning, governance, management, and engagement. Contribution to wider shared programme activities; including learning and participation resources, marketing, digital and communications, evaluation and monitoring, international engagement– £2.14 million net (£2.5m gross incl. VAT)

Wherever possible funding has been provided to support organisations to manage the current costs of living crisis, for example: Creative Scotland has advised all Regularly Funded Organisations that annual awards can be utilised to address financial impacts of rising operational costs and that Creative Scotland will be flexible where this causes organisations to deviate from planned spending on projects/other work.

In terms of Open Fund, Creative Scotland advise that all applicants take rising costs into consideration when submitting their budgets for consideration and in deciding upon what level of funding to apply for.

Non-Financial Support: 2022-23

As part of Scotland’s Year of Stories, EventScotland has also supported 140 unfunded Partnership Events and festivals, throughout Scotland, by offering the opportunity for free events listings on the VisitScotland website for any events which align with Year of Stories, marketing webinars plus a free marketing toolkit available on the VisitScotland website to support events and communities to get involved.

The Scottish Government has created a free toolkit of information resources to continue to embed the values messaging key to St Andrew’s Day and support events taking place across Scotland. This toolkit has been co-created with Scotland Food and Drink, VisitScotland and SDI and we have included Fair Saturday as well as the Scotland Loves Local initiative run by the Scottish Towns Partnership.

VisitScotland also launched a new promotional campaign (running April – June 2022) entitled ‘Buzz is Back’ to showcase Scotland’s exciting, exhilarating, and eclectic mix of music, cultural and sporting events to audiences, and to help support the sector as part of the recovery from the pandemic.

Question reference: S6W-12738

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Continuity Act draft Annual Report 2021-22, which was considered by the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on 17 November 2022, and states that the Scottish Government plans to "implement certain requirements" of the Directive (EU) 2020/2184 ("Recast Drinking Water Directive"), whether it will confirm which requirements it plans to implement and/or align with; within what timescale these requirements will be adopted, and what consultation will be carried out with relevant stakeholders.

The Scottish Government proposes to take a phased approach to the alignment with the recast Drinking Water Directive. This prioritises the health based standards that can be implemented now and recognises that some parts of the Directive apply at a later date.

A more detailed description of the approach to alignment is provided in the policy note which accompanies The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002 (draft). This is contained in the Clerk’s papers for the 32 nd Meeting of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee ( 4647 (parliament.scot) ).

Consultation will be undertaken with relevant stakeholders as the various parts of the Directive are introduced to ensure that they are proportionate and in Scotland’s interests.

Question reference: S6W-12818

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, for its (a) Alcohol Harm Prevention Policy Team, (b) Alcohol Treatment Policy Team and (c) Drugs Policy Unit, how many posts there are in each team, and of these, how many are currently filled.

Question reference: S6W-12741

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many care homes have closed in each of the last five years in NHS (a) Grampian, (b) Highland, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Western Isles.

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