Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05833 on 4 February 2022. 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 .

Discussions with the Rail Trade Union representatives are underway and I look forward to personally having the opportunity to discuss this topic at my meeting with all Rail Trade Unions on Thursday 10 February.

Scottish Government have increased the annual native woodland creation target from a minimum of 3000 to at least 4000 hectares and have committed to setting evidence-based targets for both native woodlands and natural regeneration as part of the 2022 Biodiversity Strategy.

Scottish Government have committed to a Natural Environment Bill aiming to introduce it in year three of this parliamentary session, which will follow on from the new biodiversity strategy. This will put in place key legislative changes to restore and protect nature, including an effective, statutory, target-setting monitoring, enforcing and reporting framework.

The Nature Restoration Fund, established this year following an agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party, will be expanded over the duration of this parliamentary session and encompass multi-year funding. It will make an important contribution to meeting our targets and restoring Scotland’s terrestrial and marine environments through, for example, restoring and expanding our Atlantic rainforests, and the establishment of nature networks across Scotland.

All woodland management will continue to be underpinned by the internationally recognised principles of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), as defined in The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) the technical standard for sustainable forest management in the UK. The Scottish Government supports tree planting and woodland management through the Forestry Grant Scheme. This support is only provided where UKFS requirements are met, and where we are confident this helps to ensure our natural environment is both protected and enhanced.

The First Minister has met Councillor Susan Aitken on the following occasions:

29th July 2021 (Meeting with Pladis Global)

12th October 2021 (Launch of the Barclays site in Glasgow)

19th October 2021 (COP26 Ministerial Roundtable)

31st October 2021 (Industrial Action in Glasgow – phone call)

GP practices which are run by independent contractors must have arrangements in place which operate in accordance with section 15 of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011. Patients should raise their concerns in the first instance by phoning, writing to or emailing the practice manager.

If patients are not satisfied with their GP practice's response, they can then raise their concern with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. Any complains about a GP or GP practice that are upheld by the Ombudsman are directed to their contracting Health Board and are followed up by the Ombudsman's office to ensure that the actions and recommendations are implemented.

The Scottish Government recognises and values the importance of careers information advice and guidance. As part of his recommendations for the implementation of the Young Person’s Guarantee Sandy Begbie requested Skills Development Scotland consider how best a career advice service could operate from early years right through until a young person enters employment.

The Review and the Scottish Government’s response to the recommendations have now been finalised. The Review outlines ten recommendations for continuing to improve the delivery of careers advice and guidance. It has been informed by extensive consultation with young people, users and stakeholders.

The Review and the Scottish Government’s response can be found at www.CareerReview.scot .

While the Scottish Government has not met or corresponded with UK Government on this question specifically, we meet and correspond with UKG regularly about funding in general. Over the course of the pandemic we have worked closely with the self-catering accommodation sector and Scottish Tourism Alliance on the recovery and support for the sector and we will continue to do so.

The Scottish Government recognises that the self-catering accommodation sector, alongside many other businesses across Scotland has been adversely affected by Covid-19. In addition to the regular Strategic Framework Business Fund which previously supported small accommodation providers, a range of tailored support to meet the needs of tourism businesses was developed. This included the Small Accommodation Providers Paying Council Tax Fund (SAP-CTF) which eligible Bed & Breakfasts, Guesthouses, small serviced accommodation providers and other self-catering businesses that paid council tax were able to access. Other targeted funds included the large self-catering grant and support for the B&B sector via a fund of up to £3 million to support those B&Bs with no business bank account. Equivalent tailored funds have not generally been available in England.

We will continue to engage in dialogue with the UK Government on issues of funding and to monitor the impacts of COVID on Scotland’s tourist industry.

We are committed to significantly increasing annual rates of peatland restoration in Scotland. We have committed £250 million for peatland restoration over the period 2020 to 2030 and this sends a clear signal of the Government’s intent to restore peatlands to help address the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. Peatland Action, a Scottish Government-funded programme delivered by NatureScot and other delivery partners, provides technical and logistical support to land owners and land managers to support their scale-up and delivery of peatland restoration. We are developing further support to drive this new industry in rural areas and engage with crofting communities; we are also gathering evidence on how to target restoration activity to ensure maximum value for money, emission reduction savings and a just transition.

It is for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as independent regulator, to regulate facilities like the Mossmorran Complex in order to provide assurance that operators are managing the risks created during their activities. The HSE liaises regularly with SEPA and Fife Council with regards to management of the site. The Scottish Government, as a matter of course, liaises regularly with SEPA, which is one of the public partners, including also NHS Fife and Public Health Scotland, in relation to the management and regulation of the Mossmorran complex.

Costs of any contracts between ScotRail Trains Ltd. and Abellio will not be fully known until contract negotiations are concluded, and thereafter will depend upon the extent of use of the support services covered by those contracts.