Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to questions S6W-35362 and S6W-35361 on 24 June 2025. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38863 on 3 July 2025. 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 recently published Strategic Approach of the Islands Connectivity Plan sets Accessibility as one of four priorities for future ferry services and identifies a number of actions to support the delivery of this priority, including development of a Ferries Accessibility Standard and reopening of the Ferries Accessibility Fund.

Carbon Contracts are to be piloted as part of the Peatland ACTON programme. All projects will be required to meet Peatland ACTION quality criteria. Scottish Government has not undertaken modelling to estimate the exact impact of the Carbon Contracts pilot on levels of peatland restoration and CO2 emissions reductions. The pilot itself will play a key role in assessing the potential impact of the Carbon Contracts mechanism on rates of peatland restoration.

The Scottish Government does not currently have plans to introduce specific measures to train and upskill NHS kidney care teams in relation to psychosocial support.

NHS Boards are expected to follow current guidelines and best practice in delivering safe, effective, and person-centred care. Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023 sets out a long-term vision for improving mental health, supported by the National Specification for Psychological Therapies and Interventions and the new Mental Health Core Standards, introduced in September 2023. Workforce planning and training are led locally, aligned with national frameworks.

The UK Government’s failure to fully fund their increase to employer National Insurance contributions has left Scotland’s public services, including Police Scotland, with a total bill running into hundreds of millions of pounds which will undermine investment in the Scottish Government’s priorities.

Despite this, we are providing an additional £15.2 million in-year funding to support the impact on Police Scotland, as part of the record £1.64 billion investment in policing in 2025-26.

As a part of the Carbon Contracts pilot, Scottish Government intends to spend up to a total of £1m in capital.

The Scottish Government is supporting our farmers and crofters to maintain and enhance their soil health

By understanding their current soil health, farmers and crofters can identify and action opportunities for improvements that work for their businesses. That is why agricultural businesses claiming Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) must now undertake a minimum of two of the Whole Farm Plan full guidance audits and plans, one of which can be a Soil Analysis.

Soil analysis is required if permanent Region 1 land is claimed and fertiliser/manures are applied. It is very positive that 56% of BPS claimants for 2025 have reported that they are analysing their soil. The intention is for all businesses to have completed their relevant plans and audits through the Whole Farm Plan by 2028 at the latest.

Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) (PSF) is also delivering transitional support for businesses to prepare for the future. One option currently being funded through PSF, includes funding for soil testing and analysis. To date 4,805 Scottish farmers and crofters have taken up the support for their soil analysis through PSF.

Sustainable and regenerative agriculture: code of practice - gov.scot launched on 19th June 2025. It sets out the principles of regenerative agriculture and provides guidance and practical examples on the types of sustainable and regenerative activities that can be adopted on farms or crofts, including many measures on soils. We recognise many farmers and crofters throughout Scotland are already adopting numerous sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, including with their soils, and The Code doesn’t seek to replace those existing practices, but offers some suggestions that could contribute to wider efficiencies, profitability, climate adaption and mitigation, biodiversity, soil health and sustainability targets.

The government remains committed to embedding the importance of Scotland’s soil health in government strategies and plans, for example the Biodiversity Strategy, Climate Change Plan, Soils Route Map, and Land Use Strategy.

We also continue to offer advice and guidance through the Soils resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service which offers impartial advice on managing and the importance of soils to farmers, crofters and land managers, including on reducing erosion, fertiliser costs and nutrient losses, as well as improving soil structure and health, soil carbon sequestration potential, and crop productivity.

Education Scotland, the national education agency, promotes the benefits of outdoor learning by sharing a range of resources, guidance and case studies via their new Learning for Sustainability webpage and by facilitating peer-to-peer learning through the Learning for Sustainability mentors’ network. The Scottish Government also provides funding to the Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education to maintain and update its “Going Out There” website which provides a range of toolkits, risk assessment guidance and online learning.

Outdoor learning features strongly in the government’s Learning for Sustainability Action Plan. As part of that plan, a dedicated outdoor learning national working group has been considering further ways to support and promote outdoor learning. The group will provide its final report and recommendations to Ministers later this year.

In relation to access to green spaces in schools, the £2bn Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) is being delivered in partnership with local authorities and will benefit tens of thousands of pupils across Scotland. Through the LEIP, projects are encouraged to maximise the use of the outdoor environment for learning, social activities and recreation.

The Curriculum Improvement Cycle is currently reviewing and strengthening Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence. Guidance, professional learning and resources on a wide range of matters will be considered as part of that process.

Education Scotland hosts and shares a range of guidance Outdoor learning resources | Resources | Education Scotland to support outdoor learning provision through the curriculum. Schools and local authorities can also access the GOING-OUT-THERE-PRINT-V3.pdf guidance and associated interactive toolkits online, which have been key to supporting delivery of safe and legally competent outdoor learning experiences.