Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer to previous answers to question S6W-19363 on 7 July 2023 and S6W-23734 on 4 January 2024 and S6W-24773 on 1 February 2024. The core CHFS3 team consists of 13 FTE staff. Specialist support is being provided from relevant officials within the Legal, Financial and Subsidy Control teams as and when required to complete the necessary due diligence on a potential direct award (an award in reliance on the exemption in Regulation 13 (1) of the Public Contract (Scotland) Regulations 2015).

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 .

Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with trade union representatives. The consultants commissioned by Transport Scotland provide confidential legal and financial advice which supports decision making. Trade unions should continue to use the existing communication channels through Transport Scotland for any queries they have regarding the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract.

The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill, which is currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament, will introduce a number of reforms which are intended to improve access to justice, one of the three pillars outlined in the Aarhus Convention. 

The Bill will introduce a modern set of regulatory objectives which promote greater access to affordable legal services for consumers. It will also introduce direct regulation of legal businesses, remove restrictions on charities to allow them to directly employ solicitors, simplify the complaints process and introduce a register of regulated legal service providers. These reforms are designed to improve access to justice in Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s Chief Planner and I published a letter to stakeholders on 27 June 2024 regarding planning for housing. It provides further clarification on the implementation of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and specifically policy 16 Quality Homes, and emphasises the need for positive and constructive collaboration across sectors to support delivery. The letter outlines actions to be jointly progressed, including a discussion with SME housebuilders on how their experiences of the planning system can be better supported. We are also engaging with Homes for Scotland and the housebuilding industry relating to the findings of their recent work on SME housebuilders.

The Scottish Government has established a short life working group to encourage a proportionate approach to assessments required for planning applications. The initial scoping meeting, held on 25 June and hosted by the Chief Planner, has set out the group’s intention to use feedback from practitioners and authorities to identify priority areas for improvement and opportunities for increased proportionality and streamlining.

Scottish Government guidance on preparing Local Development Plans clearly states that providing land across a range of scales of sites and locations will enable the ambitious approach for new homes outlined in NPF4, encouraging local authorities to do so.

Scottish Government guidance on planning obligations recognises the potential financial consequences for developers, including SMEs. It makes clear that in negotiating obligations, consideration should be given to the economic viability of proposals and alternative solutions should be considered alongside options of phasing or staging payments.

There is no current plan to bring forward regulations, however the Scottish Government has established a short life working group to encourage a proportionate approach to assessments required for planning applications. An initial scoping meeting, held on 25 June and hosted by the Chief Planner, has set out the group’s intention to use feedback from practitioners and authorities to identify priority areas for improvement and opportunities for increased proportionality and streamlining.

The Scottish Government is engaging with Homes for Scotland and the housebuilding industry relating to the findings of their recent work on SME housebuilders, and is also currently making arrangements for a discussion with SME housebuilders to consider how their experience of the planning system can be better supported.

A Fatal Accident Inquiry is concluded when the presiding Sheriff issues their Determination. COPFS has limited control over the timescale for commencing and concluding a FAI after the First Notice has been lodged.

It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the number of death investigations where COPFS expects to conclude its enquiries and initiate FAI proceedings in 2024, particularly in relation to discretionary FAIs. There are a number of factors which affect timescales, such as the need to await the outcome of investigations by reporting agencies and to consider expert evidence or reports from other agencies.

The Head of SFIU writes to all Sheriffs Principal on a quarterly basis to ensure future FAI business is factored into the court programme as efficiently as possible.

The Scottish Government monitors Warmworks' delivery across Scotland against key performance indicators including 'referral to completion' split by region. There had been delays in providing assessments due to high demand following launch of the scheme’s new phase in October 2023. Warmworks have now significantly increased their assessor capacity and the current expected wait time for a Warmer Homes Scotland assessment for a customer in the Islands is now six weeks.

A public consultation on the UK Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy took place in 2021 and we are working on amendments to the strategy, in partnership with the other UK administrations and the working group, ahead of implementation in early 2025.

These amendments include the addition of a number of species of whale and dolphin that are regularly sighted in UK waters and updates to the evidence base and the areas identified where further action can be taken. In the meantime, the Scottish Government continues to take action to improve the conservation of UK cetaceans.

We recognise that bycatch and entanglement in fishing gear can pose a risk to our iconic marine life and remain committed to tackling this issue in our waters.

We are working in partnership with the UK Government and other administrations on implementing the bycatch mitigation initiative.

Through the Future Catching Policy, Scottish Ministers will be delivering on their obligations to minimise and, where possible, eliminate bycatch of sensitive species as part of wider efforts to ensure the sustainability of our fishing fleet.

As our first priority, we will take firm measures to increase selectivity by introducing additional technical measures to reduce unwanted catch and bycatch of sensitive marine species, working with stakeholders to explore and deliver solutions.

Putting in place the remaining fisheries management measures remains a top government priority. We want to achieve this as soon as possible, however developing the evidence based and effective fisheries management measures for over 180 sites is a complex and challenging process.

City of Edinburgh Council received £5.3m in 2023-2024 of Area Based Scheme funding from the Scottish Government. Private homeowners are also able to access interest-free loans from Home Energy Scotland and should contact Home Energy Scotland either by calling 0808 808 2282 or by emailing Contact Home Energy Scotland .