Seòmar agus comataidhean

There are no reporting requirements on the rate and nature of non-crime hate incidents from Police Scotland to the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government is not aware of reporting requirements to any other public body.

The publication of the Infrastructure Investment Plan Annual Report and Pipeline Reset has had to be postponed due to the timing of the UK General Election. Scottish Ministers will now consider a revised publication date, and will inform Parliament in due course.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the merits or impacts of any specific renewable energy proposal.

National Planning Framework 4, approved by the Scottish Parliament in 2023, is making sure the planning system enables the sustainable growth of the renewable energy sector while continuing to protect our most valued natural assets and cultural heritage.

Potential impacts on biodiversity and woodlands, including the cumulative effects of developments, are important considerations in the decision-making process, with all applications being subject to site-specific assessments, including Environmental Impact Assessment where relevant.

My understanding is that the Scottish Funding Council has concluded that the flexibility it was in a position to be able to use in previous years is no longer possible because of the budgetary position it is now operating within. Therefore, there has not been any change of policy, but rather a lack of flexibility to accommodate switching capital to resource.

This follows the difficult decisions the Scottish Government faced in setting the 2024-25 budget in the most challenging financial context since devolution. The main point therefore is one of SFC budgetary cover.

Allotments and their provision are the responsibility of local authorities, as set out in the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 Part 9.

Whilst the Scottish Government is not required to collect information on waiting lists, we are aware of long lists in some areas of the country. We are committed to maintaining an open dialogue and working with our local authority partners to support them to meet their various statutory duties relating to allotments. Scottish Ministers have also issued guidance about the carrying out of functions conferred on local authorities by Part 9.

The Scottish Government recognises the wide-ranging benefits which participating in community growing activities can bring, not only for our physical and mental wellbeing but also for a sense of cohesion in our local communities.

In recognition of this, between 2012 and this financial year, we have awarded around £2.3 million to directly support, and increase the land that is available for, community growing initiatives through various grant funding. This includes £100,000 awarded to the Green Action Trust to deliver the Growing Food Together Fund for another year, with applications due to open soon.

Royal Assent is still awaited on the Bill, following its agreement by the Scottish Parliament on 25 April. Given the wide-ranging nature of the legislation, the Scottish Government is considering commencement schedules across different provisions rather than a final Act of Parliament being commenced in its entirety on one specific date. These considerations, across all aspects of the Bill, are being informed by stakeholders and delivery partners. This engagement includes the Implementation and Resourcing Group which was established during Parliamentary consideration of the Bill and will ensure commencement is managed well.

However, as the Scottish Government made clear to Parliament during scrutiny of the Bill, ensuring secure transport is subject to a robust and transparent framework is of key importance and we continue to engage with relevant agencies across a range of work which is underway to support that.

All documents, including minutes, relating to the RAAC Cross Sector Working Group can be viewed on the Scottish Government website at: Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC): Cross Sector Working Group - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). Minutes are published once agreed by the Group.

The Group meets on a regular basis, as agreed by the membership. Currently, this is every 2 months. The Group, as set out in its purpose, is to enable the members to share information about RAAC, to build an understanding of RAAC in buildings across Scotland.

We are currently delivering Calls 1, 2 and 3 of the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund. A decision on potential future funding rounds will be taken once the 2025-26 budget allocation is confirmed. £8.8 million is allocated in 2024-25.

Transport Scotland only holds accident information which is provided to us by Police Scotland. Transport Scotland does not hold information relating to damage only accidents or adverse incidents generally (i.e. not involving an injury).

Since Amey took over the Operating Company contract in 2022, incidents such as flooding (7 times), potholes (3 times), fallen trees (twice) and dead badgers (twice) have prompted Amey to visit the location.

According to Transport Scotland’s accident database, there have been 14 personal injury accidents which have occurred at or within half a mile radius of the A90 Toll of Birness junction between 1 January 2010 and 5 March 2024. These are tabulated below:

The Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) funding for 2024-25 is not allocated to specific properties. Funding is made available to local authority areas through Resource Planning Assumptions (RPAs) to support local authority priority projects which are either already approved or will be approved during that year. Projects receiving funding will include a mix of dwelling types and could include both wheelchair accessible and homes specifically designed for wheelchair users. Projects can be funded across different financial years as the monies are drawn down on receipt of certification of works and so it is not possible to disaggregate the spend or funding in this way.

All new build homes supported by the Affordable Housing Supply Programme should, where possible, meet Housing for Varying Needs standard which means that they should be accessible for wheelchair users.