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The Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) produces annual reports on admissions of young people under the age of 18 to non-specialist wards in Scotland. Children and young people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) will generally be treated in the community. There may be times when it is necessary to admit them to hospital for specialist treatment. Should this be the case they would be admitted to one of the three regional CAMHS inpatient units. There are however occasions when a young person is admitted to a non-specialist ward. This may happen for example when it is clinically judged to be more appropriate to admit that young person to a ward, such as an acute care paediatric ward, or the young person and their family have a preference for an admission to a local adult ward.

The latest report was published on 23 October 2023 and can be found at https://www.mwcscot.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-11/ChildrenYoungPeople-MonitoringReport2023.pdf . Table 1 provides a breakdown of numbers of young people admitted to non-specialist facilities by year from 2013-14 (202 admissions involving 179 young people) to 2022-23 (79 admissions involving 66 young people). Table 2 provides a breakdown of numbers of young people admitted to non-specialist facilities by NHS board by year. The Scottish Government only holds data on young people treated outside of Scotland from 2014. Since 2014, there have been 21 cross border transfers of CAHMS patients out of Scotland.

Information on young people placed in adult mental health services is also available through the Mental Health Quality Indicator Profile publication: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/media/23859/2023-11-28-qipmh-full-report-final.pdf . Information can be found under the “Equitable” theme of indicators - indicator EQ4 provides data on the percentage of under 18 year old psychiatric admissions admitted outwith NHS specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) wards. Please note this information is only published at a national level.

Securing positive effects for biodiversity is one of six statutory outcomes for the National Planning Framework, as identified in section 3A(3)(c) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended. National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was adopted and published on 13 February 2023. Improving biodiversity is a cross-cutting theme which runs throughout NPF4 and our strategy and policies support development that helps to secure positive effects for biodiversity.

National Planning Framework 4 Policy 3 (c), which relates to local developments, is underpinned by NatureScot’s Developing With Nature guidance published on 13 February 2023. This guidance includes 24 measures that development can incorporate to enhance biodiversity, one of which is Homes for Small Birds (measure 13).

Current building regulations include a standard which promotes sustainable development, including advice on how biodiversity can be well served as a topic in new school developments – this is published under Aspect 4 of our ‘statement of sustainability’, standard 7.1 in the Non-domestic Technical Handbook . We plan to revisit this topic, in the context of other ongoing activity, to understand further opportunities for building regulations to make a positive contribution to biodiversity within new developments.

There is no limitation on the property size that could qualify for support to install measures via the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan scheme.

The information requested is not collated by Energy Savings Trust, who administer the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The specification for single building assessments is in development and is due to be published by the end of May 2024. I will write to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee once there is an updated position regarding the specification.

Timings for Stage 3 of the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill will be agreed by Parliament in due course.

The Scottish Government values the important role of Scotland’s third sector in working across communities to tackle tough social issues at source. We recognise the challenges faced by the third sector in the current cost crisis and we will do what we can to take account of the pressures on organisations.

We also recognise that the third sector needs stability and the opportunity for longer term planning and development. That’s why we’ve committed to developing a Fairer Funding approach for the third sector.

Regrettably, the late timing of the UK Government Autumn Statement and the catastrophic cuts to Scotland’s block-grant have caused unavoidable delays in finalising budgets for 24-25.

Therefore, our initial focus has been on improvements to our grant-making arrangements to provide greater clarity and consistency of practice including prompt notification and increased multi-year offers.

We are continuing to explore the extent to which multi-year funding can be secured within the unpredictable and volatile fiscal circumstances we face and remain committed to increasing the number of arrangements.

We are still progressing our commitments and will report on our progress in due course.

The potential use of biodegradable barrier tape is an operational policing matter for Police Scotland. The Police Scotland Environmental Strategy 2021 sets out the context, pathway and implementation plan for reduction of energy, resource and carbon across the organisation.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.

Operational decisions, including those such as dispute resolution, are a matters for individual colleges.

The Scottish Government has no role to play in these processes.

During the First Minister’s recent meeting with the Arab Ambassador Corps in London, the First Minister set out his vision for Scotland around the three pillars of equality, community, and opportunity, focusing on Scotland’s economic potential and commitment to social justice. The First Minister also outlined Scotland’s role in the world including the Scottish Government’s commitment to good global citizenship and belief in democracy, rule of law and human rights. In this context, the First Minister reaffirmed the importance of international solidarity in the face of shared global challenges such as the climate emergency, Russia’s war against Ukraine and the current crisis unfolding in the middle east.

The meeting was conducted under the Chatham House rule, as such specific issues attributable to participants are not noted.

All NHS Boards have been briefed on the current situation and the NHS Cyber Security Centre of Excellence will continue to support Boards to be alert and respond to potential threats.

This is in addition to the routine work that the Scottish Government undertakes to support Health Boards in their cyber security through ensuring compliance with the Network and Information System Regulations.

As set out in S6T-01869 on 19 March 2024, which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament , colleagues will appreciate that this incident is the subject of a live Police investigation. As a result I am limited in the detail I can share.

However, I want to assure the member that the Scottish Government continues to fully support NHS Dumfries and Galloway as they respond to the cyber-attack.

While I understand this news will have been alarming for both patients and staff, I can assure Parliament that the Board responded swiftly and in line with established protocol. I have personally spoken to the Chief Executive of Dumfries and Galloway and I am assured that my officials are fully supporting Dumfries and Galloway as part of a multi-agency approach.

In addition to this, I can confirm that other NHS Health Boards, at the Governments request, have been mobilised to provide technical support to Dumfries and Galloway.