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Eligible individuals may qualify for legal aid to help cover the costs associated with legal representation and court fees involved in renewing a guardianship order. Legal aid is means-tested, and eligibility criteria apply.

Organisations such as Citizens Advice Scotland and the Scottish Legal Aid Board provide financial assistance and support services to individuals and families facing financial difficulties in legal matters, including guardianship renewals.

Local authorities may provide guidance to individuals who are unable to afford the costs of renewing a guardianship order. Social work departments or welfare services within the local authority can offer support and advice on available resources.

Under Section 57(2) of the Adults with Incapacity (AWI) (Scotland) Act 2000, if a guardianship order (or renewal) is deemed necessary by the local authority and no application has been made or is anticipated, the authority must initiate the application process.

Legal aid, via the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) can provide financial support to families renewing guardianship orders for adults with learning disabilities. This assistance may cover legal representation costs, including solicitor fees and court expenses, depending on financial eligibility criteria. The support aims to alleviate the financial burden associated with navigating the renewal process, ensuring access to legal assistance for families in need.

In 2021, we published an updated Climate Change Plan which covers the period 2018 – 2032. The updated plan includes over 200 policies across all eight sectors and proposals to drive future emissions reductions.

Since publication of the update to the Climate Change Plan, progress has been delivered at speed to drive forward the various strategies, plans, roadmaps and routemaps that support delivery. I have highlighted some of this progress as follows:

(a) The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan was published for consultation on 10 January 2023, setting out our vision for a future net zero energy system. The consultation closed in May 2023 with over 1500 responses and on 28 September we published an independent consultation analysis.

(b) We have just completed two consultations, one on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill and one on a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard.

(c) We have committed to producing a Route map to achieve a 20% reduction in car km by 2030 against a 2019 baseline. The Draft route map was published in January 2022 followed by post publication public consultation to April 2022. A finalised route map and analysis of the public consultation is due for publication in the coming months.

(d) The Scottish Government is combining current research with revised funding strategies to develop and enhance the route map for industrial decarbonisation. This will include elements of energy efficiency, energy switching and carbon capture and utilisation for residual emissions. The final route map will form part of the next Climate Change Plan.

(e) In January 2024 we published our draft Circular Economy and Waste Route Map for consultation, setting out clear actions to deliver sustainable use of our resources and progress a circular economy in Scotland by 2030. This includes measures to decarbonise the resources and waste sector, and embed circular practices in the construction sector. We intend to review the feedback from the consultation and confirm the final Route Map later in 2024.

(f) A new (5th) edition of the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS), agreed by all four countries, was published last year following a comprehensive review process. The new edition aims to make forests more resilient to a changing climate and the increased risk of pests and diseases so they can continue to deliver multiple benefits.

(g) The Agricultural Reform Route Map was published in February 2023 and updated on 23 June 2023. The Route Map outlines what information and guidance the sector can expect from 2023-2025 and when it will be available. A phased transition will take place from 2025 to implement the Future Support Framework’s proposed conditional payments under 4 tiers: Base, Enhanced, Elective, and Complementary.

(h) The Scottish Government commissioned a feasibility study on negative emissions technologies which was published on 30 November 2023. The deployment of NETs is dependent on CCUS, and while there is an understanding of next steps for growing the NETs industry in Scotland, a route map will be finalised once there is certainty from the UK Government on funding for Acorn.

Since the review of the Town Centre Action Plan (TCAP), we continue to implement the Town Centre First Principle and work closely with partners including COSLA and Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) to support progress on the delivery of actions outlined in TCAP. The National Planning Framework 4, published in February 2023, recognises town centres as national assets and aims to promote and facilitate development within them, including encouraging town centre living and limiting out of town retail development.

In collaboration with STP, progress towards town centre regeneration has also been showcased in a number of forums, including recent workshops on town centre living, place-based investment and the annual Scotland’s Towns conference.

Support for town centre action is backed by our multiple capital investment programmes, including the Place Based Investment Programme, Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme. However, the UK Government’s reduction in our capital budget will adversely impact the support that we can provide in 2024-25.

Following extensive engagement and consultation, and then approval by the Scottish Parliament, we published and adopted our Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) in February 2023. NPF4 signals our key priorities for ‘where’ and ‘what’ development should take place at a national level and is combined with national planning policy on ‘how’ development planning should manage change. NPF4 Policy 11 (Energy) provides support for all forms of renewable energy development onshore and offshore, including energy storage.

Following a comprehensive consultation process, we will publish our Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan by Summer 2024. It will set out our vision for a future net zero energy system that delivers affordable, secure and clean energy and provides high quality jobs and economic opportunities.

If a family cannot afford to renew a guardianship order, the local authority can offer support by providing non-legal advice on the Adults with Incapacity (AWI) (Scotland) Act 2000, suggesting independent advice sources, and conducting needs assessments for both the individual and the carer. The Scottish Government has published AWI codes of practice for local authorities. Chapter 7 highlights the responsibilities of local authorities in this domain and their duty to apply for a guardianship where one is necessary and no application is being made or likely to be made.

Last winter Scottish Government published its good practice guidance for AWI delayed discharge based on engagement with majority of local authorities. This highlighted the most efficient ways to facilitate moves of adults lacking capacity from the hospital estate to more suitable accommodation. This included the guardianship process and ensuring the adults rights, will and preference are first and foremost.

The Scottish Government does not have access to specific data regarding the maximum, minimum, or average costs for individuals renewing a guardianship order over the past five financial years.

The costs associated with renewing a guardianship order can vary significantly depending on various factors such as the complexity of the case, the involvement of legal and medical professionals, and the specific needs of the individual in question.

While we can identify certain standard fees like the £138 Court lodging fee and £95 Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) fee, additional expenses such as medical assessments and legal representation can fluctuate based on individual circumstances and preferences.

Non-means-tested legal aid is available in certain cases.

There has been significant progress on proposals for work on the spacing of cavity barriers behind the cladding, since NHS Lothian was recommended to reduce the spacing with cavity barriers from 20 metre intervals to 10 metre intervals. The following is a summary the progress to date:

1. The works required the submission to and approval from City of Edinburgh Council’s Building Control Department. The application was submitted in April 2023 and approved in October 2023.

2. Following approval from Building Control, NHS Lothian and IHSL, the consortium that built and owns the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, have been in discussion about commercial terms for the works to be undertaken.

3. Further detail on the frequency and duration of works was provided by IHSL in February 2024. It is anticipated that, including pre-construction activities, the works will take in excess of one year to complete. An agreed start date will be finalised once commercial terms have been completed.

It would not be appropriate for us to rank the National Planning Framework 4 Spatial Principles in order of priority. NPF4 comprises a package of policies and an integrated strategy to bring together cross-cutting priorities and achieve sustainable development. NPF4 should be read as a whole and is part of the statutory development plan. The application of all Spatial Principles will collectively support the delivery of sustainable, liveable and productive places. The Spatial Principles should be reflected within local development plans and will be taken forward in different ways across Scotland, reflecting the diverse character, assets and challenges of our places.

Hydrogen has been identified by various organisations, including the UK Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), as a key potential means of powering low/ zero emission flight. Ministers recently provided written support for a flagship liquid hydrogen project, ‘TARGET H2’, funded by the ATI and UK Research and Innovation. The Scottish Government also awarded £150,000 from the Hydrogen Innovation Scheme for a study to test the feasibility of a hydrogen production storage and distribution hub at Glasgow Airport.

Scottish Enterprise has engaged with companies involved in hydrogen-powered aircraft and commissioned a report on Hydrogen demand for Transport, which included liquid hydrogen use in aviation.

The Scottish Government will soon publish its Aviation Statement, which will outline actions on various topics including decarbonisation.