Seòmar agus comataidhean

For low carbon heating, such as heat pumps, the requirement is to use Microgeneration Certification Scheme installers to access Scottish Government funded support programmes. In relation to energy efficiency measures such as insulation, to access Scottish Government funding installers should be TrustMark registered businesses. Customers accessing the HES Grant and Loan scheme who cannot locate a TrustMark registered installer may use a Green Deal certified installer.

Colleges and universities are responsible for setting their own provision based on regional and national demand, however Energy Skills Partnership, the college sector agency in Scotland for energy transition, zero carbon transport, engineering, construction and STEM, lead a low carbon heat training network across Scotland’s colleges to share best practice.

The scope of the research was commissioned to understand current and future workforce capabilities required to meet projected installation targets only. This was in line with the targets initially set out within the Heat in Buildings Strategy.

The Scottish Government and licensing authorities have agreed a specification for the collection of data relating to short-term let licensing applications. This is available to view at Short-term lets: data collection specification - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Quarterly statistics relating to this information were published on 30 August and 20 November 2023, which provide trends for short-term let licensing applications and licences including types of let, types of property, and the application status. It also shows the number of any licence applications refused and indicates the reason for the refusal, including if the applicant is not a fit and proper person or the premises is judged to be unsuitable. The next publication, covering the period 1 July to 30 September 2023, is expected to be published in April 2024.

Overall, more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record. 13 posts were advertised in General Psychiatry at ST4 level and 8 (or 61.54%) filled successfully. These figures are accurate as of 25 July and pertain only to the initial recruitment rounds of 2023; end-year data for all UK nations and specialties will be published by NHS England in the coming weeks. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities. Examples in Psychiatry include:

• We continue to fund uplifts in Core Psychiatry, therefore bolstering the supply of trainees who can go on to apply for higher specialty training posts at ST4 level. 10 posts were added in 2022, 15 in 2023 and another 12 will be added in 2024.
• A new working group was established in May 2024 to consider how we can better support the recruitment and retention of both trainee and consultant grade psychiatrists. The group is working to produce a set of actions/recommendations on how we can make psychiatry a more attractive place to work. There have been three meetings of the group so far and discussions to date have been constructive. This work involves SG, NHS Education for Scotland, various Health Board representatives (including trainee doctor representatives) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

NatureScot undertakes a rolling programme of monitoring of the natural features for which our protected areas have been designated. This programme of Site Condition Monitoring looks at around 5,500 such features on nearly 1,900 protected areas across Scotland on a 10-year cycle. This includes all National Nature Reserves (NNRs). The assessment includes recording negative impacts on these natural features, which includes ‘recreational’ pressures where they occur.

The published Official Statistics for 2023 ( https://www.nature.scot/doc/proportion-scotlands-protected-sites-favourable-condition-2023 ) indicated that a total of 308 Sites of Special Scientific Interest features are impacted negatively by a ‘recreational’ pressure. 47 of these features were on NNRs. There are 35 reported instances of recreational activities impacting bird features on NNRs and two impacting otters. Overall, 118 instances of negative recreational impact on birds occur on Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and four in relation to otters. Further information on pressures and feature condition can be found at https://informatics.sepa.org.uk/ProtectedNatureSites/ . Recreational disturbance is the fourth most common negative pressure recorded on protected areas after invasive species, over-grazing and water-management.

Where there are potentially significant pressures that have been highlighted or suspected, NatureScot may put in place targeted monitoring to assess likely impacts and inform interventions. On NatureScot managed NNRs examples include monitoring access around breeding terns and seal haul-outs on Forvie NNR, bird numbers and incidents of waterborne access at Muir of Dinnet and Loch Leven NNR and breeding success of black-throated divers at Beinn Eighe NNR. This has informed the development of Local Access Guidance for these sites to manage pressures, for instance by restricting access to certain areas/zones at the most sensitive periods. At present, no specific access measures are considered necessary for otters.

The effectiveness of these measures are reviewed each year with changes made as required in accordance with the recently revised guidance prepared by the National Access Forum on “Managing public access in areas of wildlife sensitivity in Scotland” : https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/doc/guidance-managing-public-access-areas-wildlife-sensitivity-scotland .

Information on public sector support available to businesses in Scotland can be found on FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot.

This proposal is contained within the current public consultation Delivering net zero for Scotland's buildings - Heat in Buildings Bill: consultation - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . A draft business and regulatory impact assessment has been published to support this consultation Heat in Buildings Bill consultation: business and regulatory impact assessment (partial) - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

This draft impact assessment and a range of other relevant impact assessments will be developed and then finalised based on the outcome of the consultation. Further development of proposals will then occur and will be the subject of detailed final impact assessments.

The First National Assessment of Potential Heat Network Zones (2022) found that up to 340,000 homes may be located in areas suitable for heat networks in future. This included over 11,000 homes in rural areas, and more information can be found in the First National Assessment here: First National Assessment of Potential Heat Network Zones (www.gov.scot)

Local authorities finalising their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES), which will identify heat network opportunities across Scotland.

The Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 came into force in October 2023. As Scotland’s law enforcement body, Police Scotland are responsible for enforcing the Act.