Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15654 on 14 March 2023. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15654 on 14 March 2023. 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

In general, the data received from Police Scotland for producing the National Statistics on Recorded Crime, is a simple count of the number of crimes and offences which the police have recorded and cleared up. As such we are unable to separately identify back to 1999 which recorded crimes of fraud were committed online.

However we recently introduced a new chapter within the National Statistics, which estimates the volume of recorded cyber-crime in Scotland based on a sample of police records. Under this approach, the number of recorded frauds which involved the use of cyber technology in any way (including cyber-enabled or cyber-dependent crimes) was 2,690 in 2018-19 (the first year of available data) and 3,450 in 2019-20. It then increased significantly to 8,580 in 2020-21, before falling slightly to 8,010 in 2021-22. At least part of the increase in 2020-21 may be due to the significant impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and government instructions to limit social contact. For example in their ‘ Crime in England and Wales: year ending March 2021 ’ release, the Office for National Statistics noted that an increase in fraud and computer misuse offences could reflect perpetrators taking advantage of behavioural changes during the pandemic, such as increased online shopping.

Further information on the new chapter referenced above is available as part of Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2021-2022 in particular Table A11. Figures for 2022-23 will be published in June.

The Scottish Government is aware of the UN Committee’s General Comment and is taking seriously concerns that 16- and 17-year-olds may need more protection.

Clearly, all marriages and civil partnerships should be entered into with full consent of both parties. There is existing legislative provision against forced marriage.

We are currently gathering views from stakeholders on the minimum age for marriage.

Increasing the minimum age could be argued to increase safeguards for young people but such a change could also be seen as removing their right to marry or to enter a civil partnership.

We understand from National Records of Scotland that fewer than 30 people aged 16 or 17 entered a registered marriage in 2019. The Scottish Government appreciates there could be concerns about unregistered marriages, which are not governed by the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977. We would need to consider what impact raising the minimum legal age would have on unregistered marriages.

The adopted National Planning Framework (NPF4) (2023) is clear that transport assessments (TAs) are required for development proposals that will generate a significant increase in the number of person trips. These should consider transport requirements in line with the sustainable travel and investment hierarchies, which includes road traffic. Transport Scotland’s Transport Assessment guidance sets the scope for these assessments, which are reviewed by the relevant roads authority as part of the planning decision making process.

Where a proposed development affects the Trunk Road Network, Transport Scotland is a statutory consultee in the planning process. Transport Scotland will only recommend consent of a development where there is sufficient information provided within the TA to demonstrate that the development will not have a significant impact on the trunk road network.

Advice Direct Scotland is one of our delivery partners for the Fuel Insecurity Fund, which also provides advice services. The Fuel Insecurity Fund, however, is focused on the provision of direct support to households, which is overwhelmingly provided in financial form i.e. fuel vouchers or direct payments to energy suppliers.

In many cases the individuals receiving support will have been referred on from an advice service which has already advised them. In other cases some energy advice may be provided in the course of issuing direct support, or the individual may be referred on to a separate advisory or advocacy service.

Organisations supported by the Scottish Government to provide advice services, such as Home Energy Scotland, are financed via separate funding streams.

Currently consented oil and gas extraction is a reserved matter and, therefore, associated impact assessments would be the purview of UK Government.

It is disappointing that the Climate Compatibility Test proposed by the UK Government is limited to new exploration. That is why we are consulting on what factors should be considered in assessing the impact of new oil and gas production and if this test should be applied to fields that are already consented but not yet in production as well as new exploration (if exploration continues) in the context of the global goals of the Paris Agreement.

Furthermore, the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan outlines actions to accelerate the transition and is out for consultation until 9 th May. Our final Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan will take account of the consultation response and be published in due course.

Independent analysis on the energy system and just transition, published this month, includes a detailed assessment of oil and gas production in Scotland. Our forthcoming Climate Change Plan for Scotland, a draft of which is due in November, will set out our pathway to meeting our emissions reductions targets to 2040 alongside the costs and benefits of policies within the plan.

We are working to ensure that the important role of our ocean in mitigating and adapting to climate change is recognised. Scotland’s Indicative Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement sets out our commitment to developing the evidence base to support inclusion of two blue carbon habitats, saltmarsh and seagrass, in the UK Greenhouse Gas emissions inventory as soon as it is appropriate to do so. We are working with the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum and UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership to identify and address key evidence gaps and develop a road map to inclusion. However, while we are considering how the next Climate Change Plan can include current and future policies on wider issues, it is unlikely that either habitat will be included in the UK inventory ahead of the next Climate Change Plan and therefore will not contribute directly to delivery of Scotland’s statutory emissions reduction targets which the Plan is designed to meet. We are also seeking to better understand the risks to blue carbon habitats and how to protect and enhance them within marine planning, marine protection and enhancement policies.

Scottish Government continues to work with the Department for Health and Social Care in relation to supply challenges with HRT medication.

The UK Government appointed Madelaine McTernan as its HRT tsar and her taskforce put together a set of three core recommendations to help mitigate HRT supply issues. These are:

The Scottish Government maintains regular contact with Circularity Scotland Ltd (CSL) at both Ministerial and official levels.

Business can continue to register with CSL. If they are concerned about being able to meet their obligations, including those who have concerns about the producer agreements or other matters related to the registration process, should contact CSL for advice and guidance as soon as possible. They can do so via their dedicated helpline or through their website.