Chamber and committees

In respect of offshore consenting, we have been planning for an increase in offshore wind applications for some time and aim to determine offshore wind farm applications within 12 months where possible, however we have been clear that more complex applications may take longer. The average timeline to determine consents for offshore wind is currently 11 months (down from 17 months pre 2015).Each application must be considered on its own merit, balancing the needs of all maritime users and the natural environment. Maintaining this balance will continue to enhance Scotland’s place as a world-leading destination for offshore wind investment.

Forth Green Freeport’s recently submitted full business case details ambitions to create 34,500 direct jobs, comprising 16,000 direct jobs and 18,500 jobs supported indirectly in supply chains and through wages, and up to £7.9 billion in investment.

The full business case is currently being appraised by Scottish and UK governments. Upon approval, it will unlock up to £25m seed capital funding to support enabling works. The commitments made by the Green Freeports in their business cases will be subject to robust monitoring and reporting requirements, enshrining their commitments across a number of key dimensions.

The Scottish Government does not hold this data. Court operational matters, including the system and arrangements for jury service, fall within the remit of the independent Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS).

Despite the reserved nature of telecommunications in the UK, the Scottish Government has chosen to step in and make substantial investments in both broadband and mobile digital connectivity across Scotland.

The over-£600 million investment in the Reaching 100% (R100) programme is building upon our strong track record of delivery, with Scottish Government led programmes delivering improved broadband to over one million properties so far.

Through a rolling Open Market Review, the Scottish Government continuously monitors broadband coverage across Scotland. This process enables the identification of premises that are eligible for future publicly subsided interventions, including those to be delivered through the UK Government’s Project Gigabit broadband investment, for which the Scottish Government will act as contracting authority for local and regional procurements.

We also recognise how vital access to mobile connectivity is, especially in rural areas. We have recently published an evaluation of our £28.75 million Scottish 4G Infill Programme, which has delivered 4G connectivity to 55 ‘notspots’ across rural and island Scotland, highlighting the transformational benefits that this new coverage is delivering to businesses and communities alike.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29704 on 17 September 2024. 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 have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The forecasting that has been undertaken to produce SPS’ workforce plan projects that SPS will employ 3623 full time equivalent prison officers on 1 April 2025. This projection relies on assumed variables, such as turnover rate.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) as procuring authority for the programme will continue to involve all relevant stakeholders, including local authority harbour owners, in planned upgrades and works associated with the Small Vessel Replacement Programme.

Tier 2 will deliver Enhanced support payment which is designed to be a universally accessible payment that supplements Base.

Funding will also be made available through Tier 2 for a replacement for Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS), where people are farming and crofting in the most marginal and challenging of circumstances. We are working with stakeholders on how best to deliver this type of support under the new Framework.

Enhanced has the clear purpose of incentivising and supporting agricultural businesses to undertake best practices and/or actions that actively improve nature and climate outcomes that are consistent with the transition towards sustainable and regenerative farming. Many of these practices and actions will improve business efficiency and productivity.

Enhanced will use levers to reward behaviours, practices and measures aligned to this aim, which are broad enough to allow all type of agricultural businesses to take part while delivering against the overarching objectives of the Vision.

There are no current plans to issue additional guidance covering cases where an owner occupier wishes to sell their home to a local authority or a Registered Social Landlord and remain in it as a tenant in the social rented sector. These matters are covered in our operational procedures for local authorities and Registered Social Landlords on (a) the grant-funded element of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme and (b) the Mortgage to Rent scheme which is part of the Home Owners Support Fund.

In due course however, we intend to issue additional guidance to local authorities and Registered Social Landlords on the purchase of properties from landlords leaving the private rented sector with a tenant in situ through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

Marine Directorate - Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT), on behalf of Scottish Ministers, investigated the unlicensed construction of a causeway between Luing and Torsa between September 2021 and July 2022. During that time, several site visits were undertaken by authorised Marine Enforcement officers (MEOs) and remedial works were instructed under Section 44 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. Following a final visit to the site by MEOs, these works were completed to the satisfaction of MD-LOT on 26 July 2022. No further enforcement action is planned in this case.