Chamber and committees

We can currently only provide accurate information on whether buildings are within scope of the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024 if they have been entered into the pilot phase of our Cladding Remediation Programme. There are no buildings within the Highlands and Islands region that were entered into the pilot phase. We currently do not know if there are any buildings within the region that are within scope of the Act.

We recently announced that we will be delivering two new schemes of assessment and remediation. One will allow residents of potentially affected buildings to bring these to our attention where no owner or developer is willing or able to undertake responsibility. The other will involve working with local authorities and the fire service to identify buildings that appear to be at an elevated risk. More generally, we plan to bring partners together - harnessing their skills, knowledge and capacity – to make action on cladding a national, collective endeavour.

These actions will allow us to develop a clear picture of the position across Scotland and action being taken. We will seek assurance where appropriate, and be prepared to offer support where needed. We will be publishing a renewed plan of action in March that will set out how and when we will be delivering these and other priorities for cladding remediation.

Transport Scotland’s Approach to Climate Change and Resilience (ACCAR) was published in August 2023 setting out a strategic framework to secure a well-adapted future for Scotland’s transport system. It includes an ambitious Vision for “A transport system which is well adapted and prepared for current and future impacts of climate change, is safe for all users, reliable for everyday journeys, and resilient to weather related disruption.” It can be found here: Transport Scotland’s Approach to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience

The ACCAR provides our current approach to adaptation and Strategic Outcomes for Road, Rail, Aviation and Maritime transport networks, to address the key climate risks affecting Scotland’s transport system. A key deliverable of this work is the development of a Trunk Road Adaptation Plan, which is intended to be published in the first quarter of 2025. The Trunk Road Adaptation Plan is based on a climate vulnerability and risk assessment using the latest UK climate projections. This will compliment work of our Vulnerable Locations Group, who have been providing a number of improvements across Scotland’s trunk road network in response to extreme weather-related disruption.

In reaching their decision, Scottish Ministers will determine applications in accordance with legislative requirements and relevant policy. Our Just Transition Plan is just one of many policy documents which is considered as appropriate in the decision-making process.

Whilst this is an operational matter for CalMac, given the significant reduction in passenger capacity Transport Scotland officials have been updated by CalMac on the timeline for repairs and will be kept appraised of any capacity issues relevant to the routes MV Isle of Mull is operating on.

During this time, during the annual overhaul schedule, as it normally does, the MV Isle of Mull is operating as relief vessel on Lochboisdale service. The MV Loch Frisa continues to operate to Mull to timetable.

With the MV Glen Sannox entering service, CalMac assessed the optimum deployment of the MV Isle of Arran through use of their Route Prioritisation Matrix, and the MV Isle of Arran has been operating on the Oban-Craignure route alongside the MV Loch Frisa since 16 January 2025.

The Scottish Government are liaising with NHS National Services Scotland, as the contract holder, and are a member of their GPIT Incident Management Team which has specifically been established to lead on this matter. Through this, NSS are in regular contact with the Administrator. Assurances are continually sought from the Administrators on their plans to ensure continued performance and delivery of the Managed Services to NHS Scotland for the foreseeable whilst the administrators actively seek a buyer for In Practice Systems Ltd.

In the meantime, there remains no impact on GP service delivery and existing operational governance around Service levels is very much still in place. GP practices are advised to utilise the service and raise any queries through their usual health board escalation routes.

Scottish Government are provided with unclaimed deposit figures on a monthly basis by the tenancy deposit schemes, and as such cannot provide information from a specific date. The December 2024 figure is not yet available but at the end of November 2024 there were 23,123 unclaimed deposits, totalling to a value of £6,310,182.

In reaching their decision, Scottish Ministers will determine applications in accordance with legislative requirements and relevant policy. No steps are necessary to ensure alignment, as National Planning Framework 4 is a policy document to be considered as appropriate in the decision-making process.

The Energy Consents Unit processes applications in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulatory framework. Community and environmental considerations are integrated into the decision-making process and are essential factors when considering applications.

The Scottish Government recognises challenges faced by businesses and particular circumstances faced in Scotland, and that is why the Scottish Government stands ready to support the UK Government to design an immigration system that addresses the requirements of Scotland’s economy and communities.

The Scottish Government is working with business to grow the economy and address labour and skill shortages, promoting fair work to make it easier for people to enter and remain in the workforce and ensuring our education and skills system are responsive to national needs .

In total, between June 2020 and May 2024, initial contact was not made within 24 hours for 216 people out of 58,657 referrals (less than 0.4%). The following table breaks this down by percentage due to the small number of cases in each area.