Chamber and committees

There is no legislation that specifically prevents the installation of netting around buildings. However, Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside (Scotland) Act 1981 does make it an offence to obstruct or prevent any bird from using its nest during the nesting season and this would include the use of bird-dissuading mesh.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce standards for the use of bird-dissuading mesh.

NatureScot have published advice which outlines that all exclusion measures [including netting] must be appropriately maintained to avoid welfare issues such as entanglement: Guidance - gull management | NatureScot .

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have a leaflet on bird netting which recommends that netting is checked regularly for both trapped birds and to ensure that it is in good repair : Wild birds and netting.pdf (rspca.org.uk)

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds also recommends that exclusion nets, on both buildings and elsewhere should be checked at least daily, and any trapped birds or other wildlife should be released immediately: The use of netting to stop birds nesting - what you need to know (rspb.org.uk)

Fracture liaison services across Scotland are managed and evaluated by territorial NHS Boards.

The forthcoming national audit of Fracture Liaison Services will assist in that evaluation.

The Scottish Government takes the potential impact of use of chemicals on public health and the environment very seriously. We continue to support the regulatory decisions taken to restrict the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, including thiamethoxam which is used in Cruiser SB, due to their environmental effects, particularly on bees and pollinators.

Pesticide products authorised for use in Scotland are tightly regulated and are subject to thorough analysis by the Chemicals Regulation Division of the Health and Safety Executive before authorisation to demonstrate that the product is effective and poses no unacceptable risks to people, animals or the environment.

The Scottish Government expects Health Boards to reach the World Health Organisation (WHO) target of 95% uptake of childhood vaccinations.

The most recent childhood data for NHS Highland, which includes quarterly data since 2015, is published by Public Health Scotland: Childhood immunisation statistics Scotland - Quarter and year ending 31 March 2024 - Childhood immunisation statistics Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland

The trend data for NHS Highland shows that as of March 2024, the uptake rate of children who have received the 3-dose full primary course of the 6-in-1 vaccine by 12 months of age is 90.2% and by 24 months of age it is 94.4%. Since March 2023 this shows a decline of 3.2% uptake by 12 months of age and an increase of 0.4% uptake by 24 months of age.

The Scottish Government does not hold information regarding how many schools have had asbestos removed in the last three years. Local authorities have statutory responsibility for the control and management of asbestos within their schools.

Although health and safety is not devolved to the Scottish Government, we take the issue of asbestos within schools very seriously and expect local authorities to strictly follow the Health and Safety Executive's recommendations. Moreover, we have recently engaged with local authorities and the Health and Safety Executive regarding asbestos in schools.

The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to modernising deer management to tackle high deer numbers, specifically in order to help us to achieve our biodiversity and carbon objectives. We continue to pursue a wide range of actions to deliver this commitment.

The Scottish Government’s 'Managing Deer for Climate and Nature: consultation' closed on 29 March 2024. This consultation sought views on proposed legislative changes to Scotland’s systems of deer management, including in relation to a number of recommendations made by the Deer Working Group (DWG) in their 2020 report.

The responses are currently being analysed and an update will be provided in due course.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. There is no requirement for those using bird-dissuading mesh to submit information on how many birds have been trapped and have died.

The development of the national pilot scheme is building on useful learning from the small scale local and regional pilots that have been delivered by third sector organisations over recent years. These projects include the Grampian Regional Equality Council Report on the free bus travel project in Aberdeen, the Travel Choices Project Report by the Refugee Survival Trust and the Friends of Scottish Settlers project in Falkirk.

Representatives of these and other Third Sector organisations are members of the Working Group and are providing valuable advice and knowledge in the development of the national pilot.

The scheme will build on learning from the small local and regional pilots that have been delivered by third sector organisations over recent years.

Expected learning from the scheme includes impact of providing free bus travel, demand for this concession, the cost of providing this concession, and the practicalities of delivery of such a scheme at the national level. Evidence to inform the evaluation will be collated both during and post the operation of the pilot.