Chamber and committees

As Scottish Ministers are not directly responsible for the operation of SEPA and its use of resources, I have asked Nicole Paterson, Chief Executive of SEPA to respond. Her response is as follows:

Continued Availability of Service:

SEPA’s 24-hour availability to the Scottish public remains fully in place, ensuring that we provide critical support for Scotland’s communities and environment. Where appropriate, this includes direct access to a SEPA employee to ensure a timely and effective response. Additionally, we are introducing new ways for customers to contact us, giving them options that best suit their preferences. This includes becoming a true multi-channel service, enabling access through various platforms to enhance the customer experience and better meet modern communication needs.

Role of the Automated System:

Our automated system is designed to handle minor, non-urgent matters digitally, either online or through our intelligent IVR system. This ensures these lower-priority issues are managed efficiently without impacting our ability to respond to significant events. Any significant incidents reported are immediately escalated to individuals who are available 24/7 across the country to respond, investigate, and take necessary action.

Human Response to Significant Incidents:

For all significant environmental incidents, any communication reporting a major event, regardless of the time, will be sent directly to a member of our team. This ensures the appropriate action is taken promptly and effectively.

Support for Priority Partners:

SEPA remains committed to supporting Priority Partners, including MSPs, emergency services, and specific businesses. These partners will always have direct access to human assistance for significant environmental events, ensuring smooth communication and rapid action when necessary.

When registering to deliver services through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme, suppliers are asked to provide evidence that they have already connected properties commercially. For Shetland, there are a number of registered suppliers who indicated that they were active in Shetland – Openreach, Converged Communication Solutions Ltd, Shetland Broadband LLP, Scotnet and BRDY. Shetland Broadband have already delivered connections using a fixed wireless solution, as have BRDY, using a satellite-based solution.

I am pleased to confirm the final Circular Economy and Waste Route Map has been published today. Link: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836017974

The Route Map sets out an ambitious plan to deliver the priority actions to 2030 that will help us progress towards a circular economy and ensure we maximise the positive impact of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 for communities across Scotland.

It is the product of extensive collaboration and engagement with the public, private and third sectors through two consultations since 2022, with consistently high levels of support for the proposals.

I want to thank all who have contributed to the Route Map’s development, including our delivery partners in businesses, local government, SEPA and Zero Waste Scotland. I look forward to working with them all to deliver the actions set out. The Route Map demonstrates the strength of support for Scotland’s transition to a circular economy and the importance of working together to reach our net zero and economic growth goals.

I am pleased to announce that the NHS Recovery Plan annual progress report for 2024 has been published today.

We remain committed to delivering on the actions set out in the NHS Recovery Plan, and this annual report sets out the significant progress we have made over the course of this year.

However, it is vital that we recognise, now more than ever, how much has changed since the Plan was first published. Many of the actions set out in the Plan have now been delivered, and where appropriate, as we continue to focus on supporting the ongoing recovery and reform of our health and social care services, alternative approaches to action delivery are underway.

With refreshed commitments as set out in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2024-25, we will continue to align the NHS Recovery Plan progress with ongoing reform work and will continue to work closely with our partners across the health and social care system, Local Government and wider stakeholder partnerships to achieve this. https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836911579

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) are currently reviewing its operational delivery model for SORT. The findings of the review will be discussed with the Scottish Government to ensure any changes in operational delivery meet with the expectations set out in the service level agreement, and that SAS is able to provide a safe and sustainable response to potentially hazardous and significant incidents.

The National Mission annual report finance sections aim to provide greater transparency of National Mission funding, including rehabilitation services. The reports for financial years 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 are available at:

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-32136 on 18 December 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.

The Draft 2025-26 Budget invests in the long-term prosperity of Scotland’s people, places and businesses.

All homes and businesses across Scotland should be able to access, as a minimum, a superfast broadband connection through commercially available or publicly subsidised terrestrial or non-terrestrial services. This includes fixed broadband services such as full fibre and fixed wireless products, as well as 4G mobile and satellite solutions. The R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme is available to support residents and business owners who cannot currently access, or are not in plans to receive, a fixed superfast broadband service. If there are issues pertaining to specific premises, please do highlight these to the R100 Team through our website at https://digitalconnectivity.campaign.gov.scot/.

All valid claims under Part 1 of The Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973 submitted to Transport Scotland in respect of the Queensferry Crossing have been passed to the Valuation Office Agency to negotiate the level of compensation due with the claimants’ appointed agents. As soon as Transport Scotland receive the reports from the Valuation Office Agency, payments will be forthcoming as has already been done in a number of cases.