Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is committed to strengthening compliance with the requirements of the Aarhus Convention. We also remain committed to retaining a demand-led and sustainable system of legal aid, with legal aid funding to remain available to support individuals with the most need. Legal aid can be made available, at present, to individuals whose litigation engages matters of wider public interest, provided it can be demonstrated to the Scottish Legal Aid Board that the outcome of the case will have a direct tangible benefit to them. Our “Vision for Justice in Scotland: three year delivery plan” contains an action to engage with key stakeholders to inform and shape future legislative proposals in relation to the reform of legal aid. Discussions on legal aid reform will take place this year and will include environmental stakeholders.

The development and delivery of training packages is entirely an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The British Medical Association has used data from the latest General Practice Workforce Survey , published by NHS Education Scotland in December 2023, which collects data on vacancies throughout the year. This report notes data quality concerns over vacancy status and advises caution when referring to vacancy rates published from the survey, which are likely an overestimation. It further suggests that the particularly high vacancy rates for island boards are unlikely to be an accurate reflection of the current staffing situation.

Improving recruitment and retention of GPs and other doctors is vital in all localities, including rural and island areas. The Scottish Government provides a range of supports to the GP workforce, including a rural specific graduate entry medical degree (ScotGEM), Golden Hello payments for harder to fill posts mostly in remote and rural areas, as well as bursaries for GP Speciality Training aimed at attracting GPs to work in rural Scotland. NHS Education for Scotland (NES) also provide a Rural GP Fellowship for those interested in working in general practice in rural and island Boards.

The Scottish Government funds the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care which focuses on recruitment and retention, education and training, research and evaluation, leadership and good practice.

We will publish a Remote and Rural Workforce Recruitment Strategy by the end of 2024.

Over the last 5 years (from 2019 to date) there have been 26 new Chief Executive appointments in public bodies directly covered by the public sector pay policy. To date, 20 posts have been filled and 6 are currently pending. The policy expectation to apply a 10% reduction on outgoing Chief Executive remuneration packages has delivered an estimated saving of over £325,000 to the public purse at the time of appointment.

The cumulative saving over the last 5 years is higher than £325,000 as the saving for each post is recurring year on year, although the amount will diminish each year as the new incumbents progress up their pay ranges.

This policy expectation is predicated on the ability to fill the post with a suitable candidate having regard to external market levels, value for money and recruitment and retention issues.When considering the level of reduction, the whole remuneration package (salary, pay range, non-consolidated performance payment, notice period and any other non-salary rewards) is taken into account. All remuneration packages are assessed to ensure they are an appropriate use of public resources to deliver the public services needed.

Over the last 5 years, savings have been made in connection with the following Chief Executive posts.

Bord Gaidhlig na h-Alba

Care Inspectorate

Children's Hearings Scotland

Crown Estate Scotland

Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

National Museums of Scotland

Police Investigations and Review Commissioner

Risk Management Authority

Scottish Canals

Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission

Scottish Enterprise

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Scottish Funding Councils*

Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd*

Scottish Social Services Council*

sportscotland

Visit Scotland*

Water Industry Commission for Scotland*

* recruitment currently ongoing

During the 2024-25 Teaching Bursary scheme, 84 bursaries will be available. Modern Languages will also be included this year as additional subjects.

Decisions about whether to allow for extended hours under alcohol licensing law are for independent local Licensing Boards.

Unlike the Home Secretary under the England and Wales alcohol licensing regime, the Scottish Ministers do not have a power within the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to grant a general extension of licensed hours.

The 2005 Act provides that the administration of the alcohol licensing regime is devolved to independent local Licensing Boards – in effect the 32 Scottish Local Authorities.

Licensing Boards can grant general extensions of licensed hours if they consider it appropriate to do so in connection with a special event of local or national significance. Whilst these are matters for Licensing Boards in their areas, the Scottish Government is supportive of Licensing Boards having these powers.

An example where an independent local Licensing Board has indicated it will use their powers is Scottish Borders Licensing Board. If Scotland reach the semi-finals of EURO 2024, local media reporting has indicated that the Licensing Board will give permission for opening beyond the normal terminal hour of 23:00.

Late booze licences will be agreed – if Scotland reach the Euro 2024 Semi-Final - Midlothian View

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28075 on 18 June 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 first £5m of the £15m Enterprise Package was announced on 20 May. Exact details and criteria for the interventions are still being developed and are yet to be confirmed. Further details about the allocation of this initial £5m will be provided in due course.

The findings of the UK Parliament Education Committee are noted. It is recognised that the Committee's considerations and recommendations are rightly focussed on the interests of the UK Government and that the legalities around ‘banning’ mobile phones elsewhere in the UK differ from those in Scotland. This is because in Scotland our Local Authorities have statutory responsibility for the delivery of Education and it is consequently a decision for our Headteachers currently, whether or not they would wish to enforce a ban in their school estate.

Nonetheless, the Scottish Government is committed to bringing forward national guidance on mobile phones in schools in Scotland. The guidance has been informed by a range of research and evidence and will make clear that should Headteachers wish to do so, they are empowered to ban mobile phones within their school estate.

The Scottish Government is committed to fully harnessing the potential of research-proven technological and scientific innovations through their rapid national adoption. The Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) pathway, led by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery and drawing on the expertise of NHS National Services Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Public Health Scotland, and NHS Education for Scotland, has been established to provide a once for Scotland approach to:

• identifying innovations the Scottish Government should consider for national adoption within the NHS through a quarterly horizon scan report

• producing robust value cases around clinical and financial impact

• their national adoption at pace, if approved

The ANIA pathway is governed by an Innovation Design Authority (IDA). This brings together senior Scottish Government and NHS leadership to support improved partnership working, provide system leadership and take joint decisions on the progression of innovations through ANIA stage gates.

Combined cataract and glaucoma procedures will be considered through the ANIA pathway. Scottish Ministers would then consider investment in this programme following any recommendation by the IDA.