Chamber and committees

This is a matter for Police Scotland and therefore the information requested is not held centrally.

Scotland’s police officers and staff do a challenging job and it absolutely right that they are supported with their physical and mental wellbeing. Whilst the wellbeing of officers and staff is a matter for the Chief Constable, under the supervision of the Scottish Police Authority, the Scottish Government communicates with Police Scotland on a range of health and wellbeing issues.

We understand that Police Scotland has committed to formally submit an action plan to HMICS shortly in response to its Wellbeing Frontline Focus review. The action plan will address the recommendations made by HMICS and provide progress updates on the areas for development identified in the Review. The Scottish Government stands ready to support Police Scotland with the implementation of the recommendations.

The Scottish Government committed at CoP26 to protecting and effectively managing at least 30% of Scotland’s land, freshwaters and sea for nature by 2030 (known as the 30 by 30 target). Delivery of the 30 by 30 target is a cornerstone of the draft Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and Delivery Plan which aims to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2030 and substantially restore it by 2045.

The spatial element of 30 by 30 target has been achieved in the marine environment with 37% of Scottish seas within the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) network. The Scottish Government has committed to putting in place fisheries management measures for existing MPAs where these are not already in place for key coastal biodiversity locations outside of these sites.

On land, 18.2% of Scotland is currently within a protected area for nature. We are currently working with stakeholders to identify how we will close the gap in Scotland.

Scotland has a current total reported potential pipeline of over 40 GW of offshore wind projects.

Our Offshore Wind Policy Statement (2020) set out the Scottish Government’s ambition for 8-11 GW of offshore wind in Scotland by 2030. This is currently being reviewed in light of the significant market ambition of around 28 GW across 20 projects demonstrated by the private sector via the ScotWind leasing round.

We remain committed to achieving the ambitions as set out in the 2020 Offshore Wind Policy Statement, and will invest up to £500m over the next five years to develop the infrastructure and supply chain critical to growing Scotland’s offshore wind sector.

Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with officials from Glasgow City Council, to discuss progress and learning around the impact of its Low Emission Zone (LEZ).

Statutory reports on LEZ performance and air quality monitoring are expected from Glasgow City Council in summer 2024 and will be published in due course.

This is an operational matter for the NHS Boards and the Scottish Government does not directly monitor these operational arrangements. However we will be evaluating the role the scheme plays in supporting GP retention.

The creation of 152 extra specialty training places for trainee doctors went ahead in 2023 as planned. A breakdown of these posts by specialty can be found here .

The recruitment of trainee doctors in 2023 was the most successful to date; a total of 1,231 specialty training posts were advertised and 1,156 (94%) filled. Please note that these figures are accurate as at 26 March 2024 i.e. when end-year data was published. The publication itself can be found here , and a full breakdown of recruitment by specialty can be found here .

The Scottish Government announced funding on 23 November 2023 for further expansion taking place in 2024. This will see 153 additional specialty training places created this year – the largest uplift to date. More information can be found here . The 2024 recruitment cycle is currently underway and will conclude in November.

HM Inspectors inspect a sample of primary, secondary and special schools annually across Scotland. They evaluate the quality of education using various quality indicators from the quality framework 'How good is our school? (4th edition).'

From the 2015-16 academic year (commencing August 2015) to 10 May 2024, HM Inspectors have inspected a total of 172 schools in Highland and Islands. This number is based on the initial inspection and does not include any subsequent further inspections which took place as a result of the outcome of the initial inspection. The information does not include details of inspections carried out in academic year 2023-24 where fieldwork has been carried out but the reports not yet published.

In Argyll and Bute Council, a total of 45 schools were inspected: 2015-16 two primary schools; 2016-17 four primary and one secondary schools; 2017-18 six primary, one secondary and one special school; 2018-19 eight primary schools; 2019-20 five primary, two secondary schools; 2022-23 nine primary, one secondary school; 2023-24 five primary schools.

In The Highland Council, a total of 94 schools were inspected: 2015-16 seven primary and two secondary schools; 2016-17 nine primary and one secondary school; 2017-18 9 primary, three secondary schools, 2018-19 18 primary, one secondary school; 2019-20 8 primary, two secondary schools; 2022-23 21 primary, three secondary, one special; 2023-24 eight primary, one secondary.

In Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, a total of eleven schools were inspected: 2015-16 two primary; 2016-17 one primary; 2018-19 three primary, one secondary; 2022-23 two primary; 2023-24 one primary, one secondary.

In Orkney Islands Council, a total of eight schools were inspected: 2015-16 two primary; 2016-17 one primary; 2017-18 one primary; 2018-19 one secondary schools; 2019-20 one primary school; 2022-23 two primary school.

In Shetland Islands Council, a total of 14 schools were inspected: 2015-16 one primary and one secondary school; 2016-17 two primary schools; 2017-18 two primary schools; 2018-19 one primary school, one secondary schools; 2019-20 one primary school, one secondary school; 2022-23 three primary schools; 2023-24 one primary school.

The Scottish Government has welcome accommodation across Scotland. These are managed in partnership with relevant local authorities, who advise on where guests are best placed.

We work collaboratively with local authorities such as Fife to ensure that services are person-centred and delivered in a trauma informed way, and which support effective resettlement.

In the Fife Council area there are three welcome accommodation hotels for displaced people on a temporary basis upon arrival in the country.

On arrival, Fife council will make a needs assessment and will consider the availability of council services to support displaced people in determining which hotel is most suited for presenting individuals or families,

There is no mandatory rotation of guests in Fife, or any other part of the welcome accommodation estate housing displaced people.

However, from time to time as a result of contracting, consolidation, changes in local services provision or when an accommodation provider choses to reduce or discontinue the rooms they offer, local authorities may require guests to move to new accommodation and will look to minimise disruption to guests as much as possible.

The Scottish Government remains committed, alongside our Local Authority partners, to supporting Ukrainians access longer-term, sustainable accommodation while they make Scotland their home.

I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-27379 on 17 May 2024 and S6W-27276 on 14 May 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 .