As part of the work to develop a new Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy, the Strategy Steering Group for Palliative Care will consider the financial implications of delivery.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21155 on‎ 22 September 2023. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21155 on‎ 22 September 2023. 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 review of deer management by the independent Deer Working Group (DWG) found that deer populations in Scotland have grown significantly since 1990, when the population estimate was approximately 512,000 wild deer. The DWG estimated the current deer population to be in excess of one million animals through analysis of data published by NatureScot in recent years. We have no reason to doubt the credibility of this estimate.

The number of properties liable for the Higher Property Rate (HPR) in 2023-2024 before any reliefs are applied is presented in the following below, broken down in Table 1 by property class, and in Table 2 by local authority. In 2023-2024, HPR is applied to all properties with a rateable value above £100,000. Property class is a classification used by Scottish Assessors to describe the type of property, and does not necessarily accurately reflect the use of a property. The Scottish Government does not hold property-level data on industry sectors.

These tables are based on the valuation roll as at 1 July 2023.

Figures in these tables are rounded to the nearest 10, with values greater than zero but lower than five displayed as ‘[low]’.

Table 1: Number of properties liable for HPR in 2023-2024 by property class

Officials met with the UK Department of Health and Social Care in advance of the UK Government’s consultation and will continue to engage with them as the Scottish Government takes forward its own proposals on the regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures. As the Scottish Government’s work progresses in this area, we will take into consideration all relevant material, including – where relevant – the UK Government consultation.

We are making good progress on this commitment and since 2017 headcount has increased by 291 with a record 5,209 GPs now working in Scotland.

We have increased medical undergraduate intake by 448 places, and created an additional 135 GP training places since 2016. 100% of training places advertised so far this year have filled successfully with a further round of recruitment in February 2024.

We have also established a GP Retention Working Group that will report to me by the end of October with its findings and recommendations.

Table 1 presents the amounts retained through the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS) by each council in each financial year since 2015-2016. The years relate to years in which amounts were actually retained by the councils and include ongoing retentions (as a result of continued growth within the cycle) as well as new retention amounts awarded.

BRIS was suspended from 2020-2021 due to the pandemic. Due to the exceptional value of non-domestic rates reliefs introduced in 2020-2021, no council increased their non-domestic rates income in that year. Amounts retained in 2020-2021 and later relate to additional income generated, but not retained, before 2020-2021.

Figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000, and may not sum due to rounding.

Table 1: Amounts retained through the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme, by council and year of retention

The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 places statutory responsibility for local roads, including the timeframe for repairing defects on local authorities. As such it is the responsibility of the local authority to determine how best to meet its duties on local roads in their respective areas.

SCOTS (the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland) is responsible for implementing best practice on local road maintenance and has published a best practice guide detailing recommended repair times for different categories of road defects: Road Asset Inspections: A Risk Based Approach - Road Asset Safety Inspection Strategy (scotsnet.org.uk)

The Scottish Government aims to publish a draft strategy for consultation in Spring 2024.