Chamber and committees

Under the Bathing Water (Scotland) Regulations 2008, Scottish Ministers designate bathing waters where they expect a large number of people to bathe, having regard to past trends and infrastructure and facilities provided, or other measures taken to promote bathing. Across Europe the meaning of a large number of bathers ranges up 300 bathers per day, which is much higher than Scotland’s 150 bathers.

Following extensive bather surveys across Scotland and a public consultation, the Scottish Government developed a policy regarding the designation of bathing waters. That policy states that 150 people per day, or thereabouts, using the water for bathing regularly throughout the season would be considered to be a large number of bathers.

In determining whether a large number of bathers are expected to bathe there, Scottish Ministers must also have regard to past trends, infrastructure and facilities and promotion of bathing at any proposed bathing water.

Scotland’s climate change obligations include emissions from domestic and international aviation. ‘Scottish greenhouse gas statistics 2021’, published in June 2023, show that emissions from international aviation dropped by 23% between 2020 and 2021. Domestic aviation emissions increased by 12% in the same period, but are 59% below 1990 levels.

Work is ongoing across government to develop a Scottish Government aviation strategy. The public consultation on developing the strategy covered a range of topics including the transition to low and zero-emission aviation. This transition is also relevant to preparation of the Government’s 2023 Climate Change Plan and Just Transition Plan, and it is essential that this work be fully joined up.

The Scottish Government is committed to equitable and timely access to general and specialist palliative care services, as needed, by each person of any age, living with any illnesses, in all places. We want people to receive care where they feel most comfortable. For many, but not all, this will be at home supported by their family and friends and cared for by primary care teams and care staff.

It is the responsibility of Integrated Joint Boards to plan and commission adult palliative care services which are provided in a wide range of settings including acute hospitals, community hospitals, specialist palliative care units, hospices, care homes and people’s own homes.

We are currently developing a new Palliative and End of Live Care Strategy with an overarching aim that everyone in Scotland receives well-coordinated, timely and high-quality palliative care, care around death and bereavement support based on their needs and preferences, including support for families and carers.

Scottish waters are home to a diverse range of cetaceans (e.g., whale, dolphins and porpoise) and their protection is a high priority for the Scottish Government.

The developing UK Dolphin and Porpoise Strategy will play an important role in identifying action that can be taken to maintain the conservation status of these species in our waters. The Scottish Government is working in partnership with the other UK administrations and members of the working group, with the aim of publishing the strategy in early 2024.

In the meantime, the Scottish Government continues to support work across a range of areas to safeguard cetaceans in Scottish waters.

Our vision for future fisheries in Scotland has sustainable fisheries management at its core. Through the Future Catching Policy and the Marine Wildlife Bycatch Mitigation Initiative, we will continue work to monitor fisheries and, take concrete action to support fishers to avoid catching or minimise interaction with sensitive marine species (including cetaceans) through a suite of technical and spatial measures where required. We anticipate the analysis from the Future Catching Policy consultation to be published in summer.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government will be launching a consultation imminently on proposals to close fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters. Sandeels play an important role in aiding the long-term sustainability and resilience of the marine ecosystem and are an important food source for many species, including marine mammals.

These measures, and other ongoing work to address marine litter, improve marine enhancement, and protect our marine wildlife in Marine Protected Areas, all contribute to achieving the Scottish Government’s vision for clean, healthy, safe, productive and diverse seas.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) expects city and town centres to be at the heart of place-based strategies.NPF4 wants planning to help town centres adapt and be vibrant, healthier, creative, enterprising and resilient places for people to live, learn, work enjoy and visit; and identity opportunities to enhance them.

As NPF4 now forms part of the statutory development plan, it has an enhanced position and influence on planning decisions which we expect to make a real difference to places, including our town centres.

Aberdeen City Council has received direct funding of £590k through the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) for 2023-24 and will receive further funding over the course of this Parliament. The Programme accelerates ambitions for place, 20-minute neighbourhoods, town centre action, community led regeneration and community wealth building.PBIP includes £140m allocated to Scotland’s local authorities over this Parliament.

Aberdeen City Council has also benefitted from £9.849m from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund supporting a number of projects including £1.9m for the Inchgarth Community Regeneration Hub in 2023-24.

The latest annual report was published on 30 June 2023 at https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotland-hydro-nation-annual-report-2022/

The main aim for the private water supply connections project is to build resilience to private water supply communities affected by water scarcity. The funding is being spent to determine whether a connection to the public water main is a viable option and some communities will be shortlisted to have the public water network extended into their area so households can make a connection.

So far, five pilot projects in Aberdeenshire have been chosen and Scottish Water have carried out Water Impact Assessments for each to better understand the feasibility and cost of connections. Three of the pilot communities have been shortlisted to have the public water network extended into their areas using a selection criteria that maximised the connection potential and ensured value for money. They will be notified shortly and the design of the new public water network for these areas is underway.

Overall, the results of the Water Impact Assessments were positive. The studies indicated that there was capacity in the network to support all of the pilot communities. The process also highlighted that these studies can remove a significant cost barrier for groups seeking a connection, which can range from between £3,000 and £25,000 without a guarantee that a connection can be made. As a result, I have asked my officials to establish a two-year, Scotland-wide Water Impact Assessment programme so that other regions impacted by water scarcity can benefit. Local authorities have been asked to nominate eligible communities.

It takes some time to carry out these assessments, liaise with communities, design and then deliver the project and therefore no properties have been connected since June 2022. I have asked Scottish Water to hire a project manager to work on the project full- time. When this in place I expect further progress to be made.

There are currently different standards to meet depending on tenure. All housing must meet the Tolerable Standard, Private Rented Sector homes must meet the Repairing Standard with only social homes required to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Local authorities have broad discretionary powers to support home-owners who have difficulty covering the cost of repairs required to meet with minimum standards. They are required to have a Scheme of Assistance in place which sets out the financial and non-financial help that is appropriate for that area.

As our spring campaign officially ended on 30 June, the level of stock held in Scotland is minimal, after a programme where we delivered over 490,000 doses. The number of doses currently held by NHS Scotland is calculated to be around 96,000.

In addition there remains residual stock allocated to Scotland within the ownership of UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) that has not been drawn down by NHS Scotland health boards.

The Scottish Government is considering the income threshold for access to the Part-Time Fee Grant in light of the current changing financial landscape and the issues relating to individual earnings. This will form part of a wider review of student support for part-time learners, highlighted in the Initial Priorities paper of the Purpose and Principles for Post-School Education, Research and Skills, published on the 28 June.