Crown Estate Scotland (CES)is responsible for all seabed leasing arrangements, including lease periods, for the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) projects.As part of the INTOG planning process, Marine Scotland Directorate will undertake a full plan-level Sustainability Appraisal, including a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Appraisal, to assess the potential effects of the plan on the marine environment and ecosystem. These assessments will consider the potential for impact from the full lifetime of a project, from construction through to decommissioning.

The Sustainability Appraisal and public consultation will help inform the adoption of a final INTOG plan. CES will only offer seabed lease options to projects that form part of the adopted plan.

Any project which is awarded a lease option will then need to apply for relevant marine licences and consents, and complete any further required environmental assessments before they can progress.

I am pleased to advise Parliament that the Scottish Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to give people the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, and is today publishing A stronger economy through independence.

The third paper in the Building a New Scotland series sets out proposals for the economy of an independent Scotland and how new powers, combined with existing strengths, would give Scotland the opportunity to build a better future for everyone who lives here.

The paper describes this Government’s proposals for how an independent Scotland would improve access to flexible working and strengthen workplace rights, would use its extraordinary energy resources to build an economy based on low-cost, renewable energy and would invest in infrastructure through the Building a New Scotland Fund. It also includes information on currency, borders and fiscal sustainability.

Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy through independence is available to view on the Scottish Government website from today at www.gov.scot/newscotland .

As set out in the response to S6W-08912, the Final Determination explained that the Commission would expect that its charge caps would allow Scottish Water’s annual revenue in the final year of the current regulatory control period to be no less than £1,392m (as set out in page 10 of the Final Determination). This level of revenue was based on assuming an average charge cap of 1.5% a year above inflation over the regulatory control period 2021-27.

The Final Determination set a maximum amount of charges of CPI + 2% on average for each year of the regulatory control period. As set out in the Final Determination, the difference between the CPI + 2% and the CPI + 1.5% each year on average was to cover any additional costs that Scottish Water incurs in selecting an investment option that has a higher net present value than the lowest financial cost option, after allowing for externalities such as carbon, natural and social capital. This is the allowance of £132m set out in pages 9 and 15 of the Final Determination. This money would only be used where such projects had been thoroughly appraised. The minimum revenue expectation did not take account of this allowance.

As set out in our recent Waste Route Map consultation, Zero Waste Scotland is currently delivering a programme of household kerbside waste composition analysis, in partnership with local authorities. This is expected to be completed in 2023.

It is not possible to publish updated food waste data, or data on any other individual waste material, before the full analysis is complete.

Since 2007, there have been 14 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds in Scotland and one case of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H5N1 in domestic birds. All highly pathogenic avian influenza strains are notifiable along with H5 and H7 low pathogenic strains.

The number of HPAI infected premises in Scotland for these periods are:

Scottish Government and UK Government officials meet on a quarterly basis to discuss onshore wind policy matters. Discussions on the progress of the short-term review were discussed as part of the last meeting on 1 August 2022.

With regard to the safe collection and disposal of dead wild birds suspected of having been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), current government disease control guidance is for carcases to be left in situ, unless the local authority deem it necessary to remove them, e.g. for environmental health concerns. The Scottish Government, following consultation with Public Health Scotland, has issued guidance to all local authorities in Scotland on the safe collection and disposal of dead wild birds suspected of having been infected with HPAI H5N1, including information on Animal-By-Products Regulations and public health, should local authorities wish to remove them.

As yet, there is no scientific evidence that the removal of carcases significantly reduces the risk of onward spread of the current strain of HPAI H5N1 amongst wild birds. However, this matter continues to be under review, including currently being the topic of a veterinary risk assessment carried out by the Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks (EPIC), commissioned by the Scottish Government.

Muirburn undertaken inappropriately has the potential to have serious negative impacts on wildlife, soil quality, carbon sequestration, and the wider environment. These potential negative impacts are outlined in detail in the Muirburn Code. For example, muirburn conducted on steep slopes or on thin soils can cause soil erosion.

Increased regulatory control through licensing linked to compliance with the Muirburn Code will mitigate these negative impacts by ensuring muirburn is undertaken in the appropriate manner and environment.

While responsibility for immigration rests with the UK and we are clear the UK immigration system is not working for Scotland’s economy, public services or communities, the Scottish Government will do all we can to attract and retain people in Scotland. Last year we launched Moving to Scotland – an online resource providing information and signposting to people who have just moved to Scotland or who are thinking of moving here. In addition to Moving to Scotland we have committed to launching a Talent Attraction and Migration Service that will attract people to come and live in Scotland, help those moving to Scotland settle into their communities and support employers to navigate the immigration system. We are currently designing the service to ensure it achieves these outcomes and once we have completed this phase, will launch the service during 2023.

Migration from the rest of the UK to Scotland:

Estimates from National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that an annual average of 38,543 working-age (16-64) people have migrated from the rest of the UK to Scotland over the last five years of data (2016-17 to 2020-21).

However, over the same period, there has also been an average annual outflow (from Scotland to other parts of the UK) of 31,585 working age people – an annual average net flow (inflows minus outflows) of 6,958.

As part of our priority National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) action, an Industry Advisory Group for rest of UK (rUK) Talent Attraction, chaired by Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise Minister, Ivan McKee, has been formed to share talent attraction expertise to identify and develop effective approaches to attracting talent from rUK.

The Industry Advisory Group (IAG) has met four times since being established in April 2022. The Group’s membership includes senior leaders from the Life Sciences, Tech / FinTech, Advanced Manufacturing – mechanical and electronics, Financial Services, Space and Renewables sectors, and has identified priority workstreams including; Data, Skills Shortages, Advertising and Marketing, Landing Support and Partner Support, Student Retention and Alumni; and Existing Pools of Talent.

Improving mental health is a priority for the Scottish Government and we remain committed to meet the standard that 90% of patients start treatment within 18 weeks of referral by March 2023.

Public Health Scotland’s statistical release providing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Psychological Services waiting times for the quarter ending 31 March 2023 will be available on 6 June 2023.