Chamber and committees

The 15km value noted in the Strategic Transport Projects Review is representative of the average maximum range from the benchmarking study of similar cities and aligns well with the adjoining urban area of Greater Glasgow. However it is indicative, the exact extents of any Metro system will be for consideration as part of the future business case and design development work to determine.

No further flood protection schemes or engineering works have been removed from the list of the 42 formal flood protection schemes since the answer to question S6W-05146.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) are currently consulting with data users to ensure that census outputs are accessible and provided in a format which meets the needs of census data users.

As previously noted, NRS are planning to publish the first census outputs approximately one year after conclusion of the census data collection phases. Census data collection phases concluded in Autumn 2022.

As recommended by the Auditor General, National Records of Scotland will, as planned, continue to reflect on all relevant lessons learned from the census programme. Upon conclusion of the census programme, an over-arching General Report will be laid before Parliament in 2024.

The legislative changes recommended by the completed Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland (‘The Sludge Review’), are being implemented via the forthcoming Integrated Authorisation Framework (IAF) regulations.

Progress on developing the planned IAF regulations was delayed due to Covid-19 and other priority work such as Brexit. This work has now been reprioritised and has recommenced. A consultation on proposed IAF regulations is due to be published early next year and stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals relating to sewage sludge.

Other recommended actions from the Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland which have already been completed include publication last year of the James Hutton Institute report on the impacts on human health and the environment arising from the spreading of sewage sludge to land, and implementation of the remedial actions that were recommended to be taken by Scottish Water.

Recommended actions from the Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland which have already been completed include publication last year of the James Hutton Institute report on the impacts on human health and the environment arising from the spreading of sewage sludge to land, and implementation of the remedial actions that were recommended to be taken by Scottish Water.

The legislative changes recommended by the review are being implemented via the forthcoming Integrated Authorisation Framework regulations. A consultation on proposed regulations is due to be published in 2023 and stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals relating to sewage sludge.

The members of the Hill, Upland and Crofting Group were selected on the basis of their experience of their sectors, reflecting as far as possible geographic spread including practical farming experience and academic expertise. The Group had 22 members of which six (27%) were from island communities.

The Scottish Government is committed to tackling gender based violence and ensuring that all victims and survivors can access the help and support they need at a time they need it.

During the United Nations 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence, the Scottish Government held a spotlight event with key partners, focussed on gender based violence and mental health. These important discussions will help further our understanding of issues faced by women and girls affected by GBV and will help inform on-going policy development, including the refreshed Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, accompanying delivery plan, our Workforce Action Plan and the new national Specification for Psychological Therapies and Interventions.

We know that some psychological interventions, including counselling, are delivered by partner organisations, including small, local community grassroots groups and organisations . Therefore, in 2021-22 we have invested £21m in our Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults. We have provided a further £15m in 2022-23.

Since 2018, the Scottish Government has invested over £5 million in a National Trauma Training Programme (NTTP), including a total of £3.2 million of funding distributed to all local authorities in 2021-22 and 2022-23 to work with community planning partners to further progress trauma-informed services, systems and workforces.

The Scottish Forestry Strategy is based on the international principles of Sustainable Forest Management which require all forests and woodlands to contribute to biodiversity. Of the six Priorities for Action in the Scottish Forestry Strategy the following three promote the safeguarding biodiversity as well as priority species and habitats:

• Increasing the adaptability and resilience of forests and woodlands,
• Enhancing the environmental benefits provided by forests and woodlands.
• Expanding the area of forests and woodlands, recognising wider land-use objectives;

The Scottish Forestry Strategy emphasises the importance of taking wider land use objectives into account when expanding our woodlands and forests, and one of the key objectives considered is when doing so is food security, which is further recognised in wider Scottish Government Strategies and Plans.

The Strategy also states that ‘we will focus on achieving greater integration between forestry and other land-based businesses, such as crofting, farming, and estate management’. The latest Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan (2022-2025), includes actions to promote greater integration of land use including the farmer-led

Integrating Trees Network which promotes the benefit of woodland creation on farms, such as providing shelter for livestock, enhancing biodiversity and a source of income.

The decision to escalate or de-escalate an NHS Board is based on a combination of evidence. Escalation addresses complex issues and an element of judgement will always be required. In order to support robust decision-making in this sphere, the Scottish Government regularly convenes the National Planning and Performance Oversight Group which considers a range of data and intelligence relating to the delivery of health and social care across Scotland and the performance of our health boards. Should there be a requirement to escalate any additional NHS Boards, for any reason, I will update Parliament in the first instance.