Chamber and committees

The Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011 place a duty on scheme administrators to safeguard a tenant’s deposit in a designated account until it is repaid following the end of the tenancy. No end date is provided for within the regulations. As such, where a tenancy deposit is unclaimed, the schemes are required to continue to protect the unclaimed funds indefinitely and they cannot be used. The Housing (Scotland) Bill, if passed, will include provision to change this, so that unclaimed funds may be used to the benefit of private rented sector tenants.

As per The Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011, any accumulated interest must be held by the respective deposit scheme in a designated account.

The interest can be withdrawn from designated accounts to meet the costs of the scheme, improve the quality of service provided by the scheme or to distribute, apply or invest interest, where investment will not adversely affect the viability of the scheme. The self-financing scheme model allows for the tenancy deposit schemes to provide their services free of charge to tenants, landlords and letting agents.

As outlined in our NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 annual progress update, published 18 December 2024, our five National Treatment Centres are expected to deliver an additional 20,000 procedures per annum once fully operational.

However, with the 2025-26 Budget proposing an additional £100 million to target long waits, coupled with efficiencies, we will see activity and capacity increase accordingly. Work is underway with Boards and partners to finalise plans and I would expect to see National Treatment Centre capacity increase to well over 30,000 procedures annually.

Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly meet with the leadership of all NHS Boards to provide support and scrutiny whilst reinforcing national priorities, including further action to reduce waiting times.

Scottish Government officials do not routinely engage with speciality clinical directors in territorial boards. They do meet with the Scottish Association of Medical Directors with representation provided by the Executive Medical Director for each board, both special and territorial rather than individual clinical directors.

In addition, the Scottish Government commissions the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) manage a Rheumatology Specialty Delivery Group, which includes nominated multi-disciplinary representation from all Health Boards providing Rheumatology services.

Finally, Scottish Government officials and the CfSD national planned care team meet monthly with Chief Operating Officer and/or Acute Directors from all mainland Health Boards to review performance and delivery across all Planned Care specialities, including rheumatology. Meetings with island Boards are generally on a bimonthly basis.

Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly meet with the leadership of all NHS Boards to provide support and scrutiny whilst reinforcing national priorities, including further action to reduce waiting times.

In addition, the Scottish Government commissions ‘The Trauma and Orthopaedics National Planned Care Performance’ Team in the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) to support both scheduled and unscheduled orthopaedic service delivery through the implementation of sustainable improvements in NHS Scotland. Further details can be accessed at https://www.nhscfsd.co.uk/our-work/planned-care/planned-care-specialties/trauma-and-orthopaedics/

It provides support to all regional Health Boards and regularly engages with local Clinical Management teams, including Clinical Directors and/or Orthopaedic Leads, around a number of orthopaedic performance and improvement workstreams. Policy officials and the CfSD leads meet weekly and feedback/follow up these discussions.

The team meets with all health boards either monthly, bimonthly, quarterly or as needed.

All Clinical Management Teams are also invited to attend the Scottish Orthopaedic Services Delivery Group (SOSDG) which is the established T&O delivery group. This is run quarterly on the 1st Thursday in March/June/September/December and has been in place for circa 15 years.

Finally, Scottish Government officials and the CfSD national planned care team meet monthly with Chief Operating Officer and/or Acute Directors from all mainland Health Boards to review performance and delivery across all Planned Care specialities, including T&O. Meetings with island Boards are generally on a bimonthly basis.

The regulation of private equity funds in the UK is overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), ensuring compliance with financial and investment laws and is therefore a reserved matter.

Growing the economy is one of the Scottish Government's top priorities, and Scotland's regional economies, and Regional Economic Partnerships (REPs), are key to delivering this. We are committed to building a resilient and equitable economy where all regions can thrive and contribute to national prosperity.

This includes supporting our regions to develop their own regional economic strategies. These are led by the regions themselves, allowing the aims and priorities to specifically respond to regional needs and opportunities. Many REPs now have published and well-established strategies, setting their direction cohesively, and strongly demonstrating their plans for economic growth which enables clearer prioritisation and decision-making when seeking targeted support.

Since January 2024, Energy Saving Trust (EST) as the scheme administrators have processed 97% of applications and 98% of payments across grant and loan schemes within the required 10 working days from receipt of complete documentation.

Outwith this timeframe is the length of time taken to access bespoke advice from Home Energy Scotland or for applicants to provide all required documentation for an application or claim submission. This stage is where the majority of delays occur, and officials have worked with EST to reduce the occurrence of these, where any elements are within EST’s control. This includes implementing a new application and claim system, which delivers significant improvements to the process, including the submission of documents and claims directly to the portal.

In line with feedback from stakeholders, including applicants and installers, the Scottish Government recognises the need for continuous improvement in funding administration, and is considering future developments, whilst balancing the need for consumer protection and counter fraud measures.

The Scottish Government has developed statistics on primary income flows and gross national income (GNI) for Scotland.

The GNI estimates produced by the Scottish Government are classified as official statistics in development and are reported at the level of totals for the whole economy. It is not possible to produce breakdowns of these statistics for specific industries, such as the whisky industry.

Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly meet with the leadership of all NHS Boards to provide support and scrutiny whilst reinforcing national priorities, including further action to reduce waiting times.

Scottish Government officials do not routinely engage with speciality clinical directors in territorial boards. They do meet with the Scottish Association of Medical Directors with representation provided by the Executive Medical Director for each board, both special and territorial rather than individual clinical directors.

In addition, the Scottish Government commissions the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) manage a Rheumatology Specialty Delivery Group, which includes nominated multi-disciplinary representation from all Health Boards providing Rheumatology services.

Finally, Scottish Government officials and the CfSD national planned care team meet monthly with Chief Operating Officer and/or Acute Directors from all mainland Health Boards to review performance and delivery across all Planned Care specialities, including rheumatology. Meetings with island Boards are generally on a bimonthly basis.