Chamber and committees

Police management information, while a useful tool, should be used with caution. These are not official statistics and should not be taken as indicative of longer term trends. Due to the exceptional circumstances of the last year, caution is even more necessary when considering the information for 2020-21, as a rise in complaints and neighbour disputes in relation to potential breaches of COVID-19 restrictions are included.

Measuring change in antisocial behaviour over time is best done using population-based measures and all the evidence points towards a long-term, sustained reduction in Scotland. For example, the Scottish Crime & Justice Survey shows the proportion of adults who feel people behave in an antisocial manner in their area has fallen from 46% in 2008-09 to 33% in 2019-20 (with no change identified between 2018-19 and 2019-20).

We remain committed to tackling all forms of antisocial behaviour while recognising the progress made and will continue to work with partners to deliver the best outcomes for communities.

We are wholly committed to becoming a net-zero economy by 2045 and, whilst oil and gas licensing is ultimately a reserved area, any Scottish Government support for oil and gas businesses operating in the North Sea is conditional upon them contributing to a sustainable and inclusive energy transition, and ensuring a secure energy supply.

The oil and gas sector has a positive role to play in our journey to net zero. Indeed, we are clear that the North Sea has a vibrant future in renewable energy, hydrogen, and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage. Meeting our climate obligations while ensuring a secure energy supply and supporting our highly skilled workforce to transition to the green jobs of the future must all go hand in hand. We will continue to work closely with industry, trade unions, communities and workers to ensure the right skills and training are in place to protect and create jobs as we become a net-zero economy.

Oil & gas, and wider energy policy is reserved to UK Government, including the licensing of exploration and extraction of offshore reserves. UK Government did not consult with Scottish Government prior to issuing the licence for Cambo. On the 12 August, the First Minister wrote to the UK Government, making our position clear that the UK Government to reassess oil and gas licences already issued but where field development has not yet commenced. This would include the proposed Cambo Field. There was a further call for a four nations summit to be convened in order to discuss how we can work together, both in the run up to COP26 and beyond, to ensure that we provide clear leadership to ensure a just transition to net zero that does not repeat the mistakes of the past.

The Scottish Government has offered to work with the UK Government on a revised licence process – to ensure that licences already issued but where field development has not yet commenced are now reassessed in light of the global climate emergency which all of us now face. As part of this process, we would expect to see robust analysis of the climate impacts of the developments.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01865 on
‎ 18 August 2021. 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-01865 on
‎ 18 August 2021. 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

Police Scotland publish data on their website in relation to the numbers of people who have been issued with Fixed Penalty Notices or arrested in relation to breaches of Covid-19 regulations. However the data does not identify the settings in which the breaches occurred. Specifically in relation to the railway network, cumulative intervention figures across all divisions in Scotland up until
21 July 2021 show there have been 6,229 interventions, 854 directions to leave and 34 Fixed Penalty Notices issued by British Transport Police in relation to non-compliance with Covid-19 regulations.

The responsibility for the enforcement of Covid-19 regulations on public transport rests with Police Scotland and, in the case of the railway network, British Transport Police. Police officers have enforcement powers to issue a fixed penalty notice to anyone 18 or over if there is reason to believe an offence has been committed under the regulations. These powers are used as a last resort where people are defying very clear and sensible advice, which is designed to protect them from harm.

In addition to regulations, Transport Scotland has published guidance for transport operators to enable them to keep their staff and passengers safe during the pandemic. This guidance reinforces the importance of signage, announcements and messaging to remind passengers of Covid-19 requirements whilst using public transport.

The Scottish Government recognises the need to deter and prevent abuse of our immigration and asylum systems, but we are clear that people who come here to live, work or study, to seek sanctuary or who have been subject to human trafficking and exploitation should be treated with dignity and respect at all times. Extremely vulnerable people, such as trafficking victims, should find a system which enables access to support rather than one which erects barriers.

We have set out our concerns about the Nationality and Borders Bill to the UK Government with regards to victims of human trafficking and exploitation. Identifying trafficking victims and enabling access to support and assistance must be a priority. Vulnerable and traumatised individuals should not be penalised for failing to disclose their experiences within mandated timeframes or face impediments to accessing support.

The Scottish Government has awarded grants totalling £2,235,789 from the Coronavirus Resilience and Recovery Fund for Legal Aid (CRRF). Applications from 84 firms and law centres have been approved and 1 grant is pending subject to a recalculation of award, which is now in the process of being concluded.

The total number of applicants who did not meet the criteria for funding is 195 and is broken down into the following categories:

1. The applicant’s legal aid income did not meet the criteria – 22 applications.

2. No shortfall in applicant’s income was calculated compared with casework prior to pandemic, against the criteria for funding – 124 applications.

3. Applicants demonstrated no shortfall in expected fee income, against the criteria for funding, and have been or will be paid other forms of government support in excess of this sum - 49 applications.

Scottish Ministers made a commitment to keep the CRRF under review and have worked in collaboration with the Law Society for Scotland, the Bar Associations and the Scottish Solicitors’ Bar Association on the co-design and eligibility criteria of a new fund.

An announcement by the Scottish Government was made on 4 August 2021 to launch a new £6.7 million Legal Aid Business Support and Recovery Fund, in support of the Government’s Renew, Recover and Transform Programme which aims to deliver a wide range of measures in recognition of the important role in the Justice system of vital legal aid services in Scotland as we emerge and recover from the pandemic.

In line with the updated guidance on reducing risk in schools and the move to Level 0, children and young people can now engage in all music activities in schools, indoors and outdoors. Safety mitigations, for example good ventilation and enhanced hygiene, should continue to apply in relevant settings where these activities are taking place.

The guidance can be found at the link below:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)