Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-34215

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants are employed by Food Standards Scotland at its headquarters in Aberdeen, broken down by grade and role.

Total number 288
Head Office 158
Field 130
Grade	Head Office Job title	No. in post	Field Job Title	No. in post
A3	2		1
	IT modern apprentice	1	Feed Administrator	1
	Admin assistant	1
A4	5		5
	Admin Officer	2	Trainee MHI	5
	Finance assistant	3
B1	20		67
	Audit assurance support officer	1	Approvals Executive	1
	BMPU coordinator	1	Meat Hygiene Inspector	63
	Comms Executive	1	Operational Support Officer	1
	Enforcement Support Officer	1	Operations Technical Administrator	2
	Executive Officer	1
	Finance Business Partner	2
	HR Coordinator	1
	Incidents Officer	1
	Intelligence Officer	1
	Intelligence Researcher	1
	Nutrition Advisor	1
	Office and Admin Coordinator	1
	PA to DCEO	1
	Policy Advisor	2
	Procurement Officer	1
	SFELC secratariat & LA training	1
	Social Media Executive	1
	Stakeholder Database Manager	1
B2	55		41
	Engagement Policy Advisor & Co-ordinator	1	Feed Officer	3
	Project Support Officer	1	Feed Operations Coordinator	6
	Records Management Support Officer	1	Field Veterinary Coordinator	1
	Intelligence Development Officer	1	Official Veterinarian	30
	Meat Charging Officer	1	SLA & Contracts Coordinator	1
	Scientific Advisor	5
	Lead Incident Officer	1
	Marketing Manager	2
	Public Health Nutrition Advisor	4
	IT Project Support Specialist	1
	Policy Advisor	12
	Learning & Development Advisor	1
	Lead Investigator	3
	Intelligence Development Officer	2
	Lead Incidents Officer	1
	Learning & Development Business Partner	1
	Resilience Manager	1
	Facilities and Admin Manager	1
	Communications Manager - Press & Media	1
	Intelligence Analyst	2
	Events Manager	1
	Enforcement Delivery Project Manager	2
	Application Developer	1
	HR Business Partner	1
	Private Secretary to CEO	1
	Incident Support Officer	1
	Board Secretary	1
	Business Planning and Reporting Officer	1
	Data Manager	1
	Senior Finance Business Partner	1
	Assistant Financal Accountant	1
B3	43		12
	Information Systems Delivery Manager	1	Field Veterinary Manager	1
	Analyst	1	Operations Manager	3
	BMPU Manager	1	Senior Feed officer	2
	Digital Delivery Manager	1	Vet advisor	3
	Finance Manager	1	Vet Auditor	2
	Financial Accountant	1	SLA & Contracts Manager	1
	Head of Marketing & Publications	1
	Head of Private Office	1
	HR Manager	1
	HSE Manager	1
	Incidents Manager	1
	Intelligence Manager	1
	Regulatory Strategy Workstream Manager	1
	Senior Assurance Auditor	4
	Senior Business Analyst	1
	Senior Enforcement Manager	5
	Senior Intelligence Analyst	1
	Senior Investigator	1
	Senior Policy Advisor	8
	Senior Public Health Nutrition Advisor	2
	Senior Scientific Advisor	4
	SFCIU Support Manager	1
	Sustainability Workstream Manager	1
	Team Leader - Food Borne Illness Control	1
	Work Stream Manager - Digitalisation and Technology	1
C1	23		3
	Data Scientist/Statistician	1	Head of Field Operations	1
	Head of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement	1	Head Veterinarian	1
	Head of Content and Digital	1	Lead Feed Officer	1
	Head of Corporate Support	1
	Head of Crime Operations	1
	Head of Digital Transformation	1
	Head of Domestic Assurance	1
	Head of Enforcement Delivery	1
	Head of Engagement & Public Affairs	1
	Head of Finance & Procurement	1
	Head of Food and Feed Safety Policy	1
	Head of Food Protection, Science and Surveillance (FPSS)	1
	Head of Incidents	1
	Head of International Assurance & Inward Missions	1
	Head of Labelling Standards & Regulated Products	1
	Head of Public Health Nutrition	1
	Head of Risk Assessment	1
	Head of Strategic Food and Trade Policy International Trade	1
	Head of Strategic UK Frameworks & Inter-Government Partnerships	1
	Project Manager - SAFER	3
	Social Researcher	1
C2	8		1
	Head of Audit Assurance	1	Head of Operational Delivery	1
	Head of Science Division	1
	Head of Corporate Services	1
	Head of Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit	1
	Head of Policy & Regulatory Affairs	1
	Head of LA Delivery	1
	Chief Nutritionist	1
	Head of Communications and Marketing	1
SCS	2
	CE	1
	Deputy CE	1

Question reference: S6W-32666

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 14 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its work on the prevention and detection of public sector fraud and corruption, how it (a) assesses and (b) responds to any corruption risks associated with financial markets and infrastructure projects linked to foreign governments.

a) The Scottish Government’s Counter Fraud Toolkit within the Counter Fraud Framework contains a range of processes for assessing risks associated with fraud and corruption in all areas of public sector spending. These are aligned with the UK Government's Counter Fraud Standards and international best practice on the effective prevention of public sector fraud and corruption.

b) The Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) contains the requirements for assessing and responding to the risk of corruption in all areas of public finance and infrastructure spending. Where the risk of fraud or corruption of any kind is identified, the SPFM requires that appropriate measures are put in place to prevent these risks.

Question reference: S6W-32665

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 14 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its work on the prevention and detection of public sector fraud and corruption, what measures are in place to avoid public funds being used for, and Scottish institutions being implicated in, cases of international corruption.

The measures to mitigate the impact of potential international corruption in the management of public resources in Scotland are found in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM), and within the relevant Scottish Government policies and Civil Service Code. Requirements within the SPFM cover the appropriate standards for the handling of all elements of public finances in terms of payments made, received, and in how they are documented and authorised.

The SG engages with external partners and colleagues from the UK Government Public Sector Fraud Authority, the International Public Sector Fraud Forum, Audit Scotland and the Scottish Public Sector Counter Fraud Network. This facilitates the sharing of expertise and current practice in the prevention of fraud and corruption, as well as horizon scanning on future risks, providing assurance on the management of fraud and corruption risk and the protection of public resources.

The Scottish Government has in place a Fraud Risk Management Framework and Counter Fraud Strategy, which both align to the UK government functional standard 013 - Counter Fraud, and the principles of this standard. The SG framework focuses on four areas that determine the Scottish Government’s high-level approach to fraud and corruption. These centre on the areas of:

Governance
Risk assessment
Prevention and detection
Fraud response

This framework and approach can be used to inform assessment and response to any fraud or corruption risks.

Question reference: S6W-34067

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 14 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks; what was discussed, who attended, and when the next meeting will take place.

At the time of writing, the Scottish Government last met with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) on 4 February 2025. Scottish Government officials met with SSEN’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Head of Public Affairs and Policy colleagues to discuss recent regulatory and policy developments.

The following items were discussed at the meeting:

Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP)
Upcoming community engagement events for SSEN’s proposed projects
Transition Impact Assessment (TIA) thresholds
Biodiversity funding

The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 26 February 2025.

Question reference: S6W-34030

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 14 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-33252 by Alasdair Allan on 23 January 2025, who attended each meeting; whether it will publish any formal minutes that were taken, and what plans there are to next meet.

Please find below a table with a list of who attended each meeting. Any formal minutes will be published on the Scottish Government’s website and at the time of writing, there are no meetings with SSEN scheduled in ministerial calendars.

Any meetings that Ministers have with Transmission Owners as part of expected engagement with industry cover a range of subjects relevant to grid management with no discussion of specific developments, in accordance with Section 8 of the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Minister	Date	What	Attendees
Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work	31-01-2024	Meeting with DNOs (SPEN and SSEN)	Minister for Energy and the Environment Head of Market Development and Commercial, SPEN Head of Connections, Policy & Performance, SSEN SG Officials
First Minister	22-02-2024	Meeting with SSE CEO	First Minister CEO, SSE Head of Public Affairs, SSE SG Officials
Minister for Housing	27-02-2024	Meeting with SSEN	Minister for Housing Managing Director, SSEN Head of Corporate Affairs, SSEN SSEN Official SG Officials
Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work	07-03-2024	Meeting with SSEN	Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work Managing Director, SSEN Head of Corporate Affairs, SSEN SG Officials
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy, Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work	21-03-2024	Meeting with ESO, SSEN and SPEN	Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work Director of Networks, NESO Corporate Affairs Director, NESO Network Planning & Regulation Director, SPEN SPEN Official Chair of SSEN Transmission Head of System Planning and Investment, SSEN Head of Corporate Affairs, SSEN SG Officials
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy, Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work	07-05-2024	Meeting with SSEN, NGET and the NESO	Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work Managing Director, SSEN Head of Corporate Affairs, SSEN President, UK Strategic Infrastructure, NGET Head of Corporate Affairs, UK Strategic Infrastructure, NGET Director of Networks, NESO NESO Official SG Officials
Minister for Climate Action	16-07-2024	Meeting with SSEN	Minister for Climate Action Managing Director, SSEN Director of Customers and Stakeholders, SSEN SG Officials
Minister for Climate Action	17-07-2024	Meeting with SSEN and SPEN	Minister for Climate Action Network Planning & Regulation Director, SPEN SPEN Official Managing Director, SSEN SSEN Official Head of Corporate Affairs, SSEN SG Officials
Minister for Housing and Minister for Employment and Investment	25-07-2024	Joint Housing and Economy Roundtable Discussion	Minister for Housing Minister for Employment and Investment Highlands and Islands Enterprise South of Scotland Enterprise Communities Housing Trust South of Scotland Community Housing Highland Council SSEN Prosper Crerar Hotels Salmon Scotland ASSC Scottish Land and Estates North Ayrshire Council SG Officials
First Minister	24-04-2024	Scottish Energy Advisory Board (SEAB)	Attendees and minutes available on SG website: Scottish Energy Advisory Board - gov.scot
First Minister	20-09-2024	Scottish Energy Advisory Board (SEAB)	Attendees and minutes available on SG website: Scottish Energy Advisory Board - gov.scot
Minister for Housing	23-10-2024	Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan Summit	Minister for Housing Scottish Land and Estates Scottish Empty Homes Partnership Highland Council Perth & Kinross Council Argyll & Bute Council Highlands & Islands Enterprise South of Scotland Enterprise North Ayrshire Council Rural and Islands Housing Association Forum Scottish Land Commission South of Scotland Community Housing Communities Housing Trust SSEN Scottish Federation of Housing Associations Prosper Community Land Scotland Crown Estate Scotland Shapinsay Development Trust Shetland Islands Council Dumfries & Galloway Council Aberdeenshire Council Moray Council East Lothian Council South Lanarkshire Council Stirling Council Comhairle nan Eilean Siar East Ayrshire Council Scottish Islands Federation North Ronaldsay Trust Mull & Iona Community Trust Harris Forum Homes for Scotland SG Officials
Minister for Climate Action	21-11-2024	Transmission Roundtable – Session 1	Minister for Climate Action Head of Transmission Stakeholder Engagement & Communications, SPEN SPEN Official SPEN Independent Net Zero Advisory Committee Member, Head (CEO) of Fuel Bank Head of Corporate Affairs, SSEN Ofgem COSLA Community Energy Scotland-Scottish Coalition of Community Energy Development Trust Association Scotland- Scottish Coalition of Community Energy Local Energy Scotland Foundation Scotland Shetland Community Benefit Fund Farr North Community Development Trust Finderne Development Trust The Cabrach Trust East Lammermuir Community Council The 9CC Group Solway Firth Partnership Newcastleton & District Community Trust Glenkens & District Trust CEO, Consumer Scotland Director of Enterprise & Community Support, Highland & Islands Enterprise Head of Energy Transition, South of Scotland Enterprise SG Officials
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy	28-11-2024	Meeting with SSEN	Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Director of Offshore Delivery, SSEN Head of Corporate Affairs, SSEN SSEN Official SG Officials
Minister for Climate Action	03-12-2024	Transmission Roundtable – Session 2	Minister for Climate Action Head of Transmission Stakeholder Engagement & Communications, SPEN SPEN Official Head (CEO) of Fuel Bank, SPEN Independent Net Zero Advisory Committee Member Energy Consumers Commission Head of Corporate Affairs, SSEN SSE Ofgem COSLA Community Energy Scotland-Scottish Coalition of Community Energy Development Trust Association Scotland- Scottish Coalition of Community Energy Local Energy Scotland Foundation Scotland Shetland Community Benefit Fund Farr North Community Development Trust Finderne Development Trust The Cabrach Trust East Lammermuir Community Council The 9CC Group Solway Firth Partnership Newcastleton & District Community Trust Glenkens & District Trust CEO, Consumer Scotland Director of Enterprise & Community Support, HIE Head of Energy Transition, SOSE Scottish Enterprise

Question reference: S6W-34538

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 14 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much just transition funding has been allocated to the whisky industry in the last three years.

The Just Transition Fund has within the last three years provided £988k in capital funding support to the following projects:

£361,767 over 2022-23 to the Cabrach Trust for development of the Cabrach Distillery. The project aimed to create permanent skilled employment opportunities in the area, attract tourism, and support local economic growth and regeneration.
£626,734 over 2022-24 to Ripcell for its pilot Sustainable Solvent Recovery for EV Battery Recycling project utilising pot ale a whisky waste product.

Question reference: S6W-34635

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board has paid for taxi transport for (a) doctors and (b) nurses who are (i) on-call and (ii) asked to come into work when off duty in each of the last five years, and what (A) national and (B) specific local policies for each board there are governing this.

Question reference: S6W-34070

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported findings of the True North survey showing that 71% of respondents in Scotland want North Sea oil and gas to meet energy demand.

Question reference: S6W-34090

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions took place during the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy's recent visit to Berlin regarding Scotland’s grid and transmission infrastructure.

Question reference: S6W-34089

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the benefits to Scotland will be of the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s engagements with German energy companies at the Handelsblatt Energy Summit in Berlin.

Chamber and committees