Chamber and committees

According to our records, we have not previously flown the flag of Palestine on 29 November to mark International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

The Scottish Parliament has a flag flying policy in place which sets out the circumstances of when flags will be flown. A copy of the policy can be found here. The circumstances in which the flying of flags is appropriate are very carefully set out, as it is essential that the Parliament maintains its impartiality. There are no plans in place to fly the flag of Palestine on 29 November 2024.

Results from the Health and Care Experience Survey 2023-24 will be published in May 2024.

NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City HSCP are responsible for the delivery of primary medical services in Aberdeen.

NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City HSCP are responsible for the delivery of primary medical services in Aberdeen.

The Scottish Government recently published the General Practice Access Principles report. This report sets out a clear framework for the core principles of how GP services should be delivered – equitably, sensitively, reasonably and appropriately, making the most effective use of resources and systems currently available.

The principles are intended to assist practices in their ongoing considerations of how to best meet those needs in differing and sometimes difficult circumstances. The Scottish Government will continue to work together with all relevant partners to implement these principles.

SEPA, along with other environment bodies, plays a pivotal role in protecting and maintaining a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for the people of Scotland. This is achieved through funding from Scottish Government alongside SEPA’s regulatory activities funded by cost recovery under the principle of polluter pays.

Since 2014-15 SEPA’s budget has increased. Even accounting for inflation, they are receiving an additional £3 million in 2024-25 than in 2014-15.

The budget settlement for 2024-25 announced on 19 December recognises the increasing level and quality of work being delivered by SEPA which is why despite such challenging financial circumstances, the organisation will benefit from a 5% uplift on the 23/24 budget allocation to its core funding, bringing its core budget to £52.6m in 2024-25.

More information on the budget announcement can be found here: Scottish Budget: 2024 to 2025 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Nonetheless, the Scottish Government continue to work with all public bodies to drive out efficiencies, finding new and better ways of working, creating best value for the Scottish taxpayer. In the case of SEPA, the Scottish Government work with them on the development of corporate and annual operating plans and Ministers meet regularly to discuss progress. This assessment process is therefore continual and SEPA is ultimately accountable to the Scottish Parliament.

As announced on the 19 December 2023 by the Deputy First Minister, Scotland’s key environmental agencies will all benefit from uplifts in resource funding in 2024-25. This additional funding recognises the increasing role they play in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises and will support continued activity as we strive to meet stretching targets for Scotland.

More information on the budget can be found here: Scottish Budget: 2024 to 2025 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City HSCP are responsible for the delivery of primary medical services in Aberdeen and the publication of any plans concerning those services.

Our Programme for Government published in September 2023 recommitted to the introduction of a Housing Bill this parliamentary year, to include the introduction of long-term rent controls for the Private Rented Sector.

We will set out our approach in the Housing Bill when this is published, which will be according to the vision and principles set out in our New Deal for Tenants consultation published in December 2021.

The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 sets out that upon the ending of the emergency rent cap, we will introduce temporary measures to support an appropriate transition in order to prevent tenants potentially facing unmanageable rent increases from 1 April 2024.

Over and above this, it is important to bear in mind that prior to the introduction of the emergency measures, private tenants in Scotland already benefitted from some of the strongest protections in the UK. This included landlords only being able to increase rents once in a 12 month period, and the requirement that tenants’ be provided with at least three months’ advance notice of that increase, giving them time to prepare and make necessary arrangements where appropriate.

It is vitally important that tenants are made aware of both the temporary transitional measures that will be put in place, and existing rights afforded to them by the Private Residential Tenancy. Therefore, a key part of our work in advance of the emergency Act coming to an end, will be to raise awareness of those rights with private tenants as we support a transition away from the temporary rent cap and look towards the introduction of long-term rent control via the next Housing Bill.