Chamber and committees

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Scottish Government works closely with NatureScot on its development of corporate and annual operating plans and Ministers meet regularly to discuss progress. This assessment process is therefore continual and NatureScot is ultimately accountable to the Scottish Parliament.

We continue to work with all of our public bodies to drive out efficiencies, finding new and better ways of working, creating best value for the Scottish taxpayer.

NatureScot, along with other environment bodies, has taken a leading role in recent years in leading Scotland’s response to the nature and climate emergencies. As a result, the organisation has managed significant additional project funding for peatlands, nature restoration, visitor management and more.

The budget settlement for 2024-25 announced on 19 December recognises the increasing level and quality of work being delivered by NatureScot which is why despite such challenging financial circumstances, NatureScot will benefit from an 8% uplift to its core funding, bringing its core budget to £63.2m in 2024-25.

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

There are a range of strongly-held views on wildlife management in Scotland. The Scottish Government takes the view that field sports are an important component of the rural economy. We accept that control of predators is sometimes necessary for the management of field sports businesses, as it is for other land management purposes. Our aim is to ensure that all legal predator control is carried out in a way that is consistent with best practice in animal welfare standards.

There are strict regulations governing the setting of traps in Scotland which must be undertaken in accordance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Spring Traps Approval (Scotland) Order 2011. We are strengthening this legal framework through the wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill, which includes provisions for mandatory training and licensing for trap operators. We also intend to bring proposals forward for a complete ban on the use of snares in Scotland during Stage 2 of the Bill, as we believe the use of these devices poses an unacceptable welfare risk to wildlife and domestic pets.

We also increased the penalties for illegal use of traps and snares alongside other wildlife offences in the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020.

An analysis of data from the Scottish Procurement Information Hub and Public Contracts Scotland, covering financial year 2017/18 to date, has not identified any spend or contracts with contractors in categories (a) to (c). We do not routinely capture information about which other clients contractors engage with, so do not hold information in relation to (d).

The Chief Constable of Police Scotland, with oversight from the Scottish Police Authority, considers any requests to provide training to other police forces or organisations via their International Development and Innovation Unit.

Police Scotland have confirmed that no training, advice, guidance or support has been provided to the Israel Police, the Israel Defence Forces, or the Israeli Security Services.

The consequentials associated with the UK Government’s policy of extending the 75% business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure premises in England in 2023-24 were confirmed in the Autumn Statement on 17 November 2022.