Chamber and committees

The Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour is expected to report to Ministers, COSLA and Police Scotland by the end of 2024.

The Scottish Government recognises that Tourism is a vital part of the Scottish economy both nationally and locally.

We are working closely through the Visitor Management Group with the relevant agencies, Local Authorities and National Park Authorities to ensure those visiting areas of natural beauty are aware of their responsibility in respecting the local environment. The Group was established in 2020, by the then Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Tourism, because of tourism pressures in rural areas. It meets regularly with a cross Government approach to address issues caused at rural pinch points in scenic countryside areas. This includes addressing such issues as managing visitor dispersal, the impact of motorhomes, littering, environmental damage, public toileting and antisocial behaviour.

VisitScotland undertook research, on behalf of the Visitor Management group, in 2023 to better understand the motivations and behaviours of people visiting Scotland in campervans and motorhomes. The full results are here:

Motorhomes, Caravans and Camping - Industry Research | VisitScotland.org

The research found that many visitors do wish to do the right thing and are actively seeking out information on issues such as parking and waste disposal. We all want to see responsible tourism, which balances the needs of local communities, visitors and the environment. The response to any visitor pressures needs to be a combination of visitor messaging, encouraging responsible behaviour and visiting at quieter times of year, alongside practical responses such as improved infrastructure, as well as engagement and education.

In that regard, VisitScotland will continue to promote responsible visitor messaging, and we will do that alongside partners such as local authorities and others who lead on infrastructure and ranger services. In more extreme cases it will be for local authorities, roads authorities or Police Scotland to manage any infringements.

VisitScotland promote Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Scotland on their website Scotland's Responsible Tourism Promise | VisitScotland and A Guide to Outdoor Safety in Scotland | VisitScotland.

Although the access rights enshrined in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 relate to responsible rights of non-motorised access to land, the three key principles within the accompanying Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) provide useful general guidance: that people should respect the interests of other people, care for the environment, and take responsibility for their own actions. The SOAC provides further advice on how to wild camp responsibly, should those using motorhomes decide to hike from their parking space. Local authority and National Park Authority access officers take the lead role in assisting land managers to manage access.

We would ask that all visitors to our rural areas behave in a manner that respects and protects our environment so everyone for generations to come can enjoy the great Scottish outdoors.

There are no current plans to update the publication ‘Scotland’s Long COVID Service’.

The guideline ‘Managing the long-term effects of COVID-19' was first issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in December 2020 and updated in November 2021. NICE continues to check for the publication of new evidence and consider whether it would change any recommendations in the guideline. No evidence to update the recommendations has been found since the last update in November 2021.

NHS Inform has a dedicated microsite (https://www.nhsinform.scot/long-covid) which provides information for people living with long COVID .This was reviewed and where necessary updated in 2023 following user research with people living with long COVID.

The Scottish Government recognises that the cost of living crisis continues to place pressure on household budgets. However, previous industry research has shown that customers facing affordability issues can be found across all Council Tax bands. Therefore, at this time there are no plans to increase the Water Charges Reduction Scheme discount further as this would also have the effect of placing an additional burden on the general customer base who may also be struggling to afford water and sewerage charges.

The Water and Sewerage Services to Dwellings (Collection of Unmetered Charges by Local Authority) (Scotland) Order 2023 provides a mechanism for Scottish Water to pay Local Authorities for the costs of billing and collecting water and sewerage charges. The Scottish Government therefore has no requirement to hold the requested information.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken such an assessment.

We understand that reunion and contact with family members are vitally important to refugees living in Scotland. Although asylum and immigration are reserved matters, we want the process of family reunion to be simpler and safer for refugees in Scotland.

The legal duty for housing and homelessness, including responsibility for managing and allocating temporary accommodation, sits with local authorities and neither Ministers nor Scottish Government officials are able to intervene in those decisions. Support with finding suitable housing for refugees and their children are the responsibility of the local authority who should be contacted if housing circumstances change.

In some cases, where there is a change of circumstances, the local authority will require the individual/family to register as homeless. Refugees and their dependents, are entitled to access homelessness support from their local authority. Most funding for homelessness is provided through the local government settlement. In addition to this, the Scottish Government has provided local authorities with £60.5m since 2018 to support the implementation of rapid rehousing transition plans and provide £30.5m annually for their work to prevent homelessness.

The Scottish Government is increasing funding to the culture sector by £15.8m this financial year to £196.6m. This is the first step on the route to investing at least £100m more annually in culture and the arts by the financial year 2028-29. In 2025-2026 we aim to provide an additional £25m to the culture sector.

I appreciate the need for clarity within the culture sector regarding the £100m and I hope to set out the trajectory of spend for the remainder of this Parliament in due course.

In line with normal budgetary procedure the Scottish Government will publish a draft budget for 2025-26 later this year.

As set out in our Housing to 2040 strategy, we are committed to streamlining and accelerating the housing adaptations system and to take action to reduce the time it takes for disabled people to apply for and receive support and maximise the available resources. My officials are taking forward a review of the current housing adaptations system which will make recommendations on how best to improve and streamline the system.

We published updated practical guidance on the delivery of adaptations and equipment services in January 2023. This guidance will contribute to the housing adaptations review.

We are considering the potential implications for the delivery of adaptations and other delegated housing services arising from the establishment of a new National Care Service.

We have also developed regulations under section 37 of the Equality Act 2010 that give disabled people the right to make necessary, reasonable adaptations to common areas of their property.

At local level, responsibility for the planning, ensuring delivery of adaptations and most funding currently rests with Health and Social Care Partnerships.

In addition, funding of over £8 million is also available for 2024-2025 for adaptations for Registered Social Landlord tenants. In the period between 2007-2008 and 2022-2023, over £200 million has been provided directly to housing associations to help them provide housing adaptations.

The Scottish Government’s recent investment into diabetes technologies will allow all children living with Type 1 diabetes to get access, should they want it. This funding will also support increased provision to adults. Exact numbers in each NHS board area will be determined by local delivery plans being developed by NHS boards, working with the National Diabetes Technologies team in the Centre for Sustainable Delivery, based on waiting lists, staff capacity and affordability.

The new investment from the Scottish Government to support new access to technologies is in addition to baseline funding provided to NHS boards. It is not being allocated to boards to pay for their current delivery plans.