Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19714 on 12 July 2023 for details of the programme for the £5 million pledge for the loss and damage funding.

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

The programme will be delivered via a grant-funded partner. The initial funding will be used for global consultation on selection criteria and methodology with the aim of presenting it in draft at COP28. Grants will then be disbursed on the basis of these criteria to global communities most in need. Officials will also seek to leverage matched finance from other sources to increase the impact and value of this funding. This approach was tested with global stakeholders at an event in March to ensure that it upholds the principles identified at SG’s loss and damage conference last year, demonstrates best practice and ensures the maximum contribution of equitable funding goes to global communities most in need. Parliament will be updated accordingly when a decision has been reached on a grant-funded partner, in advance of a public announcement.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including how much it spends on promoting its sites, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.

I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a reply to his question in writing.

I continue to regularly discuss the Properties in Care, and their management, with Historic Environment Scotland. I have held no discussions about the permanent closure of sites.

No such payments have been made since the establishment of Historic Environment Scotland in 2015. Scottish Government pay policy for public bodies has not permitted performance-related payments for Chief Executives or for staff at director/executive level over this period.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including how much it spends on advertising its sites, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.

I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a reply to his question in writing.

We are developing an International Culture Strategy with stakeholders, including our international offices and Creative Scotland, that will support the international aspirations and potential of the culture sector in Scotland and build on its strong international footprint.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting and developing rural and island primary care and continues to meet regularly with NHS Western Isles to review all aspects of the Board’s service delivery.

The Scottish Government are investing in a range of initiatives to assist Boards in recruitment, so that being a GP or dentist remains an attractive career choice in Scotland.

Boards are able to access funding support including the Golden Hello scheme to attract new rural GPs, Rediscover the Joy that aims to recruit experienced GPs to provide resilience for remote and rural practices, SCOTGEM, a scheme that provides a graduate-entry medical degree with a rural focus, and a recruitment and retention allowance, allowing health boards, such as Western Isles, to pay a new qualified trainee dentist up to £37,500 over a three year period.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19307 on 4 July 2023 . 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 .

Independent work commissioned by Transport Scotland on the renewable energy requirements projected to be needed for the entire transport sector as it decarbonises between now and 2045 are set out in the Zero Emission Energy for Transport Forecasts: National Demand Forecasts for Electricity and Hydrogen report published on 26th May last year. The findings of this report show that the amount of electricity (and hydrogen) Scotland’s transport system is expected to need is well within the levels of what the energy sector is expected to generate.

It is important to highlight that electricity network companies are investing to ensure that our infrastructure can support our transition to net zero. Both Scottish electricity Distribution Network Operators have worked closely with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to ensure that their business plans reflect the scale and pace of deployment necessary to meet Scotland’s net zero and interim targets.