Chamber and committees

I am pleased to confirm that refreshed Scottish Government guidance on marches, parades and static demonstrations has been published on the Scottish Government website today and can be found at https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836010425.

I hope that this guidance will be a useful source of information to all key parties involved in marches, parades and static demonstrations. I am extremely grateful to the members of the working group, chaired by Dr Michael Rosie, for their contribution to the refreshed guidance. Their time, expertise and diligence has helped to shape what I hope will be useful and widely used guidance.

Today the Scottish Government published its International Culture Strategy. The Strategy sets out a series of ambitions and actions to support the culture and creative sector in pursuing international opportunities and ensure that such activity plays a central role in the sector’s long term development. It builds on existing activity, but explores additional opportunities and sets out a policy rationale for why the Scottish Government considers international cultural activity to be important. The International Culture Strategy is available here https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836010876 .

Timescales for the legislative process are set out in the Scottish Parliament’s Standing Orders (for example in relation to Scottish Statutory Instruments) or are determined by Parliament on the advice of the Parliamentary Bureau (for example in relation to target dates for the completion of stages of Bills).

When the Scottish Government contributes its perspective to timetabling discussions it seeks to balance the need to make progress in delivering its legislative programme with the need for Parliament to be able to appropriately scrutinise that legislation, whilst also recognising the role of parliamentary authorities and the time they need in supporting members ahead of amending stages of Bills.

We have no current plans to regulate for the provision of swift nest bricks in planning applications for new buildings.

All planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Following the publication and adoption of our Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) in February 2023, this forms part of the development plan and so influences planning decisions across Scotland. Improving biodiversity is a cross-cutting theme which runs throughout NPF4 and our strategy and policies support development that helps to secure positive effects for biodiversity. It will be a matter for the relevant planning authority to determine what conditions, if relevant, to apply to individual planning application based on the circumstances of the individual case.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W–24036 on‎ 16 January 2024. 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

It would not be appropriate to comment on a live application. A decision will be taken by Ministers in due course, following consideration of the application information, consultation responses and representations made by members of the public.

The Single Building Assessment (SBA) is a risk-based approach to assess and culminate in a report on the risk to human life (directly or indirectly) created or exacerbated by the External Wall System (EWS) in multi-residential domestic buildings which may include a commercial premises, constructed or refurbished between 1 June 1992 and 1 June 2022, 11 metres and over in height and incorporating a form of external wall cladding system. The SBA includes a FRAEW (Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls) which requires that a building is assessed holistically, and for that reason, the SBA will also include a Fire Risk Assessment of the common parts of the building to the level of detail deemed required by the Fire Engineer / Assessor. The level of risk acceptance for any building in scope is tolerable risk. The recommendations identified by the Fire Engineer or Assessor within the SBA report which are deemed necessary to eliminate or mitigate risk to human life (directly or indirectly) created or exacerbated by the EWS will form the remediation scope.

During the First Minister’s recent meeting with the Arab Ambassador Corps in London, the First Minister set out his vision for Scotland around the three pillars of equality, community, and opportunity, focusing on Scotland’s economic potential and commitment to social justice. The First Minister also outlined Scotland’s role in the world including the Scottish Government’s commitment to good global citizenship and belief in democracy, rule of law and human rights. In this context, the First Minister reaffirmed the importance of international solidarity in the face of shared global challenges such as the climate emergency, Russia’s war against Ukraine and the current crisis unfolding in the middle east.

The meeting was conducted under the Chatham House rule, as such specific issues attributable to participants are not noted.

All NHS Boards have been briefed on the current situation and the NHS Cyber Security Centre of Excellence will continue to support Boards to be alert and respond to potential threats.

This is in addition to the routine work that the Scottish Government undertakes to support Health Boards in their cyber security through ensuring compliance with the Network and Information System Regulations.

As set out in S6T-01869 on 19 March 2024, which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament , colleagues will appreciate that this incident is the subject of a live Police investigation. As a result I am limited in the detail I can share.

However, I want to assure the member that the Scottish Government continues to fully support NHS Dumfries and Galloway as they respond to the cyber-attack.

While I understand this news will have been alarming for both patients and staff, I can assure Parliament that the Board responded swiftly and in line with established protocol. I have personally spoken to the Chief Executive of Dumfries and Galloway and I am assured that my officials are fully supporting Dumfries and Galloway as part of a multi-agency approach.

In addition to this, I can confirm that other NHS Health Boards, at the Governments request, have been mobilised to provide technical support to Dumfries and Galloway.

Scottish Government officials have been meeting regularly with the UK Government and the other devolved nations to discuss and share plans around the potential impact of synthetic opioids. These meetings are now occurring on a monthly basis. This issue has also been raised on a number of occasions at a Ministerial level, including at the recent British Irish Council Ministerial meeting in January and the UK Drugs Ministerial meeting which took place in November.

The early warning system using wastewater analysis and overdose reports will provide vital information in terms of changes in the drug supply and in identifying changes in use in different locations. Scottish Water are involved with this work and we will get the data on a quarterly basis and this will feed into our surveillance plans.

It is vital that we are able to share surveillance information, intelligence and details on changes in drug trends between the different administrations, particularly as the illegal drug supply is not impacted by borders.