Chamber and committees

The decision to close the SME Loan Scheme to new Solar PV was taken on 20 June 2023 and was implemented on 27 June.

Solar is a key part of our energy transition and is recognised as such in our draft strategy. Solar PV is also an increasingly established technology which is often deliverable without government support. On this basis, and considering finite budgets, the decision was taken in order to keep remaining budget resource available to support SMEs to install zero direct emissions heating and energy efficiency measures, in line with our Heat in Buildings Strategy priorities. We will regularly review our budget position and consider reinstating a more targeted Solar PV offering if additional funding becomes available.

The following table shows the average amount of time it has taken from a loan application being received to either a loan offer or rejection being sent. Applications processed are not dependent on measure types and there is a single application form for the SME Loan covering all technologies that are funded.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19534 on 24 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 .

Since the changes to SME Loan eligibility regarding Solar PV measures went live on 27 June 2023 on the Scottish Government’s SME Loan Scheme, there have been 18 rejected applications on this basis.

The National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG) has made very strong progress in delivering the suicide prevention action plan, Every Life Matters . NSPLG’s final annual report published in October 2022 and can be found here . Delivery has been maintained since October, including focussed work on improving responses for people in suicidal crisis, using the principles of Time, Space and Compassion.

The delivery of Every Life Matters has created an excellent platform to drive forward Creating Hope Together - our ambitious new strategy and action plan , which the Scottish Government published with COSLA in September 2022. The evidence and support for Every Life Matters actions means we are continuing to deliver on those actions as part of our ongoing work.

The Scottish Government and COSLA published our suicide prevention delivery priorities for 2023-24 on 28 June 2023. These were shaped through stakeholder discussions and a range of evidence, including views from people with lived experience of suicide.

The Scottish Government had made clear our commitment to supporting Gillian Mackay MSP on her Abortion Services Safe Access Zones (Scotland) Bill. The First Minister and I met Ms Mackay to reaffirm that commitment during the First Minister’s first week in office.

I meet regularly with Ms Mackay to discuss the Bill, and to offer support and input at each stage of the process, most recently the publication of the consultation analysis and final Bill proposal. This support will continue as the Bill is introduced to, and progresses through, Parliament.

All funding for services delivered by the community pharmacy network, including for Pharmacy First Scotland, is paid directly to independent community pharmacy contractors as part of the remuneration arrangements. No funding is paid directly to Community Pharmacy Scotland.

NHS Pharmacy First Scotland funding forms part of the overall remuneration package. These details are published annually on the SHOW website - SHOW - Scotlands Health On the Web - Publications

The remuneration Global Sum was set at the following in each year from 2018-19

2018-19 - £180.959 million

2019-20 - £183.559 million

2020-21 - £188.148 million

2021-22 - £197.977 million

2022-23 - £205.489 million

The NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service was launched in 2020-21. Funding allocated from the remuneration Global Sum for each year since was as follows:

2020-21 - £25.8 million

2021-22 - £27.5 million

2023-23 - £30.8 million

The Scottish Government has no direct role in the provision of student accommodation, whether managed by universities, colleges or private sector organisations.

Colleges operate independently of government and there is therefore very little scope for the Scottish Government to intervene in the operational businesses of colleges.

The Scottish Government has commissioned a review of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector to consider how supply, affordability and standards can be improved. The review which is being led by a cross-sectoral expert group and informed by independent research, has now concluded and we will receive the recommendations of the Review Steering Group shortly.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19456 on 24 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 .

Building Regulations in the UK are the responsibility of the UK Government in England, the Welsh Assembly in Wales, the Northern Ireland Executive in Northern Ireland and the Scottish Government in Scotland. Whilst all regulations are similar throughout the UK the key differences in relation to flammable cladding are:

• the ban of flammable cladding in Scotland applies at a lower height of 11m compared with 18m in the rest of the UK; and
• the legislation in England was amended to extend the ban of flammable cladding to hotels, hostels and boarding houses from 1 December 2022.

The next review of fire safety regulations in Scotland is due to commence later this year where we will consider these matters and other relevant developments further.