Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has been clear that the UK Government's cruel Illegal Migration Bill should be withdrawn immediately. The proposals, if enacted, will unjustly harm some of the most vulnerable people in society by restricting access to support and assistance under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 for a person deemed within scope of the UK Bill.

We recognise and share the significant concern displayed across Scotland about the UK Bill. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees hosted a Summit on 22 June, focusing on our response to the Bill's likely impacts - including on potential victims of human trafficking. We will reflect on discussions at the Summit and continue our engagement with partners throughout Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament rejected the UK Bill during a debate on 25 April. We set out our intent to lodge a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) on two clauses within the Bill which alter the executive competence of the Scottish Ministers. Following consideration, the Scottish Parliament has determined that it is not a relevant Bill for the purposes of Standing Orders Rule 9B.1 and has not accepted the lodging of the LCM.

Although an LCM cannot be lodged, the Scottish Government intends to facilitate an alternative debate motion to allow for Parliamentary scrutiny of the Bill. Scottish Ministers will also write to relevant Parliamentary Committees setting out the Scottish Government’s position on the Bill for the record and inviting consideration about the implications of the Bill for Scotland.

We continue to monitor the Bill closely as it is considered by the House of Lords.

Our refreshed Tobacco Action plan will be published in autumn in this year, which renews our focus on meeting our ambitious target of a Tobacco-Free Scotland by 2034.

We are considering a range of evidence, including the latest international evidence, and are working closely with stakeholders, including Smoking Cessation Co-ordinators, ASH Scotland, the Poverty Alliance, Trading Standards and PHS to deliver actions that will further reduce the smoking rates.

No estimate of the cost of providing long-term solutions has been made to date. Police Scotland updated the Scottish Police Authority Resources Committee on 9 May 2023, that it is working with structural engineers and business areas to identify longer term solutions for the areas where reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been found.

Scotland’s National Water Scarcity Plan (NWSP) sets out how water resources will be managed prior to and during periods of prolonged dry weather ensuring the correct balance is struck between protecting the environment and providing resource for human and economic activity.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) latest reporting shows that water scarcity is now affecting all of Scotland and the forecasts indicate scattered showers are expected this week but not in quantities across a widespread area to improve the situation. The rainfall at the weekend provided no significant improvement in the conditions.

SEPA’s communications campaign began at the start of May to provide advice to businesses on water efficiency measures. The Scottish Government sponsored Farm Advisory Service (FAS) is also providing information about the current water scarcity situation and implications to the public, farmers and businesses. Scottish Government have reopened the emergency scheme to provided bottled water to affected households.

SEPA are monitoring the situation and coordinating steps to manage water resources. As areas of the country experiencing prolonged dry periods reach significant water scarcity level farms and businesses are contacted ahead of any temporary abstraction suspensions being introduced and guidance provided to minimise water usage.

Loch Maree has been in significant scarcity since 8 June. This is the level which triggers SEPA’s ability to suspend abstraction licences. The environmental impact of the activity in Loch Maree area is not considered by SEPA to be significant as licences in the area already have conditions to protect the environment in the event of low flows. Hence no licences in Loch Maree are being suspended at this time.

Parts of the Esk catchment in Dumfriesshire are also now at significant scarcity level. Like the Loch Maree catchment, licenses in this area are mainly for hydropower which have conditions to protect low flows so suspensions were not required.

Licences holders in areas likely to reach significant in the coming weeks are being contacted to highlight the risks and to understand their upcoming water needs.

The Scottish Government is working closely with SEPA and the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) to communicate the risk of water scarcity to businesses who abstract water.

SEPA have been running a communications campaign since the start of May to encourage agricultural businesses and others to manage water wisely. This involves regular national and local press releases, media interviews, partnership with industry publications and participation in FAS podcasts, providing practical advice and support to farmers. SEPA also directly communicate with license holders if there a risk to abstraction supplies.

A communications stakeholder group has also been set up involving the Scottish Government, SEPA, Scottish Water, Nature Scot and the NFUS to coordinate and ensure the reinforcement of key messages.

Police Scotland updated the Scottish Police Authority Resources Committee on 9 May 2023, that the Fettes workshop has been closed, with business continuity arrangements put in place; and that staff have been relocated from the affected area in Baluniefield. No immediate action has been taken in Perth as the RAAC is limited to one small area and is graded low risk. Police Scotland has also provided assurance that there is no risk from RAAC to officers, staff or visitors across the police estate.

I would like to thank the Scottish SPCA Taskforce for conducting the review and providing the final report. Following consideration of the report provided by the Scottish SPCA Taskforce, I can announce that I will be bringing forward provisions in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 to allow for a limited extension of the Scottish SPCA’s current powers to investigate wildlife crime.

The powers will allow the Scottish SPCA to in certain circumstances search, examine and seize evidence in connection with specified wildlife crime offences.

Our full proposals have been published on the Scottish Government webpages, which you can find here: www.gov.scot/isbn/9781835210468 , and I have written to the Parliament notifying them of the proposals. We will also be consulting with key stakeholders on the proposals over the summer.

The potential impacts on the future transport connectivity needs and any impacts on the Clyde & Hebrides and Northern Isles Ferry Services will be considered as part of the Islands Connectivity Plan in conjunction with the local authorities responsible for implementing the Islands Growth Deal.

Orkney Islands Council and Shetland Islands Council are wholly responsible for their inter-island ferries, including considering any such impacts.

As required by Section 103 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, the next report to the Scottish Parliament on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will be published in 2024. Reporting occurs in a 6-year cycle. The last report was published in 2018, and is available here: Marine Protected Area Network - 2018 Report to the Scottish Parliament - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

There is no minimum distance as such in relation to turbines of specified sizes. Development proposals and any potential impacts are considered on a case-by-case basis. All planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), adopted in February this year, forms part of the statutory development plan alongside the relevant Local Development Plan.

Part 2 of NPF4 sets out the policy framework for use in the determination of planning applications. Matters concerning project design and mitigation are set out in policy 11(e).