Chamber and committees

Assessments are made at local level of the potential impacts of non-native species on peatland sites and other priority habitats, through implementation of the Forestry Environmental Impact Assessment regulations, and the implementation of the UK Forestry Standard and associated guidance.

NatureScot is currently undertaking an initial national GIS analysis to estimate the potential scale and distribution of regeneration onto peatland from commercial plantations. This analysis could contribute to an assessment of the potential impact on carbon sequestration and peatland restoration targets in due course. Other assessments have been made on a site by site basis, specifically in Caithness and Sutherland, which have guided management planning.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. I recommend contacting your local authority who may be able to advise.

The Scottish Government’s Home Report Review is expected later in the current parliamentary term. The review will take account of the recommendations outlined in the five-year review published in 2015 and be informed by work on wider housing considerations including Housing Standards.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail, noting that in 2016 any agreement was with the private company, Abellio ScotRail, but ScotRail is now operated by a new, publicly owned company.

The Scottish Government’s policy towards spending by local authorities is to allow them the financial freedom to operate independently. As such, most funding is provided by means of a block grant.

Local authorities are responsible for managing their own budgets and allocating the total financial resources available to them, on the basis of local needs and priorities, which includes the needs of care experienced children and young people; having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

The Scottish Government recognises the financial challenges that local government are facing and that local authorities and their employees play a crucial role in our communities. In the most challenging budget settlement from the UK Government since devolution, the Scottish Government is providing nearly £13.5 billion in the 2023-24 Local Government Settlement. Since the flat-cash position set out in the 2022 Resource Spending Review, the Scottish Government listened to local authorities and has already increased the resources available to Local Government this year by over £793 million.

Funding is also provided to local authorities through targeted initiatives. For example, the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund has provided £60m to local authorities to help support the attainment and wellbeing of care experienced children and young people. The funding benefits a wide group, with care experienced children and young people from birth to the age of 26 being eligible for support through the fund.

The Scottish Government is currently considering the support offer available to care experienced children and young people, and to young people moving on from care into adulthood. Work is progressing to engage with delivery partners to understand how we can better target holistic support for the care experienced population to help improve outcomes and empower children, young people and families to thrive.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail.

Each child is considered in respect of their individual needs and risks when they are referred to the Principal Reporter, or where a children’s hearing is to be convened. The Scottish Government is not aware of evidence of inappropriate or unequal treatment between care-experienced children and those who do not have care experience or are coming to the system’s attention for the first time.

This information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The member may wish to contact British Transport Police who might be able to provide this information.

I last met with the COSLA Culture Conveners group on 21 September 2023.

During this meeting we discussed ways in which we can collaborate to progress our shared priorities for culture in Scotland.

The next meeting of the Culture Conveners, which I will attend, is scheduled to take place in early 2024.

I fully appreciate the need to get bookings released early so that businesses and individuals can plan ahead. The Scottish Government is aiming to confirm fares in the coming weeks to allow bookings to be opened beyond 31 March 2024.