Chamber and committees

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was adopted on 13 February 2023. Our NPF4 Delivery Programme, published November 2022, provides an overview of actions to be taken to support delivery, including the preparation of a number guidance documents throughout 2023 and beyond. NatureScot’s Developing With Nature guidance, to support policy 3c, has already been published (13 February 2023). Guidance on Local Development Planning and a draft consultation on Local Living and 20 Minute Neighbourhoods will be published in the spring. We will provide an update on the production of other guidance documents when we publish our second iteration of the Delivery Plan in the summer.

It is not entirely clear as to which formal plans the questions refers, however the Bute House Agreement sets out our commitment to the introduction of a Land Reform Bill by the end of 2023. One of the proposals in the Bill is the introduction of compulsory Land Management Plans that will apply to large-scale landholdings. The public consultation on the Bill, ‘ Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation’ , was open from 4 July until the 30 October 2022, and received approximately 540 responses which are currently being analysed to inform the development of the proposals.

National Planning Framework 4, (NPF4) Policy 22 (e) - Flood Risk and Water Management, sets out a policy that Local Development Plans should seek to ‘ identify opportunities to implement improvements to the water environment through natural flood risk management and blue green infrastructure …’ by taking into account ‘relevant flood risk and river basin management plans.’ NPF4 Policy 6 also sets out that Local Development Plans will be ‘ supported and informed by an up to date Forest and Woodland Strategy’ . The Scottish Government guidance, The Right Tree in the Right Place contains advice to Local Authorities on preparing such Strategies, with direct reference to natural flood management as a suggested area for consideration. NPF4, and the Forest and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018, also set a framework for woodland protection.

In relation to forest management plans, advice on planning woodlands for flood mitigation benefits is included in the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) and supporting guidance. Forest managers must follow this to receive grant aid from Scottish Forestry. New guidance was published in 2022; ‘ Designing and Managing Forests and Woodlands to Reduce Flood Risk’ . Forest and Land Scotland seek to follow the guidance as above in their own Land Management Plans for the public estate, and ensure appropriate consideration of flood mitigation.

SFRS continues to respond to every incident with appropriate levels of resources. Staffing levels and recruitment is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The safe use of breathing apparatus is central in the role of every firefighter. Training, the provision and assessment of equipment requirements, and the competence of firefighters is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Scottish Government officials last met with representatives of Tata Steel UK on 5 December 2022. The minutes of such meetings with officials would not normally be published.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15106 on 2 March 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

SEPA has not conducted any monitoring or investigations at Arecleoch or Glen App wind farms within the last 12 months.

Scottish Power Renewables have advised the Scottish Government that all spills on the sites have been of a minor nature and therefore have not required a notification to be sent to SEPA.

The fourth round of the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) will open for stage 1 applications shortly for projects seeking funding in financial year 2024-2025.

Skills Development Scotland has operational responsibility for the funding of Modern Apprenticeship (MA) training on behalf of Scottish Government. There are apprenticeships available across these sectors, such as Maritime Occupations, Boat Building and Repair, Engineering Construction and Aquaculture, with funding towards the cost of training from SDS.

Data from Skills Development Scotland is that the number of employers of individuals who started the Maritime Occupations framework is:

2018/19 – 5

2019/20 – 5

2020/21 – 1

2021/22 – 4

2022/23, up to end Quarter 3 – 3