Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government continues to prioritise investment in frontline services, providing an increase of over £730 million to NHS Boards in 2023-24 and taking funding for NHS Ayrshire and Arran to over £850 million – an increase of over 71% since 2006-07.

Despite this record investment there remain significant financial pressures across the system as a result of inflation, Covid and Brexit. The Scottish Government is working closely with all NHS Boards to address these pressures, ensuring patient care and safety remain the priority.

This includes providing additional support and scrutiny to NHS Ayrshire and Arran under the Performance Escalation Framework to support development and implementation of the Board’s financial recovery plan and delivery of sustainable services.

Scottish Government are already supporting a range of interventions to help the wellbeing of our rural communities.

Between 2021-2023 £36 million was made available to grassroots community groups through the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing fund to help tackle the impact of social isolation, loneliness and mental health inequalities.

Land Based rural workers have been supported by the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI) who provide emotional, practical and financial assistance to people living and working in Scottish agriculture. In the 2022-23 financial year SG committed £50,000 to supporting RSABI taking the total Scottish Government support to £515,000 over the last five years.

The partnership is actively exploring alternative models of ownership with the Scottish Land Commission and has already held two workshops to explore these opportunities. In addition, existing routes to community ownership remain open across the whole of Scotland, not just in this area, through Asset Transfer Request and Community Rights to Buy. The Scottish Government also continues to support community ownership through the Scottish Land Fund, which will be doubled to £20m by 2026.

NatureScot are currently developing an ethical framework that will guide investments from the partnership. The matters referred to will be addressed by this framework, which will be agreed by the project board and made publicly available.

The Royal Mail and postal delivery services remain a reserved matter and the responsibility of the UK Government.

While the Scottish Government has no power to intervene in the industrial dispute between Royal Mail and the Commercial Workers Union we welcome the news that both parties have now reached an agreement; and that this will now go to ballot with the recommendation to accept.

We hope that the proposals in the agreement can be implemented quickly and bring the detrimental impact this action has had on consumers across Scotland to an end.

Private investment from the partnership will cover all capital costs although land managers may also choose to apply to existing grant schemes, in which case there will be a mix of funding. The usual processes and policies for public grants will apply.

Until investment cases have been completed and agreements reached with individual land managers, it is not possible to determine the proportion of funding that will each come from private investment, existing grant schemes and, if applicable, landowners. It is likely that this will vary from project to project.

Not being a party to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Scottish Land Commission did not provide comment or input into its wording. The MOU published in March incorrectly listed the Scottish Land Commission as having a decision making role on the project board, rather than correctly identifying its role as advisory. Both NatureScot and the Scottish Land Commission have since clarified the role of the SLC with the partnership.

As this partnership is at an early stage, NatureScot is currently not able to provide an estimate of the staff resource costs associated with this work. The Scottish Land Commission’s advisory role will be provided in line with its existing good practice programme.

The Scottish Government have used evidence, data and advice from a range of sources to inform the decision to bring forward legislation to licence grouse shooting in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill.

The Policy Memorandum which accompanies the Bill sets out in detail the evidence that was taken into account when developing the provisions for the Bill.

61 Slurry Storage applications will be considered for funding through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme for 2023.

We have been observing the European Commission’s consideration of new genomic techniques with interest, and look forward to further information on their legislative proposals. We note that the Commission has stated these will be published in the second quarter of 2023.

Should the EU move to change its regulatory framework, as in other matters, we will consider the implications for Scotland as details become available. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining alignment with the EU where appropriate and in Scotland’s interest, including the protection and advancement of the high environmental standards that both Scotland and the EU enjoy. As our biggest international trade partner, any changes in the EU may have implications for Scottish businesses. In addition to monitoring EU developments, other relevant regulatory changes around the world provide further important context.

Overall, it is of fundamental importance that Scotland’s regulatory approach to gene editing reflects the views and priorities of people in Scotland, and recognises the wider context in terms of impacts on international trade and consumer rights.