Chamber and committees

As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows:

Scottish Water has responded to requests for data from Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP) under a number or FOI/EIR requests. Where data was available, Scottish Water has made efforts to provide this, as requested. Where data is not held by Scottish Water, as per the request, it has not been able to provide it - and Scottish Water has provided explanations. This is being tested by the Scottish Information Commissioner under appeal from WASP, reflecting the appropriate process in these circumstances.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of data centres to Scotland’s digital infrastructure and is engaging with planning authorities, the energy sector and other stakeholders to understand emerging development trends. Whilst there are no current proposals for sector-specific guidance or regulatory changes, the need for further guidance will be kept under review and considered as part of ongoing work, and the National Planning Hub will continue to work on Data Centres, developing knowledge, capacity and understanding with Local Government.

Scottish Government does not provide guidance on prioritisation of enforcement activity to local authorities. It is for each local authority to manage its own day-to-day business, including decisions in relation to the delivery of statutory services locally.

Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) is the national team for trading standards in Scotland. The team is funded by UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and managed by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). TSS has a duty to coordinate and enforce cross boundary and national casework.

The Scottish Government’s public health approach to violence has prevention at its core and our focus is aimed at preventing and reducing harm for people in Scotland’s communities.

My heartfelt condolences go to Lisa Petrie for the heartbreaking loss of her son, John McNab. I commend Lisa on the work she has been doing to educate young people on the dangers of carrying knives as well as her campaign to roll out bleed kits which helped inform our commitment.

Scottish Government will engage with partners to inform how bleed kits are rolled out to community settings and what quantities would be appropriate and effective.

Trading standards officers are appointed by local authorities in order to comply with their statutory obligations.

While it is up to each local authority to manage its own day-to-day business, including decisions in relation to the delivery of statutory services locally, Scottish Government retains a strategic interest in the effective delivery of trading standards services across Scotland.

Scottish Ministers have asked Consumer Scotland to develop recommendations that will inform Scottish Government’s continued support for local authorities in delivering effective, well resourced, trading standards services that deliver positive outcomes for people and communities.

Trading standards officers are appointed by local authorities. Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) is the national team for trading standards in Scotland and is funded by UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT). Workforce planning is an operational matter for individual local authorities and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) as employers.

Scottish Ministers have asked Consumer Scotland to develop recommendations that will inform Scottish Government’s continued support for local authorities in delivering effective, well resourced, trading standards services that deliver positive outcomes for people and communities.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) carries out an annual programme of sewer network and wastewater site compliance assessment, proactively targeting higher risk sites and also maintaining a rolling programme of inspections across all authorised sites, to determine operator compliance, including sampling of sites and the environment.

SEPA also requires these operators to provide data returns and report incidents. Recorded data and site operations are assessed during SEPA inspections. In addition to compliance inspections, SEPA responds to Scottish Water pollution notifications and public reporting of pollution incidents.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) sets recording requirements for sewage treatment works in accordance with its published technical guidance wat-g-065_permit_guide_municipal_sewage_treatment-_works.docx.

The recording and reporting requirements are included in authorisations on the basis of environmental risk, such as size of wastewater treatment works and proximity to sensitive receptors e.g. designated Bathing Waters.

The Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations (Scotland) 1994 sets out the nature of the sampling and the frequency for qualifying works. The results of this sampling is published - https://www.gov.scot/publications/situation-compliance-report-disposal-urban-wastewater-sludge-scotland-2022/.

The Scottish Government supports the development of a paediatric palliative care suite in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. We want to ensure that children and young people receive high quality palliative care and that their families and carers have flexible support, based on their individual needs, in a location that suits them.

‘Molly’s suite’ will build on the work done by young cancer patient Molly Cuddihy to ensure children and young people at the end of their life are properly supported and treated with dignity. Work to develop it is being led by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC), working in partnership with Children’s Hospices across Scotland (CHAS).

My officials have asked the Board for an update on progress, which I will share with the Member in due course.

The Scottish Government are not currently making any considerations to establish an independent body to investigate complaints regarding the financial practices of adult social care providers.

Scotland has in place the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) which provides a well-established, fully independent route for complaints relating to adult social care services provided by the public sector.

When a person is self-funding their care this becomes a contractual matter between the individual and their care home. Families in Scotland can contact their local trading standards team who will investigate any breach of contract.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which is a statutory body and accountable to the UK Parliament, has guidance for care homes on deposits and fees. We expect all providers operating in Scotland to abide by the guidance clearly set out by the CMA.