Chamber and committees

The composition and appointment terms relating to technical panels is under development and is being informed by negotiations with leading developers as part of the Scottish Safer Buildings Accord. Panels will act to ensure that Single Building Assessments are commissioned, quality assured and completed in a timely and efficient manner. They will act to provide assurance that findings are compliant with relevant standards and assessment guidance and that recommendations are reasonable and acceptable to multiple stakeholders with an interest in a building.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days

The Scottish Government has regular communication with the UK Government on a range of issues relating to human trafficking and exploitation, including the vacant role of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

Section 40 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 sets out that the Secretary of State must appoint an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

While we understand that a second appointment round is now underway, the delay in replacing the former Commissioner is unacceptable at a time of UK Government legislation which seeks to prohibit access to vital support and assistance for victims of human trafficking and exploitation in Scotland.

Scottish Child Payment was fully rolled out on 14 November 2022 on which date it opened for new applications to all eligible people in receipt of a qualifying benefit with responsibility for children under 16, and for people who wished to add children aged under 16 to an existing claim for children aged under 6.

The Scottish Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development met with the UK Minister for Development and Africa on 15 March, where they discussed a number of key international development issues including climate justice. In particular, in relation to loss and damage, the Bridgetown Initiative and the Scottish Government’s recently published report , Practical Action for Addressing Loss and Damage were covered. Additionally, Scottish Government officials meet on a semi-regular basis with UK Government officials to discuss international climate change matters, including loss and damage.

The Scottish Government thanks all those who submitted proposals in response to the Climate Just Communities invitation to tender. The Scottish Government anticipates announcing the contract winner early into next financial year.

Up to £24 million will be awarded from the Climate Justice Fund (CJF) to the Climate Just Communities programme, making it the largest programme launched under the CJF. This will be split across the three countries of Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia through three separate contracts equalling up to £8 million each over 3 years.

The UK Government Apprenticeship Levy is a reserved tax on employers which was implemented by the UK Government. The Scottish Government has no direct control or responsibility for its operation

The Scottish Government has been clear that significant funding will continue to be invested in skills, training and employability to meet the needs of employers, the workforce, young people and Scotland’s economy. The overwhelming majority of funding, which includes investment in employment support and our apprenticeship programme, is available to employers regardless of their size or whether they pay the Levy.

Statistics published by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) confirms the following number of Modern (MA), Graduate (GA) and Foundation Apprenticeship (FA) starts/ enrolments in each of the last five years.

The Scottish Government is committed to raising awareness of all forms of cancer, including brain, through our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme, which we continue to invest in.

A new Detect Cancer Earlier campaign was launched on 06 March 2023 to reduce fear of cancer and encourage those with possible symptoms to contact their GP practice. The NHS Inform website highlights the common symptoms of brain tumours .

The Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer support primary care clinicians in identifying patients who are most likely to have cancer and therefore require urgent assessment by a specialist. DCE funded a clinical refresh of eight pathways in 2018, including brain, with revised guidance published January 2019. Work continues with primary care clinicians to raise awareness of the Guidelines and share best practice.

A new cancer strategy is under development, which will include a new earlier diagnosis vision for Scotland. It is expected to publish in Spring 2023.

The third sector is hugely diverse and works alongside the public and private sectors across all services and industries, often providing lifeline services in our most vulnerable communities. It faces many pressures but we know that there are particular challenges given fixed grants and falling donations.

We recognise that the third sector needs stability of funding and the opportunity for longer term planning and development. We are committed to delivering a Fairer Funding approach for the third sector, the cornerstone of which is multi-year funding, and we are now beginning the roll out of this commitment. We hope this will provide a much needed stable platform to enable the sector to work to its full potential.

Further information about each of these policy matters is as follows.

(a) Conversion therapy

A ban on conversion therapy was a commitment in the SNP’s 2021 manifesto. It was agreed by Cabinet in August 2021, both as part of the Bute House Agreement and as part of the Programme for Government 2021-22.

(b) Deposit Return Scheme

A commitment to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme was agreed by Cabinet in August 2017 as part of the Programme for Government 2017-18.

Cabinet agreed the design of the Deposit Return Scheme in April 2019 and agreed the original commencement date for inclusion in legislation in January 2020.

The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020 were approved by the Scottish Parliament in May 2020 and Parliament agreed The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Amendment Regulations 2022 in February 2022.

Cabinet has been updated and had the opportunity to comment on the implementation plans for the scheme on many occasions.

(c) Alcohol advertising

A commitment to introduce restrictions on alcohol advertising in locations where children would be readily exposed to it was included in the SNP’s 2021 manifesto. A commitment to consult on such restrictions was agreed by Cabinet in August 2021 as part of the Programme for Government 2021-22. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation approved the publication of this consultation paper in November 2022.

(d) Safe access zones

A commitment to support any local authority that wants to establish byelaws to create protest-free buffer zones outside clinics that provide abortion services was included in the SNP’s 2021 manifesto. Cabinet agreed this commitment in August 2021 as part of the Programme for Government 2021-22. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation agreed to support the development and drafting of Gillian Mackay’s Member’s Bill (the Proposed Abortion Services Safe Access Zones (Scotland) Bill) in July 2022.