Chamber and committees

Procurement legislation requires public bodies to treat suppliers equally and without discrimination irrespective of size when buying goods, services and works.

Through the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, we introduced a legal requirement for public bodies to consider and act on opportunities to facilitate the involvement of small or medium-sized enterprises (‘SMEs’), third sector organisations and supported businesses in the procurement process, and also to advertise regulated contract opportunities openly and transparently on Public Contracts Scotland, helping SMEs to identify opportunities in the supply chain.

We continue to focus on making it easier for SMEs to participate in public supply chains, including publishing an SME and Third Sector Procurement Action Plan in 2024 as part of our New Deal for Business.

We continue to test, challenge and inform procurement approaches through industry engagement, such as round tables with SMEs, to underpin continuous improvement.

The ‘annual report on procurement activity in Scotland 2022 to 2023’ (our most recently published report) shows that 61 pence in every pound of known procurement spend in Scotland went to an SME, and that, of the 18,079 suppliers awarded contracts through Public Contracts Scotland, SMEs received 77% of these contracts.

Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) formed part of the general TRO process review that was carried out in 2021. This review indicated that local authorities were content with the TTRO process already in place.

However, Transport Scotland continues to monitor the feedback from local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that the system remains responsive and meets the needs of communities and road users.

The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 establishes a framework for the assessment and mapping of flood risks and the planning in relation to the management of such risks. Under section 9 of the Act SEPA must prepare a flood risk assessment for each flood risk management district providing an assessment of any flood risk for the district. This is commonly referred to as the National Flood Risk Assessment and was last published by SEPA in 2018.

In addition, section 13 of the Act requires SEPA to prepare and submit to Scottish Ministers a document identifying for each flood risk management district any area in the district for which it considers that significant flood risk either exists or is likely to occur. These are more commonly referred to as Potentially Vulnerable Areas.

Under section 14 of the Act SEPA is required to update the document provided to Scottish Ministers on a six yearly basis. Scottish Ministers approved the latest update of the document in December 2024 and it can found on SEPA’s website.

Under section 2 of the Act the Scottish Ministers may give directions or guidance to SEPA in relation to the exercise of its flood risk related functions.

The question does not reference the actual public satisfaction survey. The most recent survey, the British Social Attitudes survey report is for the whole of the UK. It does not have a particular locus for dental services in Scotland.

The Member is instead referred to Official statistics from Public Health Scotland at: NHS dental data monitoring report - Quarter Ending December 2024 - NHS dental data monitoring report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

The most recent findings show that in February, over 4.1 million courses of treatment were delivered to Scotland patients in 2024 under the new payment system, and over 900,000 patients were seen by an NHS dentist in the last quarter of 2024. This shows that the significant and continuing investment made in NHS dentistry is supporting high volumes of patient access to NHS care and delivering on our aims to sustain NHS dental services.

We also remain the only country in the UK to offer free dental examinations for everyone in Scotland, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to accessing care.

Since the publication of the Scottish Government’s response to the final report by the Independent Expert Group for the Unlocking the Value of Data programme, in January 2025, an Industry Data Access Steering Group has been established to oversee the development of an operational framework, as outlined in the Scottish Government response.

This project supports the aim of the Unlocking the Value of Data programme to realise greater value from public sector personal data when used with, or by, the private sector, for public benefit. The framework will facilitate private sector access to public sector data, in collaboration with the Scottish Safe Havens Network and through citizen and stakeholder engagement. This project aims to promote transparency, efficiency, and alignment with public expectations, ensuring the safe, secure and ethical use of public sector data by private organisations.

Public inquiries are independent of Government, and each inquiry is responsible for publishing its own financial information. This can be found on the website of each respective Inquiry. For inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005 there is a statutory duty on the Chair to “act with regard to the need to avoid any unnecessary cost” (s.17(3))

The Edinburgh Trams Inquiry reported in September 2023. The costs for the Tram Inquiry from 2015 until it reported are £13,007,617.02. The salary paid to Lord Hardie as Chair of the Inquiry from 2015 until conclusion was £1,128,468. Information relating to the total costs of the Inquiry and the Chair’s fees were previously made publicly available in the media in articles published in June 2023 and September 2023, albeit the information previously published covered a different time frame.

In respect of the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry, overall costs are published on the Inquiry website Inquiry costs | Sheku Bayoh Inquiry From the date that this Inquiry was established to the date your question was lodged, the Scottish Government has provided the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry with £711,680 to pay Lord Bracadale for his role as Chair to the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry.

In respect of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, overall costs are published on the Inquiry website Inquiry Costs | Hospitals Inquiry. From the point when the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry was established in 2020 to the date on which your question was lodged the Scottish Government has provided the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry with £727,040 to pay Lord Brodie for his role as Chair to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.

In respect of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, overall costs are published on the Inquiry website Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry | Cost of the Inquiry. From the point when the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry was established in May 2015 the cost of salaries for the Chairs is £2,216,613 (initially Susan O’Brian then subsequently Lady Smith). Lady Smith’s appointment began on 1 August 2016. From her appointment until March 2022 the sum was paid to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service as Lady Smith was a sitting judge and President of the Tribunals in Scotland as well as her role as Chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

With regard to the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry, overall costs are regularly published on the Inquiry website Inquiry costs | Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry. The Chair of the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry is Lord Brailsford. As a sitting judge, Lord Brailsford is remunerated by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. The terms of the Chair’s appointment have been published on the Inquiry website. Any questions on judicial appointment terms are for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to answer but salary scales can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/judicial-salaries-and-fees-2023-to-2024

In respect of the Eljamel Inquiry, overall costs will be published on the Inquiry website Inquiry costs | The Eljamel Inquiry. In relation to the Eljamel Inquiry, the salary of Lord Weir for his role as the Chair for the year 2024-25 was £196,199.

The Scottish Government (SG) has acknowledged that, while the current system for Powers of Attorney (PoAs) generally functions well, certain elements require improving and updating.

In January SG published analysis of responses to a consultation on proposals for reform of the Adults with Incapacity Act, including PoAs.

SG are now considering those responses and working towards modernising the AWI Act, taking forward recommendations from the Scottish Mental Health Law Review.

Patient safety is of the utmost importance and everyone in Scotland has the right to expect high quality, safe, and appropriate healthcare. NHS Forth Valley is responsible for assessing patient safety risks in its mental health facilities, including those posed by ligature anchor points, and for taking appropriate local action.

Oversight of the safety and quality of mental health inpatient services, including aspects of the built environment, is supported by intelligence-led, risk-based inspections carried out by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Where concerns are identified, Healthcare Improvement Scotland will consider whether these should be escalated to the Scottish Government or Ministers.

Relevant issues may also be considered through cross-agency forums involving mental health scrutiny bodies and the Health and Safety Executive, depending on the nature of the concern.

Power of Attorney (PoA) applications in Scotland are registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), which is a part of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). The SCTS is an independent body corporate and was established by the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008. The SCTS is not directly answerable to the Scottish Government, but rather has its own board, chaired by the Lord President.

Once a PoA is registered with the OPG, concerns about its use are generally addressed through investigation or civil court action, such as seeking removal of the attorney or appointment of a guardian. The OPG does not hold data on the number of civil court action cases brought to contest in the last three years, as it is not formally notified of them.

The Scottish Government (SG) has acknowledged that, while the current system for granting Powers of Attorney (PoAs) generally functions well, certain elements require improving and updating.

In January SG published analysis of responses to a consultation on proposals for reform of the Adults with Incapacity Act, including PoAs.

SG are now considering those responses and working towards modernising the AWI Act, taking forward recommendations from the Scottish Mental Health Law Review.