Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government’s Guidance on due diligence: human rights sets out recommendations on how we, our executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies should undertake appropriate due diligence on companies, including their human rights record, before entering into an investment relationship with them.

As the guidance makes clear, this should include an assessment of whether an individual or company, including any parent or subsidiary, has been associated with human rights abuses anywhere in the world.

It is for the Accountable Officer of each agency and non-departmental public body to ensure that their organisation complies with guidance issued by Scottish Ministers.

In operationalising the Scottish Government guidance, Scottish Enterprise’s Customer Due Diligence Procedure sets out the process it follows in undertaking human rights due diligence checks on companies it works with. The other enterprise agencies have similar processes in place.

The Scottish Government has allocated £570 million to local authorities through the local authority capital grant settlement for flood protection schemes and flood resilience. The distribution of this funding is agreed by Scottish Ministers and COSLA Leaders. Typically 80% is used to support the delivery of specific flood protection schemes and Flood Risk Management Plans, and the remaining 20% is distributed amongst all Scottish local authorities for wider local authority flood resilience capital projects.

SEPA designate Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs). Around 90% of Scotland’s flood risk is contained within PVAs. PVAs are used to prioritise areas where the risk is highest and the benefits of flood risk management will be greatest.

Flood risk management actions which benefit PVAs should therefore be prioritised, but this does not prevent responsible local authorities and stakeholders from taking forward actions to tackle flooding in areas located outwith the PVAs.

The Scottish Government is committed to managing our seas sustainably to protect their rich biological diversity. NatureScot are currently liaising with local stakeholders to better understand the situation within the Loch Sween MPA. Surveys will be carried out in the MPA this year to better assess the status of the native oysters across the loch.

Official labour market statistics do not include data on reasons why individuals are unemployed. However, there is data available on reasons why individuals are economically inactive and not participating in the labour market.

The latest ONS Annual Population Survey (APS) statistics for 16 to 24 year olds for January to December 2024, published on 16 April 2025, show an estimated 12.7% of economically inactive 16 to 24 year olds in Scotland gave their reason for being inactive as “long-term sick or disabled”.

The Scottish Government has published analysis on the link between economic inactivity and ill health. On 24 September 2024 an evidence review indicated an increase in physical and mental health conditions in inactive people since 2018, with rising numbers of young people citing mental health concerns as a reason for being economically inactive (Economic inactivity in Scotland: supporting those with longer-term health conditions and disabilities to remain economically active - gov.scot). Previous analysis published on 30 August 2023 identified physical and mental ill-health as possible barriers that prevent young people from entering the labour market (Economic inactivity of young people aged 16-24: Definition, reasons and potential future focus - gov.scot).

SEPA reviews, updates and publishes Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVA) information every 6 years. The most recent update was published in December 2024 following public consultation. Further information on that consultation and how the PVAs are defined can be found on SEPA's website.

Scottish Government officials met with environmental and conservation stakeholders on at least 55 occasions and with fishing stakeholders on at least 65 occasions in a range of different forums to discuss Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) from 1 January 2022 until 18 April 2025.

The Scottish Government reviews studies on the economic modelling of the impact of proposed US tariffs for Scotland, including from the Office for Budget Responsibility and the National Institute for Economic and Social Research.

These studies suggest that UK GDP will be lower with US tariffs in place. The economic impact will be dependent on the level of tariffs that are ultimately imposed by the US and the response of other countries to the US tariffs.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-36532 on 29 April 2025. 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

Lasting Powers of Attorney is an English term which refers to two separate legal documents – one for property and financial affairs, and one for health and welfare. In Scotland, the equivalent arrangement is called a Power of Attorney (PoA), which can combine continuing (financial) and welfare powers into a single document.

Last year the Scottish Government published a consultation seeking views on proposed changes to the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. The consultation opened on 25 July 2024 and closed on 17 October 2024. Part 2 of the consultation related to changes to continuing and welfare powers of attorney. The Scottish Government published analysis of consultation responses on 25 January 2025.

Screening policy in Scotland is based on recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an expert advisory group which advises the UK nations on all aspects of screening. The UK NSC reviewed the starting age for cervical screening in 2013 and recommended it should be increased from 20 to 25. The Scottish cervical screening programme therefore offers routine screening to women and people with a cervix who are aged between 25 and 64.

Since 2008, the HPV vaccination has also been offered to women under 25, which provides immunity to the virus that causes the majority of cases of cervical cancer. No cervical cancers have been found in those vaccinated in Scotland.

Nonetheless, in August 2021, the then Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Maree Todd, wrote to the UK NSC to ask them to keep the merits of lowering the age for cervical screening under review. To date, the evidence continues to support cervical screening beginning at the age of 25; a study found that for every 100,000 women invited for screening from the age of 20, an extra 8,000 women would need further investigation and 3,000 more would have unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment.