Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 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

The Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce was established to build on efforts to make Scotland the best place for nurses and midwives to come and work. The Taskforce brought together a number of stakeholders to work collaboratively, focusing on recruitment as well as the retention of the existing workforce.

A key priority for the Taskforce was to ensure that the voice of nursing and midwifery staff and students was heard to identify what was important for them. This was achieved through the Listening Project, which held extensive engagement with staff across Scotland.

The Listening Project report will be published on 13 February 2025 on the Scottish Government website here: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836912637

The voice of nursing and midwifery staff heard through the Listening Project informed the 44 recommended actions agreed by the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce. The recommended actions focus on improving workplace culture, practice, flexibility, recruitment, and retention, as well as diversifying education and training pathways to support long-term workforce sustainability.

The full report of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce will be published on 13 February 2025 on the Scottish Government website here: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836913290

The next phase of the taskforce will focus on implementation. A ministerially chaired implementation group will oversee development of a workplan detailing activities and timelines for delivering the recommended actions.

Maintenance/replacement costs for road studs on the A90 from August 2022 can be seen in table A.

Table A

Through Scotland’s Land Use Strategy, our Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement and Natural Capital Framework, we have in place an established set of principles, objectives, protocols, and guidance. This helps our farmers, crofters and other land owners and managers in their land use decision making, and provides strategic connections across multiple interests, including Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation, Environment Strategy and National Planning Framework 4.

The fourth iteration of Scotland’s Land Use Strategy is due for publication in early 2026 and as it is developed we will work closely with stakeholders to further discussion of the multiple pressures our land faces and the opportunities and challenges that an integrated approach to land use can bring.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.

The British Transport Police managed the Railway Guardian app, which was closed in January 2025.

We understand that British Transport Police will now focus on its text 61016 service, which is now free on major phone networks and the easiest way to report non-urgent crime to BTP.

The British Transport Police is reserved to the UK Government.

Where a patient deemed ready for discharge refuses to leave hospital, there is a clearly defined procedure in place:

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 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

Discounts, exemptions and reductions for household water and sewerage charges are funded by the wider household customer base.

Roughly 50% of households receive a discount on the published rates. These include status discounts which apply to Council Tax (e.g. single occupant) and reductions for those in receipt of Council Tax Reduction. This helps to ensure that charges remain progressive and protect those on the lowest incomes.

Scottish Water publishes details of interest paid in its annual report and accounts, routinely laid in Parliament, and available online at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/Help-and-Resources/Document-Hub/Key-Publications/Annual-Reports.

As published in the Water Industry Commission for Scotland’s (WICS) Final Determination of charges for 2021-27, the maximum amount of charges that Scottish Water can levy on its customers is CPI+2% on average for each year of the regulatory period (equivalent to CPI+12.6% over the 6 year period). Charge increases in the first half of the regulatory period were significantly less than the charge cap, reflecting the financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis on households.

Water charges are set by Scottish Water’s Board, with approval from the independent economic regulator WICS. The Board must balance affordability with funding critical investment needs to protect our drinking water quality and the environment. As recognised in Scottish Water’s Draft Long Term Strategy published on 4 February 2025, charges need to increase to fund the impacts of the climate emergency, the replacement of ageing assets and a growing population.