Chamber and committees

There are no delays with the implementation of Scotland’s mandatory remote electronic monitoring requirements for fishing vessels. The scallop requirements are in force, and the pelagic requirements are due to come into force as planned on 7 March 2026.

Under existing legislation fishing vessels are required to record and land all quota species of fish unless subject to a permitted exemption. Our Future Catching Policy is intended to improve on the current requirements and we will be consulting on relevant improvements to technical standards later this year. Fishing vessels are subject to a wide range of rules and regulations which support them to fish responsibly and sustainably and which help to safeguard Scotland’s reputation in the international marketplace.

Where a confiscation order has been made by the court, payment of the order is supervised by the Court which imposed it.

Recovered monies from confiscation orders are remitted to the Scottish Consolidated Fund which goes towards the Cashback for Communities Programme.

The Scottish Government has committed £156m to the Programme since 2008, which supports young people at risk of entering the criminal justice system and the communities most affected by crime through various projects, including youth work, employability support, creative arts, and sports projects.

The Programme prioritises young people living in the bottom 20% of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) or with protected characteristics which may increase risk of being drawn into anti-social or offending behaviour.

Where payment is not made within the time permitted by the Court the case will be brought back before the Court at which time further enforcement to recover the outstanding balance will be considered. That may include, for example, the appointment of an administrator who will undertake the ingathering and management of realisable property.

The Young Carer Grant is part of a package of measures to support young carers alongside non-cash support through the Young Scot Young Carers Package, which is available to young carers aged 11-18 and provides tailored discounts and opportunities including high value e-vouchers, wellbeing boxes and vouchers for family days out.

The eligibility criteria for Young Carer Grant were developed with carers and those that represent and support them. As highlighted in the Equality Impact Assessment for the grant it is “…targeted at young adults at a transition point in their lives. There was a firm consensus among stakeholders that it would be inappropriate to pay benefits to people under the age of 16.”

The interim evaluation of the Young Carer Grant, published in 2021, showed the grant was having a positive impact on young carers' ability to take part in opportunities that are the norm for their peers and that stakeholders were generally supportive of the age criteria.

The answer to question S6W-37894 referred to a range of economic and environmental benefits that the Scottish Government believes can be delivered through the use of precision agriculture. These are understood to include the reduction of nitrous oxide emissions through more targeted use of fertiliser. An example of this in practice can be found on the website of the SG funded Farm Advisory Service at Optimise your Nutrient Management with Precision Manure Spreading Technology | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) are subject to continuous improvement rather than there being a specific review cycle. In 2022, MAPPA national guidance had an extensive update while MAPPA responsible authorities work individually and collectively at a local level to improve processes, information sharing and best practice.

In additional to individual risk assessment, which is an embedded feature of the justice system, every new offender on initial registration under MAPPA is subject to an Environmental Risk Assessment which includes a review of their housing and its suitability. This risk assessment is part of the wider National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders in Scotland (NASSO) which seeks to provide housing for sex offenders while managing any potential risk to the wider community. The placement of sex offenders in stable accommodation can support ongoing risk management and address risk with further offending.

Jenni Minto: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have and are continuing to take action to simplify scheduling of these complex cases. They have advised that achieving surgery within three cycles of chemotherapy for this patient group remains a Board priority. There is an improvement plan in place to achieve this, with actions being closely monitored.

Ongoing improvement work includes:

• Early access to radiology scanning
• Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting one week after scan results
• Efficient scheduling of colorectal input for joint surgery cases
• Additional colorectal surgical time being allocated to work with gynaecology oncology team
• Maximum use of protected 14 weekly theatre sessions

NHSGGC has advised that the number of patients receiving more than three cycles of chemotherapy while waiting surgery has significantly decreased.

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

All overflow events at Helensburgh wastewater treatment works arose through a Settled Storm Sewage Overflow after being screened and receiving primary treatment. This process is licensed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and all overflows are monitored and reported.

Enforcement of Tobacco and Vapes legislation, including the Single Use Vape (SUV) regulations is a local government issue, and in line with the Verity House Agreement we do not ring-fence or direct local authority funding.

Funding is provided annually to Local Government and they have responsibility for working to ensure local budget decisions deliver local and national priorities, including those on the enforcement of existing legislation, including on underage sales and illicit tobacco and vapes and the single use vape ban.

In addition, the Scottish Government has made £300k available for transitional costs associated with the ban on SUVs, and to support recycling and responsible disposal of SUV’s seized by local authorities.

We work closely with the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) to support enforcement of existing legislation, including on underage sales and illicit tobacco and vapes. This includes providing funding of £46k for the SCOTSS national co-ordinator role for Scotland.