Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government ensures that corporately managed mobile phones are replaced when they no longer receive operating system or security updates.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested centrally. Where data sharing agreements are put in place under certain data sharing powers in Part 5 of the Digital Economy Act 2017, these are recorded on a register of information which can be found at: Register of Information sharing agreements under chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 of part 5 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 - GOV.UK. These can only be established where there is a clear legal gateway to undertake the sharing. Requests for UK government data which have been delayed or are in the process of being resolved are part of continued policy development. To support this, the Office of the Chief Statistician established its UK Data Sharing Team in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic and in response to the need for greater data sharing across the UK. The team provides advice and guidance on request to support Scottish Government in accessing data from UK Government departments for statistics and research. Delays often occur in identifying the appropriate legal gateway or in demonstrating technical and security requirements.

The Scottish Government is working with UK departments to resolve barriers to data sharing, such as those evidenced in the Independent Review of the UK Statistics Authority by Professor Denise Lievesley (Independent Review of the UK Statistics Authority 2023 - 2024 - GOV.UK) which noted “systemic and cultural barriers to responsible data sharing between government departments”. In addition, it is working with the UK Government to continue to implement the Digital Economy Act which is expected to improve data sharing processes across programme for government policy areas in the future.

Through our mobile voice & data contract the Scottish Government have purchased various models of mobile phone including those from Apple, Motorola and Samsung. When selecting mobile phones, each device is evaluated on value for money, supportability and usability over the expected device lifecycle.

Whenever personal data is shared, the processing must comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The UK GDPR requires the careful assessment of compliance with the key principles of the legislation on a case by case basis. This means demonstrating that each instance of data sharing is necessary and proportionate to meet a specific purpose, it has a lawful basis and it is within the expectations of the individuals’ whose data it is. Therefore, the Scottish Government has no over-arching agreement with the UK Government as data sharing agreements are put in place for individual projects that adhere to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Data Sharing Code of Practice.

The Scottish Government complies with the General Data Protection Regulation requirements in relation to the use of mobile phones by ensuring where applicable that Data Protection Impact Assessments and Privacy Notices are completed.

In an assessment of ways to overcome the challenges of rurality, submitted by Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in several rural areas to Public Health Scotland, a number of collaborative and innovative actions were described.

These included:

• Increased use of non-statutory services, informal local networks and peers to engage and support people, thus freeing up capacity to deliver rapid access and ensuring that staff can work at highest level within their banding
• Utilising generic primary and secondary care staff and settings to deliver care for example when weather disrupts usual access
• Development of more generic pathways for all drugs and alcohol referrals (given in many places the same staff deal with these issues)
• Some areas now have formal arrangements with other Health Boards to utilise 82 guidelines (Shetland and NHS Grampian), and to share expertise (Western Isles and Borders)

The Scottish Government regularly publishes a register of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) submitted to the Scottish Ministers for confirmation since 2012: https://www.gov.scot/publications/compulsory-purchase-order-register/. The current register, published in December, includes CPOs received up to the end of October 2024.

Whilst the register of CPOs does not include information on whether orders submitted for confirmation were opposed, it does indicate where orders were confirmed with modifications.

We are committed to listening to the victims’, and their families, views on how the parole system can be improved.

This why the First Minister, Minister for Victims, and I, are committed to meeting victims and hear how we can better support them through the parole process.

Continuous improvement is essential to ensuring the parole system remains effective and fit for purpose.

However, any proposals to amend parole rules need to be carefully considered, and fully assessed, to understand their impact.

As independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities, individual local authorities are statutorily required to produce a balanced budget, taking account of local needs and priorities in the process.

The 2025-26 Scottish Budget will deliver record funding of over £15 billion for Local Authorities, a 4.7 per cent real terms increase, along with full discretion over Council Tax.

More frequent and meaningful engagement with COSLA and Councils, in the spirit of the Fiscal Framework with Local Government, was fundamental to the decisions that led to that record budget. It is Ministers intention to publish an update on the Fiscal Framework alongside the final Local Government Settlement and remain committed to working in partnership with Local Government but have no current plans to convene a national convention with local government.

Transport Scotland invests in a variety of transportation projects and initiatives aimed at improving Scotland's transport infrastructure and promoting sustainable travel. This will include supporting bus services, including investing in zero-emission buses, developing and improving ferry services and investing in active travel infrastructure like cycle paths and footpaths.

Further details on these investment plans are contained in the Strategic Transport Projects Review page on Transport Scotland’s website.

The National Transport Strategy, published in February 2020, sets out our long-term vision for a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system in Scotland. The vision is underpinned by four interconnected priorities: Reduces Inequalities, Takes Climate Action, Helps Deliver Inclusive Economic Growth and Improves our Health and Wellbeing. In December 2024, we published our fourth Delivery Plan which outlines the actions being taken by the Scottish Government to deliver these priorities, alongside a Monitoring and Evaluation report.

These initiatives will help to improve access to hospitals, health centres, pharmacies and other key health facilities across Scotland, however we do not directly invest in transport infrastructure for patients travelling to medical appointments.

The Scottish Government recognises that more could be done to bring health planning and transport planning together, in order to support this closer working, we published the Transport to Health Delivery Plan on 30 October 2024. This plan includes Commitment 12: ‘Transport Scotland will encourage Regional Transport Partnerships to have appropriate stakeholder groups with a remit on Transport to Health, which includes appropriate representation from local NHS Boards. In reviewing Partnerships’ Regional Transport Strategies, Transport Scotland will seek appropriate consideration of Transport to Health issues in their strategies’.