Chamber and committees

Where possible the policy decisions are taken on a four nations basis – guidance is developed as a result of those policy decisions, with officials discussing with the UK Government when necessary. This includes working with the UK government for guidance as part of UK-wide systems such as Passenger Locator Form and the CTM booking system.

We regularly update the Scottish Government website to reflect changes to policy, and have aligned with the UK Government on guidance for international travel, including directions for completing Passenger Locator Forms, isolation requirements once in Scotland and advice on country list changes. Some guidance varies where necessary where Scotland has different rules – for example Scottish guidance does not refer to private testing or ‘test to release’.

Consideration of potential improvements to strategic transport infrastructure across the whole of Scotland continues to be undertaken through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). This work addresses the Scottish Government’s commitment within the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, for Transport Scotland to progress the evidence base for extending the Borders Railway, as well as considering the case for all other potential strategic transport improvements for the area.

STPR2 will create the evidence basis for future transport investment decisions by the Scottish Government for the next 20 years. It will conclude later this year, with publication of recommendations for investment and an appropriate statutory consultation period.

Since 2016, the Scottish Government has invested around
£39 million in peatland restoration through the Peatland Action programme (delivered by NatureScot) and the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme under the Scottish Rural Development Programme. The annual figures are shown in the following table:

From April 2010 until September 2020, there have been 808 revisional mesh procedures to either remove or oversew transvaginal mesh, inserted for stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse or another unknown reason.

This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Data on missing children can be sought from Police Scotland.

Further to the information highlighted by Mr Fitzpatrick in answer S5W-32985, please see the updated figures below as requested:

It is clearly disappointing that the annual emissions target for 2019 has not been met, however the statistics in the report published by the UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy date back to 2019, and do not reflect the recent step change in Scottish Government action.

In 2019 we increased the ambition of our targets- to reducing emissions by 75% by 2030, and to reaching net-zero in 2045, and our Climate Change Plan was updated in accordance with these targets in December. The updated plan includes over 100 new policies and provides a clear and credible pathway to meeting our emissions reductions targets over the period to 2032. It is also supported by a record £1.9 billion of capital funding in 2021/22 to tackle climate change, and create good, green jobs. Our attention is now firmly focused on the delivery and implementation of the ambitious plan.

We are also working to ensure that we achieve even deeper future reductions in order to meet the catch up requirement for the extra 2.7 megatonnes of emissions from the missed 2019 target. This will require additional policies, and we will publish a catch-up report within six months of the 2019 statistics being published at the very latest.

During the recent debate on the Climate Emergency [9 June], we supported the principle of the next full Climate Change Plan being brought forward as soon as possible during this Parliamentary session. This reflects our commitment to ever increasing action in response to the climate emergency.

Finally, the recent statistics do show some good progress. Scotland’s emissions are down by 51.5% since the 1990 baseline, which is over half way to net zero. Furthermore, emissions have fallen year by year, down 2.3% from 2018 to 2019.

The second milestone of Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH2) will help remove poor energy efficiency as a driver for fuel poverty and contribute to achieving our emissions reductions targets. We need to accelerate our ambitions to decarbonise our buildings and, as set out in the Housing to 2040 Route Map, have already committed to bring forward the review of EESSH2 to 2023.

The UK Government has proposed creating a separate Warm Home Discount scheme for Scotland that does not take account of current levels of need or the definition of fuel poverty as decided by the Scottish Parliament. We have urged the UK Government to reconsider their proposals on this basis and review their use of levy funding more generally. These proposals will increase charges on everyone's energy bills but this does not reflect every household's ability to pay.

Given that UK Ministers believe that a reformed scheme is needed in England and Wales, Scottish Ministers have proposed a simpler, fairer and more flexible fuel poverty scheme for Scotland. As set out in our draft Heat in Buildings Strategy, we believe that combining the current Energy Company Obligation and Warm Home Discount schemes would provide the flexibility needed to target the different needs of Scottish communities and reflect the will of the Parliament.

The Scotland Act (2016) does not provide powers for Scottish Ministers to simply change these levy funded schemes. In all circumstances the approval of the Secretary of State would be required for any changes to be implemented. Scottish Ministers cannot meaningfully consult about the design of a proposed Scottish scheme or engage with the Parliament on this basis.

The HMICS Assurance review of Police Scotland demand analysis and management offers a positive outlook on Police Scotland’s efforts to develop its understanding of demand put on its resources. Its recommendations are for the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland to consider.

The HMICS Assurance Review - Policing of COP26, published on 26 June 2021, provides a high level of confidence in the preparation and planning to date for COP26 and I have no doubt this work will continue at pace. The single recommendation in that report and the areas for continued development are for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority to consider and where appropriate, act upon.