Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has noted the publication of the UK Government’s “Our Place to Give” strategy with interest. We recognise the significant history of philanthropy in Scotland and welcome the opportunity to strengthen Scotland’s Third Sector through meaningful collaboration with philanthropists and charitable foundations.

We are committed to developing a Third Sector Partnership Agreement in collaboration with the sector and other partners, including independent funders. The Partnership is an opportunity to build on the relationship between Scottish Government and the Third Sector, recognise the third sector’s role and reset how Scottish Government, the third sector and partners work together to design and deliver policy and services that meet the needs of the people of Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not centrally hold validated waiting times for weight management services. Health Boards provide the Scottish Government with a data return that reflects a snapshot of the previous year of activity such as the status of different pathways Boards deliver. These include Tier 2 and 3 Weight management, Gestational diabetes and Diabetes Type 2 remission and prevention.

Improving the availability of spatial fisheries data is a key commitment within the Scottish Government's Fisheries Management Strategy, including the increased use of inshore vessel monitoring systems (I-VMS) on under-12 metre fishing vessels. I-VMS devices collect similar positional data to Vessel Monitoring Systems. However, as they are designed for use on smaller inshore vessels and typically transmit data using mobile networks, they have lower associated costs and can provide more frequent position reporting.

Following the 2023 public consultation on the introduction of electronic tracking and monitoring technology for under-12 metre vessels, the Scottish Government has been progressing policy development and procurement activity. Delays have been experienced during this process and, as a result, implementation has not yet commenced. The Scottish Government will confirm the timetable for rollout and next steps at the earliest opportunity.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that sport and physical activity can play in supporting health, wellbeing and independence.

Responsibility for assessing social care needs rests with local authorities, which should have regard to the statutory guidance accompanying the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013. The guidance promotes person-centred, outcomes-focused approaches and consideration of individuals' views, aspirations and participation in community life.

The Self-directed Support framework does not prescribe specific activities, allowing flexibility to meet agreed outcomes. Where sport or physical activity supports those outcomes, it may be considered through support planning.

The Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) submitted a final report to the Scottish Government with proposals for the Investigation of Mental Health Homicides in 2022, following a consultation published in 2017. The Scottish Government provided funding for the MWC to pilot their proposed approach in 2023-24, alongside their proposals regarding investigating the deaths of people subject to detention under the Mental Health Act. The Scottish Government is currently working with the MWC to revisit and develop these proposals, informed by the lessons learned from the pilot work.

The Scottish Government continues to work with Skills Development Scotland, Historic Scotland and other partners to explore solutions to increase traditional skills provision in Scotland, attract future talent, increase capacity in the sector, train people in traditional skills and provide a sustainable model for traditional skills development.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) employ modern apprentices who are undertaking training in traditional skills including glazing, architectural joinery, and stonemasonry. In addition, HES are currently piloting a ‘host’ model for craft apprenticeships, with apprentices employed by HES and placed to work within micro businesses.

The Scottish Parliament’s Working Group on tenement maintenance made recommendations for the creation of compulsory Owners' Associations, Building Reserve Funds and 5-yearly Building Surveys.

Views expressed by Under One Roof and The MCS Foundation that all Working Group recommendations need to be implemented are being considered by my officials in the work they are undertaking to fully consider options available in reforming the Tenement (Scotland) Act 2004. I will be happy to provide an update when the current scoping work has been completed.

The Scottish Government is committed to taking action to deliver the changes needed to support owners and ensure common property is protected and preserved for the benefit of future generations.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the environmental, economic, or social case for establishing a strategically designed network covering at least 30% of Scotland's inshore waters within which bottom-towed fishing is excluded and regulated static-gear fishing is permitted.

The Scottish Government is, however, consulting on proposed fisheries management measures for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where restrictions are considered necessary to support site conservation objectives, as well as proposals to protect the 11 Priority Marine Features that are most sensitive to bottom-contact mobile fishing gear. The development of these proposals has been informed by extensive stakeholder engagement and assessments of relevant environmental, social, and economic considerations.

The maximum three-year period allowed was agreed by parliament. The timescale was informed by engagement and consultation with stakeholders. Within eighteen months of commencement, Scottish Ministers must publish CWB guidance to assist local authority led CWB partnerships to prepare and publish CWB action plans.

In order to enable CWB Partnerships to use this guidance to develop medium to long term, strategic action plans, the additional eighteen-month timescale represents a fair and realistic timescale. The three-year period provides an appropriate balance between supporting timely implementation of the legislation and allowing adequate time for high-quality CWB action plans to be prepared.

The commercial decision announced in July of a sale of BPs North Sea assets has caused great uncertainty for their workforce and the wider energy workforce in Scotland.

The Scottish Government closely monitors and considers a range of evidence in relation to the energy transition. The First Minister and I met with energy leaders in the North East in the days after this announcement, and I continue to engage with BP and other relevant partners including the trade unions to understand the potential impacts of the sale.

Regulation of the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas infrastructure is a reserved matter. Any assessment of potential impacts on decommissioning from bp’s sale of assets would be a matter for the UK Government.

The Scottish Government supports decommissioning activity happening in a way that facilitates an orderly, managed and just transition to net zero and maximises the benefits for Scotland’s businesses and communities.