Chamber and committees

Since April 2021 the Royal Scottish National Orchestra has undertaken the following number of productions in Scotland and in the Highlands and Islands region:

ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper submit their forward forecasts as part of annual budget processes. Forward forecasts of ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper revenue and the level of subsidy required are subject to ongoing discussions between the train operating companies, Transport Scotland and Scottish Rail Holdings.

Work on the five-year review of Parts 1 to 3 of the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018 is in progress and the Scottish Government will publish the review as soon as possible.

Since March 2021 and each financial year thereafter, the following number of people aged 16-years and over resident in Scotland have registered an opt out decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register:

2021-22 17,539

2022-23 12,264

2023-24 4,558

2024-25* 3,514

*1 April - 29 December 2024

As at 29 December 2024, the total number of people resident in Scotland, aged 16-years and over, who have registered an opt in decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register since its inception is 2,738,077.

All Scottish Government fleet vehicles are maintained in line with manufacturers guidelines to ensure emission regulation compliance. 

A breakdown of successful and unsuccessful applications for the last four financial years has been provided in the following table as requested:

The number of disqualification or deprivation orders imposed in 2022-24 was 307. In the period 2017-22 the number imposed was 255.

While numerous factors can contribute to fluctuations in these numbers, it is likely that amendments to the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), that were introduced by The Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 (the 2020 Act), have resulted in an increase in the number of disqualification orders being imposed by the courts.

Previously, section 40(1) of the 2006 Act provided that where a person is convicted of a relevant offence, the convicting court may make a disqualification order, but it did not specify when such an order should be made. An amendment introduced by the 2020 Act places a stronger requirement on courts to consider issuing a disqualification order in every case where a person is convicted of a relevant offence and makes clear that such an order should be imposed for the purposes of protecting animal welfare.

Section 4(4) of the 2020 Act, also inserted a new section 42A into the 2006 Act to require the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to establish and maintain a record of the reasons relating to disqualification orders.

The Scottish Government does not currently plan to increase the availability of bicycles for use by staff. We do not have any plans to increase the availability of other sustainable transport options. 

Our staff already have access to cycle mileage expenses for official business journeys, a cycle to work scheme for commuting journeys, a season ticket scheme covering public transport operators, and discounted personal car hire and car club journeys through our staff benefits package.

Transport Scotland have raised this matter with Glasgow City Council, who has responsibility for road signage on low bridges. Glasgow City Council has advised it will seek to instruct remedial work as soon as possible.