Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government and SEPA meet regularly to discuss policy and governance matters. Although the Scottish Government has been acutely aware of SEPA’s change plans for their call centre, this is an operational matter for SEPA.

SEPA has not raised any emerging risk, or issue with significant implications, for it's operation or governance with regards to changes to the 24-hour call centre.

We understand decisions around the call centre align with SEPA’s wider plans for organisational transformation and Public Sector Reform.

In the context of unauthorised work and listed buildings, Historic Environment Scotland’s role is advisory. Historic Environment Scotland has no legal powers in relation to enforcement and listed buildings in general, nor in ensuring that consultation occurs or that the minimum works needed to make a dangerous building safe are carried out. Legal powers related to enforcement and listed buildings lie with the planning authority and, in some circumstances, Scottish Ministers.

The Scottish Government did not allocate any separate direct funding for the launch of the MV Glen Rosa. All related costs and resource decisions were made independently by Ferguson Marine.

The Level 4 tables that were published with the draft Budget 2025-26 provide a summary of the changes from the previous year but it is not practical to list the full detail of all the changes associated with the Local Government Settlement, particularly where that detail is already available to the Scottish Parliament.

The specific details of the £1.5 billion of Local Government transfers processed at the Autumn Budget Revision 2024-25 are published in Schedule 3.1 of the Autumn Budget Revision 2024-25: supporting document.

The Finance and Public Administration Committee recommended that the Budget (Scotland) Act 2024 Amendment Regulations 2024, which give effect to the Autumn Budget Revision, should be agreed at their meeting on 12 November 2024. The regulations were subsequently approved by the Scottish Parliament on 4 December 2024.

I am pleased to announce that the NHS Recovery Plan annual progress report for 2024 has been published today.

We remain committed to delivering on the actions set out in the NHS Recovery Plan, and this annual report sets out the significant progress we have made over the course of this year.

However, it is vital that we recognise, now more than ever, how much has changed since the Plan was first published. Many of the actions set out in the Plan have now been delivered, and where appropriate, as we continue to focus on supporting the ongoing recovery and reform of our health and social care services, alternative approaches to action delivery are underway.

With refreshed commitments as set out in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2024-25, we will continue to align the NHS Recovery Plan progress with ongoing reform work and will continue to work closely with our partners across the health and social care system, Local Government and wider stakeholder partnerships to achieve this. https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836911579

I am pleased to confirm the final Circular Economy and Waste Route Map has been published today. Link: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836017974

The Route Map sets out an ambitious plan to deliver the priority actions to 2030 that will help us progress towards a circular economy and ensure we maximise the positive impact of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 for communities across Scotland.

It is the product of extensive collaboration and engagement with the public, private and third sectors through two consultations since 2022, with consistently high levels of support for the proposals.

I want to thank all who have contributed to the Route Map’s development, including our delivery partners in businesses, local government, SEPA and Zero Waste Scotland. I look forward to working with them all to deliver the actions set out. The Route Map demonstrates the strength of support for Scotland’s transition to a circular economy and the importance of working together to reach our net zero and economic growth goals.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) are currently reviewing its operational delivery model for SORT. The findings of the review will be discussed with the Scottish Government to ensure any changes in operational delivery meet with the expectations set out in the service level agreement, and that SAS is able to provide a safe and sustainable response to potentially hazardous and significant incidents.

The National Mission annual report finance sections aim to provide greater transparency of National Mission funding, including rehabilitation services. The reports for financial years 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 are available at:

We know that flooding in Scotland will become more frequent and more severe in the decades ahead. As our biggest climate adaptation challenge, we need to do all we can to be prepared for this. That is why today we will publish Scotland’s first Flood Resilience Strategy. Part of our Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029, this strategy will help us meet this challenge and support the changes we need to make over the long-term to make our communities more flood resilient.

The Scottish Government takes the safety of buildings very seriously and works closely with members of the public and organisations to address concerns about cladding. Since January 2019, notifications regarding potentially unsafe cladding have been received on an ongoing basis. These have been managed in collaboration with relevant public bodies to ensure appropriate actions are taken. The Government continues to prioritise public safety and supports affected parties in addressing these issues.

There are 107 entries in the pilot phase of the Cladding Remediation Programme. Entries in the pilot can comprise a single block or building, or a development, or part of a development consisting of multiple blocks or buildings.

We are aware that pilot assessments have been undertaken for 30 of the pilot entries. A pilot assessment includes any assessment carried out prior to the publication of the Single Building Assessment specification on the 21 June 2024. These numbers relate to known pilot assessments only as developers, home owners or other organisations could have commissioned assessments without informing the Scottish Government and therefore the true numbers may be higher and could increase as further information becomes available.

Pilot works to mitigate or remediate risks have started for five of the pilot entries. Works in this context refers to any action taken to address known cladding-related risks, including Urgent Interim Measures. These numbers relate to known works on a pilot entry only, as developers or other organisations could have carried out works without informing the Scottish Government, and therefore the true numbers may be higher and could increase as further information becomes available.