- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in relation to reports of land being sold at auctions as investment or lifestyle plots, despite being situated on crofting, arable or protected land, such as the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Achnabobane.
Answer
Owners and occupiers of land within an SSSI must apply to NatureScot for consent to carry out certain operations. When a planning application is submitted in relation to a development that may affect an SSSI, the planning authority must consult NatureScot and take its advice into account. Should any proposed future use of land require planning permission, that would be a matter for the planning authority to consider under relevant planning legislation and policy.
We are continuing to progress a Nature Conservation Order to prevent further damage to the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as per the answer to question S6W-37759 on 30 May 2025.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it adopting a mechanism for the carbon contracts pilot to offer to buy a portion of carbon credits at an agreed price, what other options to support investment were considered; for what reasons they were rejected, and whether it will publish its latest assessment of these reasons.
Answer
Scottish Government undertook a robust process to assess a total of 14 different possible blended finance mechanisms for peatland restoration. Officials used Green Book appraisal methods to filter this list and employed a wide range of evidence to select a preferred option.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list each occasion that Scottish Enterprise met with Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park at which the Flamingo Land Lomond Banks planning application was discussed.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie, to contact you directly with a response.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on dementia services by each Integration Joint Board (IJB) in each financial year from 2020-21 to 2024-25, and what the notional budget is for 2025-26.
Answer
As it is integration authorities and locally elected representatives who are responsible for making decisions on how best to deliver services to local communities, the Scottish Government would not be appropriately placed to provide an accurate figure on spend specific to dementia services by each Integration Joint Board (IJB) since 2020-21.
The 2025-26 budget for Health and Social Care provides record funding of £21.7 billion and whilst service delivery remains the responsibility of receiving partnerships, the Scottish Government has continued its investment of £3.5 million per annum, to be used to enhance access to dementia Post-Diagnostic Support services. This funding is allocated in accordance with the standard NRAC formula and thereafter each IJB will receive delegated funds from the relevant Health Board.
Commissioned by the Scottish Government, the 2025-26 independent evaluation of dementia Post-Diagnostic Support will work closely with Health and Social Care Partnerships and those with lived experience to evidence the value and impact of Post-Diagnostic Support to date, helping to inform future policy, service planning and practice.
This is one of a number of strands of work being undertaken to improve the dementia experience, and people’s access to appropriate services and supports. As part of the first 2-Year Delivery Plan for the Dementia Strategy for Scotland, we have aimed to:
Increase access to support following a diagnosis. That includes investment of £4.35m this year to increase direct support to dementia community groups and settings across Scotland, and to continue efforts to increase the number of people who benefit from our commitment to 12 months’ Post-Diagnostic Support.
Build the understanding and evidence we need to make the changes necessary to improve people’s dementia experience. That includes working with research, academia and national partners to build a comprehensive understanding of who is providing them care and support (and the skills and education they need), enhancing the data we have on how many people are living with a diagnosis and accessing support, and commissioning evaluations on future service delivery.
Challenge people’s preconceptions of dementia. That includes a national Rethink Dementia campaign that saw over 73% of those engaged commit to continue to be there for those in their lives receiving a diagnosis, and how this can help them stay well for longer, and taking forward efforts to understand how we can promote the link between healthier lifestyles and reducing your dementia risk.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38261 by Angela Constance on 17 June 2025, what the change in budget in real terms is for 2025-26 once inflation has been taken into account.
Answer
The 2025-26 budget for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU) is £1.217 million, which represents a £47,000 uplift when compared to their 2024-25 budget, and a 1.3% real terms increase in funding. This increase will allow the SVRU to respond to emerging priorities, including violence among young people, investing in prevention and early intervention. This investment reflects our continued commitment to tackle violence and build safer communities for everyone.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-38221 and S6W-38222 by Marie Todd on 17 June 2025, whether its answer means that fewer than five people under 18 have been subject to a place of safety order in each of the last five years, and, if this is not the case, in which of the last five years there were more than five people under 18 who were made subject to a place of safety order.
Answer
The Mental Welfare Commission publish an annual monitoring report on the use of the Mental Health Act which breaks down the percentage of individuals subject to a place of safety order by age. The publication does not provide the number of people subject to a place of safety order by age.
The requested information is not held by the Scottish Government. As it is a matter for the Mental Welfare Commission, you may wish to contact them directly at: [email protected].
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what updated guidance it plans to publish in relation to a presumption against children and young people living in temporary accommodation being required to move schools.
Answer
Further to the answer to question S6W-36591 on 22 April 2025, provided by the former Minister for Housing Paul McLennan MSP, on plans to implement a presumption against children moving schools when they are placed in temporary accommodation, I can advise that the Scottish Government plans to cover this issue when it next updates the Code of Guidance on Homelessness. This guidance, used to guide local authorities in their duties to assist people who are threatened with or who are experiencing homelessness, was last updated in November 2019.
The Scottish Government is committed to a substantial review of the Code of Guidance once the Housing (Scotland) Bill is passed by the Scottish Parliament. The updated Code of Guidance will cover all legislation, policies and practices to prevent and resolve homelessness.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been any assessment of the potential impact of a reported reduction in funding by Integration Joint Boards (IJB) on dementia services.
Answer
In addition to the overall financial envelop for Health and Social Care reaching record levels at £21.7 billion in 2025-26, the budget includes almost £2.2 billion for social care and integration – exceeding our commitment to increase funding by 25% by almost £350 million.
Despite this, I recognise the challenges that Health and Social Care Partnerships are facing in balancing budgets during current financial pressures.
Whilst the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care support policy in Scotland, it is for local authorities and health boards to work with the Health and Social Care Partnerships to ensure that social care support services are in place to provide people with the appropriate support. The Scottish Government does however expect that whenever changes are set to take place, all stakeholders are consulted and that services continue to offer the necessary support required.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38220 by Maree Todd on 17 June 2025, what analysis it has carried out of whether missing data may reflect a failure to fulfil the legal obligations set out in section 298 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, and, in the event that these legal obligations are not being fulfilled, what action the Scottish Government plans to take to address this.
Answer
Section 298 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 sets out a legal obligation on Police Scotland to notify the Mental Welfare Commission of instances when a relevant person is removed to a place of safety under section 297 of this Act. The Commission is working with Police Scotland to improve compliance in this area.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the budget for the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill in 2025-26 is £11 million, in light of its decision to withdraw plans for a national care service.
Answer
The Scottish Government is delivering improvement and reform of social care, social work and community health.
Financial information, including the National Care Service Programme 2025-26 budget position, has been provided to the Finance and Public Administration Committee. The Care Reform (Scotland) Bill is one element of our ambitious programme of social care reform that will be delivered through both legislative and non-legislative means, including the recent establishment of the non-statutory NCS Advisory Board.
