Chamber and committees

With regards to the STPR2 Delivery Plan, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31324 on 27 November 2024. 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

My officials at Transport Scotland are developing how we align transport infrastructure investment planning with future expected budgets. Such investment plans are significantly dependant on the outcomes of the UK Government’s Spending Review, which is now expected in June.

Recommendation 36 of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) notes that consultation with the freight industry, trade unions, representative bodies, local authorities and other stakeholders will take place to discover gaps in provision and support Transport Scotland in making future decisions on the need to address market failure. This recommendation also includes that a review will take place on freight parking and rest areas to better understand barriers.

STPR2 is a long term framework for investment and it is not possible to progress all its recommendations at once. Work on this recommendation is not planned to commence in the forthcoming year. However, please be assured I will continue to engage with my officials on how STPR2 recommendations can be taken forward.

The Scottish Government had previously intended to progress legislative consent in the Scottish Parliament for measures to restrict the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom, before the previous Bill fell due to the dissolution of the UK Parliament.

It is our intention to progress legislative consent in the Scottish Parliament for this Bill, subject to the final provisions of the Bill and agreement of the Scottish Government Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation.

By working to address this issue in the Bill, important safeguards for animal welfare can be extended to Scotland to ensure we continue to strive for the best possible welfare outcomes for all animals.

We anticipate publishing papers relating to the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group's workforce planning process for 2025-26, in the coming weeks.

Revenue Scotland is responsible for the collection and management of Scotland’s fully devolved taxes, including Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).

Management information data from Revenue Scotland regarding the LBTT Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) is provided in the following tables. On (c), the information provided is based on the correspondence address included in the tax return. The return does not however require information to be provided regarding a taxpayer’s residency status.

Where an amount of ADS is due in relation to a transaction, it may in some cases later be reclaimed.

(a) Tax returns submitted in 2024 with ADS declared due by local authority

The Scottish Government committed through the Programme for Government 2023 – 24, published on 5 September 2023, to improving miscarriage care, including the provision of separate private spaces in hospitals with maternity wards for women experiencing pregnancy and baby loss.

The Delivery Framework for Miscarriage Care, published on 6 February 2025, sets out that those experiencing miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy should be seen in a separate private space appropriate for bereavement. This action carries a priority category of “N” which means this should be implemented within 6 months from 1 April 2025.

We have been following the development of the Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) with interest. As well as the paper which was published in November, we also have regular discussions with the other UK nations, including Wales, regarding future agriculture policy proposals as part of the provisional Agricultural Support Common Framework. Whilst each nation has its own unique situation, and tailors their support accordingly, we also have shared challenges and goals. These discussions under the Framework enable all four nations to collaborate, coordinate, and cooperate regarding plans for future agricultural support.

While our proposals for future support are set out as a framework, as opposed to a single scheme, there are a number of similarities with the Welsh proposals. The Welsh “Sustainable Land Management” objectives, which the SFS is based on, are similar to our overarching objectives for future Scottish agriculture policy, which are set out in the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 and include the adoption and use of sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices and high quality food production.

A number of the “Universal Actions” proposed as part of the SFS, such as on soil health planning, Integrated Pest Management and habitat maintenance, also echo our proposals for future support. For example, as set out in our Agricultural Reform Route Map, the requirements we are putting in place under the Whole Farm Plan include soil analysis, a biodiversity audit, and an Integrated Pest Management plan. These are intended to help farmers and crofters prepare for the fact that from 2026 at least half of all funding for farming and crofting will be targeted towards outcomes for biodiversity gain and climate mitigation and adaption.

The Scottish Government’s resolute commitment to free tuition means that in Scotland access to university remains based on the ability to learn and not the ability to pay. Through the Scottish Funding Council, we invest over £1.1bn for teaching and research in Scotland’s universities and this investment in university education ensures that Scottish domiciled and international students benefit from the learning provided by our world-class universities in near-record numbers.

The Respiratory Care Action Plan contains broad commitments from a wide range of areas including increasing uptake of vaccines, ensuring people live in warm homes and improvement of air quality. We have made progress across a number of areas under these commitments, such as the Four Nations approach to tobacco.

Along with obesity, smoking represents a chief threat to Scotland's public health and we remain committed to a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034 and welcome the re-introduction of the UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill to UK Parliament, which will help us to achieve our ambitious target.

The Bill will gradually increase the age of sale for tobacco products and provide powers to legislate on vape flavours, displays, packaging, as well introduce an advertising ban for vapes and nicotine products.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Funded places at colleges is based on the number of credits allocated to each college, with a credit equating to 40 hours of learning. SFC publish funding allocations annually in the College Final Funding Allocations release. Information for 2024-25 is available on the SFC website: https://www.sfc.ac.uk/publications/college-final-funding-allocations-2024-25/.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) collect and publish student data, through their annual College Statistics publication: https://www.sfc.ac.uk/publications/college-statistics-2023-24/

Previous funding allocation publications can be found on the SFC website:

Main Website - https://www.sfc.ac.uk/publications/

Archived Website (for publications pre-2019) - https://www.sfc.ac.uk/about-us/sfc-archive/

Further details can be requested from the SFC.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-34909 on 4 March 2025. We recognise the importance of having access to meaningful data in relation to respiratory services, in 2023 we provided Public Health Scotland with £60,000 to undertake a scoping exercise with a view to developing a respiratory audit programme. Now that the budget for 2025-26 has been passed by Parliament, we aim to progress this in the current financial year.

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