Chamber and committees

As set out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, the Scottish Government has committed to phasing out the need to install new or replacement boilers in off-gas grid homes from 2025 and in on-gas grid areas from 2030.

The Scottish Government continues to consider a range of possible means to implement this commitment – including forming views on the feasibility of creating new systems to register the sale and/or installation of boilers.

We will consult on a proposed approach in the coming year.

I am pleased to confirm the publication today of the Scottish Government’s consultation on legislative proposals arising from Dame Elish Angiolini’s report into Police Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues.

The consultation is available via the Scottish Government website, as well as it’s Citizen Space portal at https://consult.gov.scot/ and Police Complaints, Investigations and Misconduct: A Consultation and will run until 16 August 2022.

Once the consultation has closed and the responses analysed, a summary of this analysis will be published publicly and I will ensure Parliament is kept informed.

We wish to hear from those interested in police complaints and conduct, including those who may have previously had a negative experience in dealing with police. The responses will inform how to improve transparency and further strengthen public confidence in the police.

We commend the significant progress already made by partners to drive improvements in this area, and their ongoing commitment to deliver change.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy (7 October 2021), committed to introducing primary legislation in the current session of the Scottish Parliament that would set a regulatory framework for heat and energy efficiency, as a key action to meeting Scotland’s statutory climate change targets.

This strategy proposes to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented, owner-occupied and social housing. Regulations are proposed to be introduced that will require all properties to meet a minimum standard equivalent to EPC C by 2033.

Subject to consultation, the Scottish Government is proposing that compliance with the standard may be required at a variety of trigger points, including following the completion of a sale and after the change of a tenancy (for private rented sector properties), where installation of energy efficiency measures is technically-feasible and cost-effective.

The Scottish Government will consult publicly on these proposals within the coming year.

Buildings which are the subject of a conversion, as defined under building regulations, are already required to meet current building standards, to the extent this is reasonably practicable.

The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations (TUPE) apply when a service is transferred from one employer to another, in this case ‘insourcing’. It provides those who are carrying out work which will be provided by a new employer with protection by transferring them to the employment of the new provider. Staff transferring to SPS employment will be consulted on the changes that will be made when SPS are managing the prison. Exact costs will become clear at the conclusion of the consultation exercise and the running costs are likely to be aligned to an existing public prison of a similar size.

The Firth of Clyde cod spawning closure took place from 14 February to 30 April. During my appearance at the RAINE Committee on 9 March I committed Marine Scotland officials to meet with stakeholders after the closure both to hear their thoughts on how it has worked from their perspective and for Marine Scotland to report on activities observed from their part and this meeting will take place in the coming weeks.

The Scottish Government continues to monitor the impact of policy decisions on the economy and the environment and in the spirit of co-management will work alongside all relevant stakeholders for a more sustainable West of Scotland cod stock.

This information is not held by the Scottish Government and will need to be requested through the respective Local Authorities. I can confirm however that we do not have any records of Local Authorities applying directly for support for organic farming under the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme.

In 2021-22, the Scottish Government funded NHS 24 £2,372,209 to support the delivery of Breathing Space, a free, confidential phone and web based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.

The Scottish Government recognise that demand for mental health support from NHS 24 continues to be high, that is why a significant investment of nearly £5 million was made from the Recovery and Renewal fund in 2021-22 to support the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub.

The Mental Health Hub is available for any individual calling the 111 service seeking support for their wellbeing and mental health, or if they are in distress, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Breathing Space and the Mental Health Hub will continue to support people experiencing mental health impacts as a result of the cost-of-living crisis as spending plans are developed and agreed with NHS Boards through the usual channels.

Decisions to discharge patients are not made by Ministers, they are made by health and social care professionals, alongside the patient and their family, or their legal representative where applicable.

As was the case before the pandemic, where someone is most appropriately cared for after discharge is based on a multi-disciplinary assessment of the individual’s needs and wishes. There are a range of factors that clinicians will consider as part of this assessment, including clinical readiness for discharge and the best setting for meeting the individual’s needs.

If an attorney is unhappy with the decision to discharge a patient they can raise a complaint against the person or organisation who has taken the decision, or apply for directions from the sheriff under section 3(3) of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.

Public Health Scotland undertook an analysis of discharges to care homes and found that care home size is very strongly related to outbreaks. That is, the risk of a care home outbreak increased progressively as the size of care home increased. Furthermore, there was no clear statistical evidence that hospital discharges were associated with care home outbreaks. The analysis was published on 21 April 2021 and can be found here: Discharges from NHSScotland hospitals to care homes - Between 1 March and 31 May 2020 (revised) - Discharges from NHSScotland hospitals to care homes - Publications - Public Health Scotland

Court programming is a matter for the senior judiciary, supported by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). SCTS have advised that jury trials resumed in Dumfries and Galloway on 19 April 2021, and since then the number of people cited for jury duty and excused on the grounds that they cannot reasonably travel to the Remote Jury Centre in Ayr is 128. During that period, no jury trials in Dumfries and Galloway were adjourned due to a lack of jurors.

In keeping with its original purpose, the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is supporting grassroots community-based initiatives across Scotland which promote good mental health and wellbeing. Managed locally by Third Sector Interface (TSI) bodies, the Fund is aimed at tackling priority issues such as suicide prevention, social isolation and loneliness, prevention and early intervention and addressing the mental health inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic. This includes a particular focus on the needs of ‘at risk’ target groups including women, people from a minority ethnic background, people facing socio-economic disadvantage and older people, amongst others.

Nearly 2000 awards have been given to community projects through Year 1 of the Fund. Early data shows that projects are being funded across the whole of Scotland, supporting a wide range of community activities involving sport, nature, outdoor initiatives, the arts, community cafes and choirs, with a large proportion of these focused on prevention, social isolation and loneliness. Projects being funded include activities which are open to all; whilst many others are focused on the needs of the ‘at risk’ target groups outlined above. Key themes have emerged among projects, such as building community and interpersonal links, often by facilitating discussion or activities and providing space and support.

Officials are currently compiling a monitoring report on year 1 of the Fund, which will be published in June. The report, based on monitoring data provided by each TSI, will give a detailed breakdown of the type of projects funded, key themes and groups targeted by projects, organisation types, and a wide range of illustrative examples of projects funded across Scotland.

Some examples include:

? Avenue Confidential, in Aberdeenshire, who provide Family Wellbeing Groups for parents affected by relationship challenges. These cover topics such as: self-care; healthy communication; blended families; children’s wellbeing; and recognising the impact of trauma in oneself and others.

? The Cactus Book Club, in Aberdeenshire, who are launching a book club for 16-26 year olds who are isolated due to their health. This group is often overlooked and it is a difficult age to be isolated. The club will address loneliness and anxiety about the future and will offer members the chance to feel included.

? The Third Level Foundation, in Aberdeen City, who are running weekly workshops for family members affected by someone with Borderline Personality Disorder. The workshops will cover a range of topics to improve mental health and wellbeing for all.

? The Bridge, in Aberdeen City, who have increased their capacity to run ‘Link Friends’ which arranges for volunteers to visit and arrange phone calls to older people facing isolation. Funding enables increased staff time and facilitates more volunteer work.