Chamber and committees

Decisions on oil and gas exploration and licensing remain reserved to the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government does not support the UK Government’s approach to oil and gas policy.

The unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is not consistent with Scotland’s ambitious climate obligations. Our focus must be meeting our energy security needs, reducing emissions and ensuring a just transition for our oil and gas workforce as North Sea resources decline. The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to a Just Transition.

Through our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, we have consulted on a clear pathway to deliver on global climate commitments while capitalising on the enormous opportunities offered by becoming a net zero economy. This approach aims to ensure we take workers with us on our journey to net zero.

The Scottish Government last met the Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland on 28 July 2023 and the next meeting is scheduled for the 25 August 2023.

The number of patients waiting for first appointments with specialist chronic pain services and the length of wait they experience is published by Public Health Scotland. The latest report can be found here: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/chronic-pain-waiting-times/ .

The national data collection and the statistics published on completed waits focus on the waits of those patients who attended a consultant-led clinic. This is in line with the current national target for waiting times for new outpatient appointments.

Some Health Boards have introduced new pathways that offer patients alternatives to being seen at a consultant-led outpatient clinic. Patients are given the opportunity to opt-in to these new pathways, and they are considered as no longer waiting once they take up this offer. Alternatively, patients can choose to remain on the waiting list for a first appointment at a consultant-led outpatient clinic.

National data on those waiting to access Chronic pain services includes patients who may choose to opt-in to these new pathways. The data shows a recent increase in the number of patients following these new pathways. In the most recent publication, the impact of these new pathways on published statistics is discussed in the full report on pages 12, 13 and 17. The publication includes a description of some of the new pathways that Health Boards have shared with Public Health Scotland. However, detail of pathways provided by individual Health Boards is a matter for the Board and is not information held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Scottish Government fund the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) which already undertakes investigations into the cause of death of marine animals (e.g. dolphins, whales, porpoises, seals, turtles and basking sharks) stranded around the Scottish coastline. Samples and data are collected at the strandings location and carcases are collected for further investigation via necropsy following a risk-based approach.

The Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS) at the University of Glasgow, is funded by the Scottish Government to provide a coordinated approach to the surveillance of marine species (e.g. cetaceans, seal and basking sharks) strandings around the Scottish coast with the aim of investigating major causes of death.

A mass stranding event is described as incidents involving two or more cetaceans (porpoise, dolphins and whales). Since 1 January 2021, the SMASS programme have reported 14 mass stranding incidents, where cause of death has been attributed to live stranding. This includes the recent stranding of 54 long-finned pilot whales on the Isle of Lewis. In all cases, a selection of the animals underwent post mortem examination to assist the investigation into potential factors surrounding the cause of death.

All annual reports are published at https://strandings.org/publications .

The response to the mass stranding event of 54 pilot whales at Tolsta, Isle of Lewis last month was led by the Scottish Government-funded Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) at the University of Glasgow. Examinations and samples were undertaken on all stranded animals, and full post-mortem examinations were completed on a subset of animals.

Investigations are ongoing, with the aim of understanding potential factors that could have contributed to the animals’ death. The results will be published in due course.

As Michael Matheson advised in line with the Scottish Government’s evidence-led approach to policy development, we were undertaking a programme of work and analysis to better understand Scotland’s energy requirements as we transition to net zero and how this aligns with our climate change targets. In our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, we set out a clear pathway to deliver on global commitments and capitalise on the enormous opportunities offered by becoming a net zero economy. Whilst oil and gas licensing is reserved to UK Government we have been clear that our focus must be meeting our energy security needs, reducing emissions and ensuring a just transition for our oil and gas workforce as North Sea resources decline.

We are considering the calls for a meaningful and fitting recognition of the pain and trauma suffered by those with experience of historic forced adoption. It is Scottish Government policy that the costs of creating and maintaining memorials are not to be met from public funds. We will, however, continue to engage those affected and be led by their views on the most appropriate form of commemoration and validation for these past injustices. We would be happy to support to any specific initiative raising funding in this area.

We anticipate that the research will be published in late autumn and thank the people who have bravely shared their story as part of this work. Their voices will continue to shape the support that we put in place to help those affected by these historic practices.

We are actively exploring various measures to address emissions from business travel. As part of this process, we will consult on amending the air travel policy to mandate terrestrial or maritime modes of travel for official domestic trips within Scotland and the UK.

While the potential amendment to the policy is under consideration, we are also mindful of the practical implications it may entail. Transitioning to alternative modes of travel will require careful planning, and consideration of the logistical requirements for ministers and officials. Ensuring efficiency, accessibility, and the ability to fulfil official duties effectively will be essential during this process.

As we move forward, we will engage with relevant stakeholders, to ensure that any potential amendments to the air travel policy are well-informed and representative of the broader public interest.