Chamber and committees

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was published following extensive consultation and engagement, including with rural communities, and was adopted by the Scottish Ministers in February 2023. While Scottish Ministers can decide to amend the NPF or review it in full at any time, having an established and consistent policy framework enables confidence in the planning system and so we expect to exercise this power sparingly. We have no current plans to amend NPF4.

The Scottish planning system is plan-led, with a focus on involving all interests as early and effectively as possible. There are a range of opportunities for individuals and communities to get involved during both the plan-making and planning application stages of the planning and development process.

Potential impacts on communities, nature, and cultural heritage, including the cumulative effects of developments, are important considerations in the decision-making process. When an application is received, a full public consultation is carried out, and Scottish Ministers invite representations from members of the public and consult the appropriate community councils, alongside other public bodies. The decision whether to grant consent is taken only after careful consideration of environmental information, consultee responses and public representations.

We can currently only provide accurate information on whether buildings are within scope of the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024 if they have been entered into the pilot phase of our Cladding Remediation Programme. There are no buildings within the Highlands and Islands region that were entered into the pilot phase. We currently do not know if there are any buildings within the region that are within scope of the Act.

We recently announced that we will be delivering two new schemes of assessment and remediation. One will allow residents of potentially affected buildings to bring these to our attention where no owner or developer is willing or able to undertake responsibility. The other will involve working with local authorities and the fire service to identify buildings that appear to be at an elevated risk. More generally, we plan to bring partners together - harnessing their skills, knowledge and capacity – to make action on cladding a national, collective endeavour.

These actions will allow us to develop a clear picture of the position across Scotland and action being taken. We will seek assurance where appropriate, and be prepared to offer support where needed. We will be publishing a renewed plan of action in March that will set out how and when we will be delivering these and other priorities for cladding remediation.

The Scottish Government recognises challenges faced by businesses and particular circumstances faced in Scotland, and that is why the Scottish Government stands ready to support the UK Government to design an immigration system that addresses the requirements of Scotland’s economy and communities.

The Scottish Government is working with business to grow the economy and address labour and skill shortages, promoting fair work to make it easier for people to enter and remain in the workforce and ensuring our education and skills system are responsive to national needs .

Since April 2021 the Scottish Ballet has undertaken the following number of productions in Scotland and in the Highlands and Islands:

The Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill was passed unanimously on 17 December 2024 by the Scottish Parliament. As a result of amendments passed at Stage 3, it places a duty on Scottish Ministers to bring forward regulations which:

• must have the effect of prohibiting Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) from holding dual mandates in the House of Commons or the House of Lords
• may make provision prohibiting MSPs from holding dual mandates as Councillors

As a part of the Bill’s consideration, the Scottish Government committed to consulting on dual mandates in the Scottish Parliament in early 2025. The findings of the consultation will be used to inform Regulations which Ministers intend to lay before the Scottish Parliament in autumn 2025.

The consultation on dual mandates in the Scottish Parliament is being published today, 20 January 2025, with a closing date of 23 March 2025. The consultation seeks views on the principles and practical issues of ending dual mandates. The consultation can be accessed here: https://consult.gov.scot/communications-and-ministerial-support/dual-mandates-in-the-scottish-parliament.

In reaching their decision, Scottish Ministers will determine applications in accordance with legislative requirements and relevant policy. Our Just Transition Plan is just one of many policy documents which is considered as appropriate in the decision-making process.

Whilst this is an operational matter for CalMac, given the significant reduction in passenger capacity Transport Scotland officials have been updated by CalMac on the timeline for repairs and will be kept appraised of any capacity issues relevant to the routes MV Isle of Mull is operating on.

During this time, during the annual overhaul schedule, as it normally does, the MV Isle of Mull is operating as relief vessel on Lochboisdale service. The MV Loch Frisa continues to operate to Mull to timetable.

With the MV Glen Sannox entering service, CalMac assessed the optimum deployment of the MV Isle of Arran through use of their Route Prioritisation Matrix, and the MV Isle of Arran has been operating on the Oban-Craignure route alongside the MV Loch Frisa since 16 January 2025.

The Distress Brief Intervention Programme provides tailored one to one support across a period of up to around 14 days. Some people will only require one phone call whereas others may need more support across the 14 days including background work for resources and signposting. Overall, of those who engage with the programme, more than 80% of people go on to receive further support beyond one phone call across the 14 day period.

Table 1 shows the specific numbers of people who received support across the 14 day period. This is broken down by health and social care partnership areas and small numbers have been suppressed. The data available was between June 2020 and May 2024.

Table 1 – Number of individuals who received DBI support by H&SCP

The ability to re-refer is part of the current structure of the Distress Brief Intervention programme. Data is not held within individual years for multiple referrals but data about multiple referrals overall has been provided below. Data beyond January 2023 will be available after spring 2025.

The programme was initially piloted in Lanarkshire, Aberdeen city, Inverness City and Scottish Borders. Data for these areas is available between 1st November 2018 to 31st January 2023 and is outlined in Table 1. Data for the subsequent rollout across the remaining health and social care partnerships is available between 1st July 2019 to 31st January 2023 and is outlined in Table 2.

For the National Pathways (NHS 24, Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland), data is available between May 2020 to the end of January 2023. In this time, 12,649 individuals were referred. Of these, 1,044 people (8.3%) had 2 referrals and 473 people (3.7%) had 3 or more referrals.

Table 1 – Referral numbers for pilot areas (November 2018 to January 2023)