Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-32178 on 19 December 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.

The disposal of litter and fishing gear at sea is covered by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Regulations. In UK waters these are enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate Compliance Officers report incidents through our intelligence system to the MCA and periodically remind vessels of their obligations under MARPOL.

The Scottish Government published the updated Marine Litter Strategy and Action Plan in 2022, aiming to address the amount of litter entering the marine environment, to achieve ecological, economic and social benefits. The strategy steers our work up to 2027 and co-ordinates the efforts of our stakeholders and partners, working at a national and international level to help prevent and remove marine litter.

On prevention of marine litter caused by the improper disposal of end-of-life fishing and aquaculture gear, we contributed to the work of the European Committee for Standardisation to improve the recycling potential of fishing and aquaculture gear, with a standard for circular design of gear published in November 2024. This standard also helps us as we continue to work across the four nations and industry to develop improved waste management systems for end-of-life fishing and aquaculture gear to reduce litter and improve recycling rates, contributing to our circular economy.

On removal of marine litter caused by the improper disposal of end-of-life fishing and aquaculture gear, we continue to fund the KIMO Fishing for Litter scheme. 400 vessels currently participate in Scotland, returning to harbour litter that is passively caught at sea during fishing operations, which includes fishing and aquaculture gear. The initiative also provides education to support better waste management practices onboard vessels.

Marine Fund Scotland has been available to our delivery partners and external stakeholders for projects that support the delivery of the strategy. Successful applications have supported investment in fishing and aquaculture gear recycling equipment, local community litter removal activities, and marine litter education projects.

The Scottish Government published the updated Marine Litter Strategy and Action Plan in 2022, aiming to address the amount of litter entering the marine environment, to achieve ecological, economic and social benefits. The strategy steers our work up to 2027 and co-ordinates the efforts of our stakeholders and partners, working at a national and international level to help prevent and remove marine litter.

On prevention, we are working across the four nations to put an end to pollution caused by wet wipes containing plastic, with legislation forthcoming. To further our efforts in tackling sewage-related debris, Scottish Water, our delivery partner, has installed more than 1000 new sewer monitors across its waste water system as part of a major programme of investment to transform its network and improve Scotland’s water environment. We contributed to the work of the European Committee for Standardisation to improve the recycling potential of fishing and aquaculture gear, with a standard for circular design of gear published in November 2024. This standard also helps us as we continue to work across the four nations and industry to develop improved waste management systems for end-of-life fishing and aquaculture gear to reduce litter and improve recycling rates, contributing to our circular economy. Our work is not limited to macro litter, and we continue to work internationally to prevent pollution from microplastic pellets, which can be found on our beaches and risk the health of our marine wildlife.

On removal, we continue to fund the work of Local Coastal Partnerships, organisations that support and co-ordinate beach cleans and local community engagement. We fund litter removal offshore through the KIMO Fishing for Litter scheme, with 400 vessels now participating in Scotland, and removal at our rivers with the Keep Scotland Beautiful Upstream Battle project, removing litter that could otherwise travel downstream and ultimately reach our seas and beaches.

Marine Fund Scotland has been available to our delivery partners and external stakeholders for projects that support the delivery of the strategy. Successful applications have supported local community litter removal activities, marine litter education projects, and investment in fishing and aquaculture gear recycling equipment.

Scottish Ministers are currently considering all the available evidence, including on technology use. An announcement will be made once Ministers have reached a final decision.

The Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour is reporting to Ministers, COSLA and Police Scotland by the end of 2024. Its remit was to: Consider the effectiveness of current approaches to understanding, preventing and tackling antisocial behaviour and if, and how, these could be improved to develop a holistic long term strategic approach which will help to improve the lives of communities across Scotland. This should include consideration of whether a preventative approach would be appropriate and how victims of antisocial behaviour are supported and whether this could be improved.

As part of its engagement work it met with a number of representatives from the transport sector who had also been invited to respond to a national data survey commissioned by the Working Group. This report will be published in the first quarter of 2025 and will be considered by Scottish Ministers, Police Scotland and Cosla prior to a formal response.

Transport Scotland is exploring legal means to suspend access to concessionary travel for perpetrators of persistent antisocial behaviour of anyone of any age. Whilst this is being progressed as a priority, the National Concessionary Travel Schemes in Scotland are provided on a universal statutory basis. Therefore, detailed and thorough consideration of any process and penalty must be undertaken to ensure consistency and fairness.

The Scottish Government has allocated £1.3 billion through its Heat in Building Programmes in this Parliamentary Session, investment it is committed to continuing in 2025-26 with over £300 million capital funding allocated in the draft budget. However, the Scottish Government cannot finance the transition alone and established the independent Green Heat Finance Taskforce with a remit to explore how to attract greater private finance to support the clean heat transition.

The Scottish Government is engaging with lenders and the wider finance sector as it considers the Taskforce’s Part 1 report and, following its Part 2 report, will formally respond identifying which recommendations across both Taskforce reports will be prioritised and how we will take forward action in partnership with others.

This years’ budget document presents the latest budget for 2024-25 (which is the position at Autumn Budget Revision as approved by the Scottish Parliament) as the comparator information. There are significant movements in portfolio budgets across the financial year that reflect transfers of resource funding between portfolios – these transfers can reflect in-year decisions on reprioritisation, but also allow for recurring movement of significant sums between areas where policy responsibility (and initial budget) sit in one portfolio and ultimate delivery takes place in another. In the case of the Care Experience - Whole Family Wellbeing Funding line the starting position looks artificially low against the budget figures for 2025-26.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to Keeping The Promise by 2030 and despite the unprecedented challenges to public finances, we have continued to prioritise and protect funding for Whole Family Wellbeing, The Promise and GIRFEC, which will allow the continuation of the important work to transform family support services.

The Scottish Government is launching a public consultation on Community Benefits from Net Zero Energy Developments on 19 December 2024, which will be open until 11 April 2025. This consultation is part of our review of the ‘Good Practice Principles’ for community benefits from onshore and offshore renewable energy developments. Through the consultation and stakeholder engagement, we want to gather a wide range of views from across communities, industry and public and third sector stakeholders to ensure that our guidance supports sustainable and meaningful outcomes.

National data on fabricated or induced illness in Scotland is not centrally held. The Scottish Government published updated National Child Protection Guidance in 2023 which includes practitioner guidance on fabricated or induced illness.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.