Chamber and committees

Today the Scottish Government published its International Culture Strategy. The Strategy sets out a series of ambitions and actions to support the culture and creative sector in pursuing international opportunities and ensure that such activity plays a central role in the sector’s long term development. It builds on existing activity, but explores additional opportunities and sets out a policy rationale for why the Scottish Government considers international cultural activity to be important. The International Culture Strategy is available here https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836010876 .

Timescales for the legislative process are set out in the Scottish Parliament’s Standing Orders (for example in relation to Scottish Statutory Instruments) or are determined by Parliament on the advice of the Parliamentary Bureau (for example in relation to target dates for the completion of stages of Bills).

When the Scottish Government contributes its perspective to timetabling discussions it seeks to balance the need to make progress in delivering its legislative programme with the need for Parliament to be able to appropriately scrutinise that legislation, whilst also recognising the role of parliamentary authorities and the time they need in supporting members ahead of amending stages of Bills.

Home Energy Scotland (HES) energy efficiency support is not restricted by property size. The HES advice service is available to all householders in Scotland and the HES Grant and Loan scheme is open to all owner-occupiers. Neither has any limitation or eligibility criteria relating to the size of property.

The Single Building Assessment (SBA) is a risk-based approach to assess and culminate in a report on the risk to human life (directly or indirectly) created or exacerbated by the External Wall System (EWS) in multi-residential domestic buildings which may include a commercial premises, constructed or refurbished between 1 June 1992 and 1 June 2022, 11 metres and over in height and incorporating a form of external wall cladding system. The SBA includes a FRAEW (Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls) which requires that a building is assessed holistically, and for that reason, the SBA will also include a Fire Risk Assessment of the common parts of the building to the level of detail deemed required by the Fire Engineer / Assessor. The level of risk acceptance for any building in scope is tolerable risk. The recommendations identified by the Fire Engineer or Assessor within the SBA report which are deemed necessary to eliminate or mitigate risk to human life (directly or indirectly) created or exacerbated by the EWS will form the remediation scope.

There is no register of people in Scotland qualified to draft legislation, neither is there a defined category of person qualified to provide these services. Therefore, the Scottish Government can only answer this question in relation to its own drafters.

The Parliamentary Counsel Office drafts all Scottish Government Bills. The Scottish Government currently has 23 parliamentary counsel (21.5 FTE). All parliamentary counsel are qualified lawyers. There are no additional special qualifications needed to be appointed as parliamentary counsel but the Scottish Government does invest heavily in training counsel in the specialist skills needed to draft primary legislation.

Lawyers within the Scottish Government Legal Directorate (SGLD) draft most Scottish Government secondary legislation, including Scottish Statutory Instruments. As of April 2024 there were 192 qualified solicitors in SGLD who may be asked to draft legislation as part of their duties.

We have no current plans to regulate for the provision of swift nest bricks in planning applications for new buildings.

All planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Following the publication and adoption of our Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) in February 2023, this forms part of the development plan and so influences planning decisions across Scotland. Improving biodiversity is a cross-cutting theme which runs throughout NPF4 and our strategy and policies support development that helps to secure positive effects for biodiversity. It will be a matter for the relevant planning authority to determine what conditions, if relevant, to apply to individual planning application based on the circumstances of the individual case.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W–24036 on‎ 16 January 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

It would not be appropriate to comment on a live application. A decision will be taken by Ministers in due course, following consideration of the application information, consultation responses and representations made by members of the public.

The Single Building Assessment (SBA) is a risk-based approach to assess and culminate in a report on the risk to human life (directly or indirectly) created or exacerbated by the External Wall System (EWS) in multi-residential domestic buildings which may include a commercial premises, constructed or refurbished between 1 June 1992 and 1 June 2022, 11 metres and over in height and incorporating a form of external wall cladding system. The SBA includes a FRAEW (Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls) which requires that a building is assessed holistically, and for that reason, the SBA will also include a Fire Risk Assessment of the common parts of the building to the level of detail deemed required by the Fire Engineer / Assessor. The level of risk acceptance for any building in scope is tolerable risk. The recommendations identified by the Fire Engineer or Assessor within the SBA report which are deemed necessary to eliminate or mitigate risk to human life (directly or indirectly) created or exacerbated by the EWS will form the remediation scope.

We are committed to help deliver drug checking facilities across Scotland and are making progress to establish this service in three pilot areas (Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow), alongside a national hub which will be able to provide additional analysis of samples.

We have highlighted our desire to introduce these facilities to the Home Office as any activity which involves the possession of controlled drugs would require a Home Office licence. As a result, the Home Office have provided a set of criteria to assist in the completion of these licence applications and which they would expect any prospective drug checking facility to adhere to. That information has been shared with those pilot areas and we continue to provide them with support.

However, these criteria make clear that such a license would only be granted for a facility attached to an existing drug treatment service, and that it be specifically targeted at those with problem substance use. Furthermore, UK Ministers have been clear in their opposition to ‘front of house’ drug checking, as might be found in festivals and other venues, and so would not grant a license for such a service.

We welcome interest from further cities or organisations who would wish to implement this harm reduction measure in alternative venues, including music festivals. We would be willing to work with them, and partners such as Police Scotland, to explore what might be possible in Scotland.