Chamber and committees

Today marks the first anniversary of the Scottish Government’s national apology to those affected by historic forced adoption practices. I acknowledge the immense pain and suffering that adoptees, mothers and families have endured as a result of these unjust practices. Addressing the harms caused remains a priority for this Government.

The scoping study is one of the sources of evidence that the Scottish Government is using in determining how to best support those affected by historic forced adoption. It is being considered alongside other evidence, including the accompanying service delivery paper , the original consultation exercise held in 2022 and ongoing engagement with campaigners and people with lived experience.

To that end, we are establishing a series of lived experience sessions on historic forced adoption, to be facilitated by the Scottish Government’s Principal Psychological Adviser. The purpose of these sessions is to explore potential collaborative solutions to the issues raised in the scoping study. The sessions will inform the Scottish Government’s policy response and help to determine how we prioritise and sequence this work, alongside our consideration of wider matters such as potential legislative, financial and operational impacts. We anticipate that a particular focus for discussion will be the form of support that is needed to address the emotional and psychological impact of historic forced adoption for adoptees, mothers and families.

A key issue that has been highlighted as part of our engagement is around the challenges of accessing records. As such, both the National Records of Scotland and Scottish Court and Tribunals Service have updated the information that they provide online in order to assist people with the practical aspects of accessing records, as well as signposting to further support. Both organisations will continue to provide access and assistance to adoption records in line with current legislation. We are also exploring what more we can do to ensure people affected by historic forced adoption are able to easily access the right information and support when they need it.

Additionally, the Scottish Government continues to fund the charity, Health in Mind, to provide specialist support through peer support groups. Monthly peer support sessions are now being held for mothers and an adoptees group will begin shortly. The peer support groups are open for self-referrals from those affected and further details are available online at Health in Mind | Historic Adoption Peer Support (health-in-mind.org.uk) .

The Scottish Government continues to deliver on its commitment to build the case for an independent Scotland within the EU, through the development of a prospectus to give people the information they need to make an informed choice about their future. I’m pleased to confirm that on 25 March we are publishing ‘Education and lifelong learning in an independent Scotland’.

This is the twelfth paper in the Building a New Scotland series. The paper sets out how Scotland’s approach to education and skills demonstrates the benefits of taking decisions in Scotland, for Scotland, and how we would be able to improve outcomes for our children and young people with the full powers of independence and without the UK Government taking decisions on key areas such as social security, public spending and our relationship with the EU.

The Scottish Government is continuing to prepare further papers in the Building a New Scotland series and these will be published shortly. I can also confirm that the matters raised in this publication will be taken forward as part of a future debate in the Scottish Parliament.

‘Building a New Scotland: Education and lifelong learning in an independent Scotland’ is available to view on the Scottish Government website from 25 March at www.gov.scot/newscotland

The Scottish Government is pleased to announce that today we will publish the Fair Fares Review.

The Review sets out a range of actions to be taken in the short, medium and long term to make our public transport system more available, accessible and affordable to the people of Scotland, and ensure that it is of high quality, whilst maintaining its long term financial sustainability.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank those stakeholders and delivery partners who have engaged with Transport Scotland on the Review. I look forward to working with them as we progress the Review`s recommendations and actions and make public transport the preferred choice for most people in Scotland.

The Fair Fares Review can be found at:- www.transport.gov.scot/fairfaresreview

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) policy 11(a) sets out that development proposals for all forms of renewable, low-carbon and zero emissions technologies will be supported. These include energy storage, such as battery storage and pumped storage hydro, and also small scale renewable energy generation technology. Battery storage can exist at a range of different scales.

Where a policy states that development will be supported, it is in principle, and it is for the decision maker to assess the characteristics of a proposed development, to take into account all relevant policies and to determine what weight to attach to policies on a case by case basis.

In question S6W-25597 part of the question asked:

To ask the Scottish Government…. What proportion of [CAMHS] patients have started treatment within 10 weeks of referral…. In each NHS Board for the last three years

Data on patients starting treatment is divided into wait bands. These are divided into 4-wait bands of 0-18 weeks, 19-35 weeks, 36-52 weeks and 53 weeks plus. Information on patients starting treatment within 10 weeks is therefore not recorded and as such, is not available. This is why the answer to question S6W-25597 indicated that it was not possible to provide this information.

However the statistic that 1 in 2 people referred to CAMHS start treatment in 10 weeks, is determined using a separate data point. This states that the median treatment time (ie the point at which half of patients begin treatment) for quarter ending September 2023 is 10 weeks. This data is published quarterly and monthly and changes frequently, as such the answer to S6W-25597 cannot be derived using this data point.

As indicated in the previous answer, this information is compiled and held by Public Health Scotland and as such they may hold further data which may be able to help given the technical nature of your query.

Eligible individuals may qualify for legal aid to help cover the costs associated with legal representation and court fees involved in renewing a guardianship order. Legal aid is means-tested, and eligibility criteria apply.

Organisations such as Citizens Advice Scotland and the Scottish Legal Aid Board provide financial assistance and support services to individuals and families facing financial difficulties in legal matters, including guardianship renewals.

Local authorities may provide guidance to individuals who are unable to afford the costs of renewing a guardianship order. Social work departments or welfare services within the local authority can offer support and advice on available resources.

Under Section 57(2) of the Adults with Incapacity (AWI) (Scotland) Act 2000, if a guardianship order (or renewal) is deemed necessary by the local authority and no application has been made or is anticipated, the authority must initiate the application process.

Legal aid, via the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) can provide financial support to families renewing guardianship orders for adults with learning disabilities. This assistance may cover legal representation costs, including solicitor fees and court expenses, depending on financial eligibility criteria. The support aims to alleviate the financial burden associated with navigating the renewal process, ensuring access to legal assistance for families in need.

In 2021, we published an updated Climate Change Plan which covers the period 2018 – 2032. The updated plan includes over 200 policies across all eight sectors and proposals to drive future emissions reductions.

Since publication of the update to the Climate Change Plan, progress has been delivered at speed to drive forward the various strategies, plans, roadmaps and routemaps that support delivery. I have highlighted some of this progress as follows:

(a) The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan was published for consultation on 10 January 2023, setting out our vision for a future net zero energy system. The consultation closed in May 2023 with over 1500 responses and on 28 September we published an independent consultation analysis.

(b) We have just completed two consultations, one on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill and one on a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard.

(c) We have committed to producing a Route map to achieve a 20% reduction in car km by 2030 against a 2019 baseline. The Draft route map was published in January 2022 followed by post publication public consultation to April 2022. A finalised route map and analysis of the public consultation is due for publication in the coming months.

(d) The Scottish Government is combining current research with revised funding strategies to develop and enhance the route map for industrial decarbonisation. This will include elements of energy efficiency, energy switching and carbon capture and utilisation for residual emissions. The final route map will form part of the next Climate Change Plan.

(e) In January 2024 we published our draft Circular Economy and Waste Route Map for consultation, setting out clear actions to deliver sustainable use of our resources and progress a circular economy in Scotland by 2030. This includes measures to decarbonise the resources and waste sector, and embed circular practices in the construction sector. We intend to review the feedback from the consultation and confirm the final Route Map later in 2024.

(f) A new (5th) edition of the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS), agreed by all four countries, was published last year following a comprehensive review process. The new edition aims to make forests more resilient to a changing climate and the increased risk of pests and diseases so they can continue to deliver multiple benefits.

(g) The Agricultural Reform Route Map was published in February 2023 and updated on 23 June 2023. The Route Map outlines what information and guidance the sector can expect from 2023-2025 and when it will be available. A phased transition will take place from 2025 to implement the Future Support Framework’s proposed conditional payments under 4 tiers: Base, Enhanced, Elective, and Complementary.

(h) The Scottish Government commissioned a feasibility study on negative emissions technologies which was published on 30 November 2023. The deployment of NETs is dependent on CCUS, and while there is an understanding of next steps for growing the NETs industry in Scotland, a route map will be finalised once there is certainty from the UK Government on funding for Acorn.

Since the review of the Town Centre Action Plan (TCAP), we continue to implement the Town Centre First Principle and work closely with partners including COSLA and Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) to support progress on the delivery of actions outlined in TCAP. The National Planning Framework 4, published in February 2023, recognises town centres as national assets and aims to promote and facilitate development within them, including encouraging town centre living and limiting out of town retail development.

In collaboration with STP, progress towards town centre regeneration has also been showcased in a number of forums, including recent workshops on town centre living, place-based investment and the annual Scotland’s Towns conference.

Support for town centre action is backed by our multiple capital investment programmes, including the Place Based Investment Programme, Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme. However, the UK Government’s reduction in our capital budget will adversely impact the support that we can provide in 2024-25.

Following extensive engagement and consultation, and then approval by the Scottish Parliament, we published and adopted our Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) in February 2023. NPF4 signals our key priorities for ‘where’ and ‘what’ development should take place at a national level and is combined with national planning policy on ‘how’ development planning should manage change. NPF4 Policy 11 (Energy) provides support for all forms of renewable energy development onshore and offshore, including energy storage.

Following a comprehensive consultation process, we will publish our Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan by Summer 2024. It will set out our vision for a future net zero energy system that delivers affordable, secure and clean energy and provides high quality jobs and economic opportunities.