Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children in primary school receive at least two hours of physical education (PE) each school week.

To monitor progress on this commitment, local authorities have provided us with data about provision of PE in their schools since 2012. This data is reported through the annual Schools Healthy Living Survey Statistics Report, which is available through the following web link: Data and Methodology - School Healthy Living Survey: school meal uptake and PE provision statistics 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Information about schools meeting PE targets is contained on Table 18 of the supplementary statistics spreadsheet in the Schools Healthy Living Survey.

In addition to regular physical education classes there are other physical activity initiatives available for primary school age children, such as The Daily Mile. The Daily Mile is a simple and effective concept which allows all pupils to either run, jog or walk for one mile each day at any time which best suits the needs of the class. Scotland became the world’s first Daily Mile Nation in October 2022.

All 32 local authorities in Scotland currently participate in the Daily Mile Initiative.

As set out in our draft budget the capital funding position is extremely challenging, with a UK Government cut of some 10% in our capital budget over the next five years. That has inevitably led to some difficult decisions on what capital projects will be progressed.

The Scottish Government are in active discussions with NHS Lanarkshire on the impact of this budget settlement on the proposal to replace University Hospital Monklands and an updated position is expected in February.

The Scottish Government will bring forward a revised pipeline of infrastructure investment in the spring, alongside the medium-term financial strategy, at which point we would hope that the fiscal outlook will be clearer.

The Scottish Government is aware that there have been supply issues with Pancreatin, also known as Creon, with one or more strengths over a number of years. Other brands of prescription pancreatic enzymes are also available including Nutrizym® and Pancrex®. Patients should discuss alternative options with their GP or specialist.

Officials from the four UK Administrations work together to mitigate and manage responses to medicine shortages. The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Scotland is a member of the UK-wide Medicines Shortage Response Group (MSRG), set up to identify and co-ordinate responses to medicines shortages across the UK and provide advice to clinicians on alternative therapeutic options.

The NHS in Scotland has robust processes in place to manage supply issues when they do arise.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Houses of Multiple Occupation, which includes purpose built student accommodation, are subject to the provisions in The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 which requires that duty holders carry out a fire safety risk assessment of relevant premises to identify any risks to the safety of persons caused by fire, including the risk posed by combustible cladding.

The Scottish Government has produced guidance for those who have responsibility under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 for ensuring fire safety in such buildings in Scotland: Fire safety - existing premises with sleeping accommodation: practical guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

As required under section 2C of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, the Scottish Government plans to request advice from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) on the appropriate value of the international aviation multiplier, and other advice about emissions targets, within 5 years of the last request for this advice on 19 April 2022. In response to the most recent request, the CCC’s first five-yearly review of Scottish emissions targets, published in December 2022, does not recommend the use of a multiplier to reflect the non-CO2 climate change impacts of emissions at altitude from international aviation.

In follow up to parliamentary question S6W-24240 answered on 19 January 2024. CalMac Ferries Limited have not carried out any assessment of the potential impact that heavier electric vehicles will have on the vehicle carrying capacity of the fleet. I understand that both our operators keep up to date with the latest developments and follow all Maritime Coast Guard Agency (MCA) guidance. The carrying Electric Vehicles (EV) has been assessed by trained personnel and the operators have developed procedures following the release of specific guidance issued by the MCA (MGN 653) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). This guidance was developed through consultation with the industry, and specifically the industry body, Inter-Ferry of which they are a members.

As part of the Minister led roundtable on spiking, which is due to next meet in February, the concerns around vape spiking has been and continues to be discussed. As part of that process, Police Scotland regularly report on current activity and have advised that there is nothing to suggest that this is an emerging trend and that there are no confirmed spiking via vape reports in Scotland. We are alive to recent media reports highlighting the new dangers of “vape spiking” in England and Wales which will be kept under regular review.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24785 on‎ 5 February 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 .

In an extremely challenging financial climate, and following a worst case scenario UK Autumn Statement in which UK Ministers prioritised tax cuts over public spending, we have had to take difficult decisions in setting this budget. The amount Scotland has available to spend is still largely driven by the block grant, which is derived from the UK Government's spending decisions and continuing constraint on public expenditure. The block grant has fallen by 1.2% in real terms since 2022-23 and, because of the UK Government's failure to inflation-proof capital budgets, our capital spending power is due to contract by almost 10% in real terms over 5 years.

Despite this, I am pleased that this Government has committed £4.7 billion in capital and resource in 2024-25 for activities that will have a positive impact on delivery of our climate change goals, and funding of almost £3.9 billion for transport across Scotland. The total budget for my portfolio increases by £47.7 million in 2024-25, which is a £27.9 million (0.6%) reduction in real terms using GDP deflators published in November 2023.

A significant proportion of the expenditure in my portfolio is legally and contractually committed, and I have ensured that those commitments are met in full in this budget as well as allocating funding to support critical maintenance and renewal expenditure to ensure that the people of Scotland have access to a safe and reliable transport system.

I have considered equalities and fairer Scotland duties and progress towards our statutory targets for climate change and child poverty in prioritising the budget available to me. I refer to the Equalities and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement and Carbon Assessment published alongside this budget.