Chamber and committees

Decisions on oil and gas exploration and licensing remain reserved to the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government does not support the UK Government’s approach to oil and gas policy.

The unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is not consistent with Scotland’s ambitious climate obligations. Our focus must be meeting our energy security needs, reducing emissions and ensuring a just transition for our oil and gas workforce as North Sea resources decline. The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to a Just Transition.

Through our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, we have consulted on a clear pathway to deliver on global climate commitments while capitalising on the enormous opportunities offered by becoming a net zero economy. This approach aims to ensure we take workers with us on our journey to net zero.

The Scottish Government last met the Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland on 28 July 2023 and the next meeting is scheduled for the 25 August 2023.

The long COVID National Strategic Network managed by NHS National Services Scotland has developed a draft education strategy following consultation with people living with long COVID and those responsible for planning and delivering healthcare services. This is due to be considered during forthcoming meetings of the Network’s Steering Group and Strategic Oversight Board in Autumn 2023 for consideration and sign off.

Aligned with the draft strategy, the Strategic Network is actively implementing a range of activity to support the information and learning needs of healthcare professionals working to support people living with long COVID. For example;

• The Network is working with Public Health Scotland to disseminate regular bulletins providing a summary of recent relevant research and evidence on long COVID.

• The Network has implemented a programme of Peer Network sessions, providing education on topics suggested by members and the opportunity to seek support from peers and share good practice. Three sessions have been facilitated to date, including focus on chronic pain management and dysfunctional breathing.

• The Network has facilitated two information sharing sessions with researchers leading Chief Scientist Office (CSO) funded research on long COVID, to enable them to engage with NHS colleagues across Scotland who are developing and delivering support and services for people with long COVID.

• The Network has facilitated practice sharing events with those delivering support for people living with long COVID elsewhere in the UK. This has included a presentation and Q&A session from Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust’s Long COVID Community Rehabilitation Service team.

The Strategic Network continues to engage with a range of clinical stakeholders and stakeholder organisations to raise awareness of the Network and its outputs, including NHS Education for Scotland, and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

We are making available £3 million from our £10 million long COVID Support Fund over this financial year to support NHS boards to increase the capacity of existing services, develop these into more clearly defined local pathways and provide a more co-ordinated experience for people living with long COVID.

Initiatives being supported by the funding include provision of single point of access for assessment and co-ordinated support from services including physiotherapy and occupational therapy. These services aim to support people with the impact of their symptoms on their day to day lives and to achieve personal outcomes which are important to each individual, which can include support to return to, or maintain employment.

The Scottish Government also invests in a range of further initiatives to support people with health conditions to sustain or return to work, such as through the NHS delivered Working Health Services Scotland and the Public Health Scotland led Healthy Working Lives resource. They provide advice and support on work related physical and mental health promotion, ill health prevention and return to work practices.

Hospitals are expected to provide parents with access to accommodation on site if needed. In addition the Young Patients Family Fund provides reimbursement for costs of travel, subsistence and accommodation for the eligible parents, carers and/or siblings (aged under 18) of child inpatients. In the previous two financial years more than £3.7M was paid to families visiting children in hospital via the fund. More information about the fund, including how to apply can be found on the Scottish Government website Young Patients Family Fund - mygov.scot

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20206 on 14 August 2023. 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 Scottish Government’s Fisheries Management Strategy sets out a clear approach for managing sea fisheries in partnership with our stakeholders in a way that balances environmental, social and economic interests.

The Scottish fishing industry is incredibly important to Scotland and we must recognise and nurture the socio-economic benefits derived from it, such as supporting employment and the economy in rural areas, and providing a source of healthy, high-protein food.

Whilst we are already delivering good outcomes, we know we need to deliver better. Our growing knowledge of the nature and climate crises has put into stark relief that ecosystems are degrading. In order ensure that our historic fishing industry thrives for generations to come we must safeguard and improve the marine ecosystems on which our fishing industry is built. It is a symbiotic relationship, and there must be space for fisheries to continue to operate – in a sustainable way.

We must embrace change to enhance our fisheries management and continue to develop solutions to difficult challenges. Through the development of a suite of measures, our Future Catching Policy, Remote Electronic Monitoring Policy and Inshore Vessel Tracking and Monitoring policy, we are taking steps to ensure we are at the forefront of establishing enhanced sustainable fisheries management measures.

The Scottish Government is pleased to announce the publication of the outcomes of last year’s consultations on the Future Catching Policy and Remote Electronic Monitoring. The Future Catching Policy will take positive action to increase the sustainability of fishing activity in Scottish waters, supporting fishers to avoid catching fish and other sensitive marine species which they do not want to land, or catch in the first place – reducing waste and increasing biodiversity outcomes.

Remote Electronic Monitoring will deliver increased accountability and confidence in our sea fishing activities, ensuring that we have the right data and knowledge available on which to base management decisions.

The Scottish Government has also published a consultation on the use of inshore vessel tracking and monitoring, with proposals for how we can improve fisheries data by requiring electronic tracking and monitoring technology on under 12 metre commercial fishing vessels. These proposals build on successful trials of vessel tracking, such as the Outer Hebrides Pilot, and will improve our understanding of where inshore vessels are fishing, delivering spatial data that will help us to manage fisheries sustainably for the future, deliver enhanced marine environmental protection, improve control and enforcement tools and, inform marine planning. We have a strong record of engaging with our stakeholders and I would encourage all of them to respond to this consultation.

The consultation documents can be found here: https://consult.gov.scot/marine-scotland/improving-inshore-fisheries-data/ - Consultation on extending vessel tracking and monitoring technology on under 12 metre commercial fishing vessels

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805256595 - Analysis of Consultation: Marine Resources – Ensuring Long Term Sustainability: Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805256588 - SG Response to Consultation: Marine Resources – Ensuring Long Term Sustainability: Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805257165 - Future Catching Policy Consultation Analysis Report

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805259916 - Future Catching Policy: Scottish Government response to consultation analysis report

As autonomous bodies, Scottish universities continue to strengthen pre-existing relationships with European higher education institutions through all available channels.

I welcome the publication of this report and the solutions to the issues that the sector is facing.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with the culture sector to identify barriers to immediate and long-term recovery and will continue to do everything within our powers and resources to help those most affected by current economic challenges.

The Scottish Government will discuss the recommendations contained within this report with Creative Scotland and also the trade unions.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20183 on‎ 14 August 2023. 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