Chamber and committees

Scottish universities are autonomous bodies and the Scottish Government does not collect data on education agents employed by them to recruit overseas students.

The Scottish Government has led on rail freight growth, setting the first target of its kind in 2017 for the period 2019 -2024. This was consolidated further in 2023 with a more stretching rail freight growth target of 8.7% for the rail period 2024-2029 (through the Scottish Ministers’ High Level Output Specification) and a requirement for Network Rail to set out a longer-term strategy for growth by 2027. The Scottish Government welcomes the UK Government’s interest in promoting freight modal shift and notes that the target for England and Wales for 2024 -2029 is 7.5%.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). 95.45% is a very high fill rate for Obstetrics and Gynaecology ST1 in rounds 1 and 2 of 2023 recruitment. Within that context there will always be a small number of posts that will not fill. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Data is not currently reported in a format which shows primary care medicines spend by licenced indication, (Prescription only Medicines (POM), Pharmacy medicines (P) and General Sale List (GSL)). A P pack medicine may be prescribed and supplied for a condition not listed under the P licence on the prescription, particularly if that is the right drug for the patient's condition.

For the financial year 2022-23, the primary care drug spend was £1.22 billion. The NHS in Scotland has a policy to prescribe generically where generic drug is available. Generic prescribing accounts for 85% of primary care drug volumes but only accounts for 30% of the cost.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). 95% is a very high fill rate for Intensive Care Medicine ST3 in rounds 1 and 2 of 2023 recruitment. Within that context there will always be a small number of posts that will not fill. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

An assessment of the conservation status of Atlantic salmon is carried out annually for 173 separate inland water assessment areas, including the 17 Special Areas of Conservation where Atlantic salmon are a primary or secondary qualifying feature. Each assessment area is assigned to one of three grades based on the probability of the stock meeting an internationally agreed conservation limit over a five-year period. The assessment informs regulation that determines where the killing of salmon by fisheries is permitted outside of the spring season. The results of the latest assessment are available on the Scottish Government website - Overview - Salmon fishing: proposed river gradings for 2024 season - gov.scot ( www.gov.scot ).

NatureScot has initiated a project to update the site condition assessment, which includes differing stock components, of the 17 Special Areas of Conservation in Scotland where Atlantic salmon is a qualifying feature, and a final report will be published in due course.

The main expression of genetic diversity of Atlantic salmon in Scottish rivers is when the fish return to the river. Populations of early running fish are assessed to be particularly vulnerable across Scotland and are therefore protected by regulations that prevent the killing of Atlantic salmon before 1 April each year.

District Salmon Fishery Boards and the River Tweed Commission have statutory powers and duties for the protection and improvement of fisheries, and the increase of salmon within their districts. At the national level, the Scottish wild salmon strategy was established in 2022 in response to the long-term downward trend in the number of Atlantic salmon returning to Scottish waters. In 2023 we published the wild salmon strategy implementation plan, which sets out over sixty actions to tackle the wide range of pressures affecting the species throughout their life cycle.

A delivery group oversees and directs the delivery of the strategy and implementation plan and will also review and shape the programme of work considering new evidence and other policy developments. The delivery group is supported by a Scientific Advisory Board, established to coordinate and harmonise research and monitoring activities across science organisations and regulators

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). 87.5% is a very high fill rate for Combined Infection Training ST4 in rounds 1 and 2 of 2023 recruitment. Within that context there will always be a small number of posts that will not fill. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Items may be prescribed within primary care where there is a clinical need with the exception of items listed on Schedule 1 of Part 12 of the Scottish Drug Tariff.

As of 19 December 2023 three local authorities have published final Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES):

• Glasgow City Council
• Fife Council
• West Lothian Council

An additional ten local authorities have published draft LHEES for consultation:

• City of Edinburgh Council
• Clackmannanshire Council
• Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
• East Lothian Council
• Falkirk Council
• Highland Council
• North Ayrshire Council
• North Lanarkshire Council
• Perth and Kinross Council
• Stirling Council

The Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (Scotland) Order 2022 places a duty on local authorities to publish their first LHEES Strategies and Delivery Plans on or before 31 December 2023. It is for the local authorities to determine how they will discharge this duty, and whilst we are aware that some local authorities may not publish LHEES by the end of 2023, all of them are working hard to put in place long term local strategies that will set out how each segment of the building stock needs to change to reach net zero.

To support local authorities to develop and publish their LHEES, the Scottish Government published guidance in October 2022, setting out what is required in the production and content of Strategies and Delivery Plans. This was accompanied by long term funding for each local authority of £75,000 per year, committed until 2027/28. The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities, facilitating regular forums and learning events to share knowledge and address key challenges as they develop their first LHEES. In addition, Zero Waste Scotland are providing a series of capacity building workshops and one-to-one support sessions to upskill local authority officers.

We have engaged with a range of stakeholders during the development of the Fair Fares Review which includes transport operators, delivery partners, passenger groups, campaigning groups and trade unions. This includes; ScotRail Holdings, ScotRail, the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers (ATCO), the Mobility Advisory Committee for Scotland (MACS), CalMac, Northlink, Regional Transport Partnerships, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), Cosla, Transport for Edinburgh (TfE), Glasgow City Council, the Poverty & Inequality Commission, Transform Scotland and the Poverty Alliance.

Former Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth MSP and officials met with trade unions to discuss the Fair Fares Review on 14 March 2023. Following which a letter providing a further update on the review was issued on 12 May 2023 from the subsequent Minister for Transport Kevin Stewart MSP. I engage regularly with trade unions and look forward to continuing these conversations on all transport related matters including the Fair Fares Review as we work to deliver our vision for the future of public transport in 2024 and beyond.