Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21068 on 14 September 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

It is vital that Police Scotland continues to inspire public trust and maintains relationships with local communities. These principles are clearly set out in both the Scottish Government’s Strategic Police Priorities and in the Police Scotland/Scottish Police Authority Joint Strategy for Policing . While the decision to conduct a pilot is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, it will be crucial when the results of this pilot are examined, to confirm that local priorities continue to be met with no detriment to communities.

Officers in the North East are not stopping the investigation of minor crimes. Members of the public should continue to report all crimes. Police Scotland has stated that, as part of the pilot, on occasions where crimes are reported without an associated threat, harm, risk or vulnerability and there are no proportionate lines of enquiry, staff will inform the caller that their report has been filed and supply a crime reference number but no further action will be taken. Should thereafter any evidence become available that open up a line of enquiry the incident will be appropriately investigated. Police Scotland has stated that the new approach will ensure that individuals receive faster updates on their incident reports.

Policing remains a priority for the Scottish Government. Despite financial challenges due to UK Government austerity, we have increased police funding year-on-year since 2016-17, investing more than £11.6 billion since the creation of Police Scotland in 2013.

The Scottish Government does not routinely gather or centrally hold information on the total number and value of contracts awarded by non-ministerial offices to consulting companies. As non-ministerial offices have a degree of independence from central government information of this nature will be held more locally and can be attained by approaching the bodies directly.

National Records of Scotland were last contacted by the Church of Scientology in 2022 with regards to religious and belief bodies nominating to the Registrar General members they wish to be registered as empowered to solemnise marriages under Section 9 of the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977.

We have not identified any other instances of SG contact with the Church of Scientology.

The information requested on the number of phlebotomists employed by NHS boards in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022 is not centrally available.

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments are not specifically allocated to the horticulture sector. However, our Census Data does identify holdings that are either of specialist horticulture and permanent crop type or which have at least 2 hectares of horticultural crops on the holding. In 2022, BPS payments worth approx. £22.6 million (8.13% of total BPS expenditure) were paid to businesses using these holdings.

It should be noted that as BPS payments are issued at a business level, some of these payments will be to businesses with additional farming activity which is not considered as horticulture.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of biodiversity and nature restoration, and the urgent need for action at home and abroad to tackle the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. This is why our Global Affairs Framework makes clear that Scotland will play its full role, engaging with international networks on biodiversity protection and nature restoration to make positive contributions and cooperate with others.

Our biodiversity strategy sets out our vision to be nature-positive, halting biodiversity loss by 2030 and reversing declines by 2045. Achieving these goals will require significant efforts and – as part of these – we will continue to implement our international obligations, engage with international partners to cooperate and share best practice, and actively participate in multilateral fora where possible.

I recognise the need for urgent action in Inverclyde following the publication of the National Records of Scotland data on alcohol-specific deaths during 2022. It shows that with 28 deaths Inverclyde had the highest age standardised mortality rate for alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland – at 33 per 100,000 of population.

We are providing and will continue to provide funding to statutory and community services operating in Inverclyde as part of the Government’s plan to help tackle this public health emergency. We have committed to continue our financial support to the Inverclyde Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service as well as supporting the contributions made by community Link Workers and others working in the local area. We will also continue to provide support through accessible community Funds to local initiatives such as Moving On, which I visited earlier this month, to hear from people impacted by alcohol and drugs.

I am fully committed to do everything in my power to tackle alcohol-related deaths in Scotland, working with partners including Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships and third sector organisations to ensure that local needs are met, and that funding is making the maximum impact in all local areas.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21068 on 14 September 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 has not confirmed budgets for 2024-25.