Chamber and committees

This matter is still subject to ongoing judicial proceedings, as such, it would not be appropriate for Scottish Government officials or Ministers to comment.

We expect all NHS Scotland Boards to operate with the highest standards of transparency, accountability and compliance with employment and equalities legislation.

I refer the member to the publication, A stronger economy with independence, which sets out detailed proposals on how the Scottish Government would use the full powers of independence to build an inclusive, fair, wellbeing economy that works for everyone in Scotland, and will allow us to replicate the success of many neighbouring countries which are more prosperous, productive and fairer than the UK.

Following your topical question S6T-02471 on 22 April 2025 in relation to sex offender name change. I subsequently wrote to you about sex offender name change on 30 April 2025. In that response, I set out additional background, including that - as various names can be held in relation to the same individual: "instances of name change", is not necessarily the same as individuals who have changed their given name. I also highlighted to you that as the management of registration records of a Registered Sex Offender (RSO) is an operational matter for Police Scotland, they are therefore best placed to provide you with additional details on what their records do or do not show.

All answers to Topical Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Official Report: search what was said in Parliament | Scottish Parliament Website

We are committed to working in partnership with our fisheries stakeholders and coastal communities to develop and deliver proportionate fisheries and marine conservation measures which align environmental protection with a flourishing and profitable fishing industry.

A range of measures are already in place to ensure that the marine environment is protected, including the use of quotas to support fishing within sustainable limits. We also support and encourage best practice within the fishing industry in relation to handling of sensitive marine species, including returning them to the sea unharmed where practical to do so. We will be taking further action through our Future Catching Policy to minimise and, where possible, eliminate bycatch of sensitive marine species as part of wider efforts to ensure the sustainability of our fisheries.

We are building on existing measures through a range of initiatives, including taking forward the outcomes of a consultation on requiring tracking and monitoring technology on all under 12 metre fishing vessels in Scottish waters. In addition, one of our top priorities is putting in place the remaining fisheries management measures for MPAs and the 11 priority marine features most at risk from bottom trawling. We consulted in October 2024 on the proposed fisheries management options for 20 protected areas in the offshore marine region. We remain committed to implementing measures for offshore MPAs in 2025 and we will also consult on measures for inshore MPAs once the statutory assessments are completed.

We know that some of our stakeholders would like to see the Scottish Government introduce a three-mile limit restricting mobile fishing gear. We have no plans to do so. Such blanket spatial restrictions are not consistent with an evidence-based approach, do not embrace the benefits of new technology and are inconsistent with the nuanced approach outlined in our 2020-2030 Fisheries Management Strategy.

Depending on the circumstances of the case, financial contributions in connection with planning consent may be secured either by conditions or by planning obligations. The use of both planning conditions and obligations is subject to a series of tests: the former contained in Scottish Government Circular 4/1998; the latter in Circular 3/2012. In summary, the tests provide that any financial contributions must be necessary, relevant to planning, relevant to the proposed development, and reasonable in all other respects. These are matters of judgement for the relevant decision maker, whether the Scottish Government or local authority.

The Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme (GFPS) as proposed by the council, is exceptional in terms of scale and financial cost and requires careful consideration to ensure that it delivers for the local community.

The Scottish Government must weigh up any investment decision both in terms of the impact to the individual project, but also to the impact any individual project has on its ability to invest in other areas. As such, in 2023, Ministers and Falkirk Council agreed that the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme would be removed from consideration as part of the existing national funding agreement with local authorities for flood protection schemes because its size had a distorting effect on the affordability of the overall programme.

A Task Force approach has instead been used to examine how to take forward improved and affordable flood resilience for Falkirk and Grangemouth residents and local communities.

The Scottish Government accepts the judgment of the Supreme Court. Work has already begun on implementation.

The Permanent Secretary was asked to stand up a Short Life Working Group to ensure support and consistency across Government.

Following publication of the EHRC’s update, we wrote to the EHRC to confirm that no public body, service provider or other association should issue specific guidance before the EHRC Code of Practice and guidance is finalised.

As the enforcer and regulator of the Equality Act all organisations must consider and comply with the EHRC revised Code of Practice and guidance to ensure there is a consistent and clear understanding of the correct application of the law for all involved in this complex area.

The development and delivery of flood protection schemes is a local authority responsibility. As such, the business case for Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme (GFPS) was prepared by Falkirk Council. This included an economic assessment of the costs and benefits of their proposed scheme.

SEPA carried out a prioritisation process for all the flood protection schemes put forward in the 2015 Flood Risk Management Plans. This prioritisation was largely based on the cost benefit ratios supplied by the relevant local authorities.

The Scottish Government has published a range of fire safety guidance applicable to a wide range of premises types, including existing high rise domestic and existing non-residential buildings. Given the complex nature of individual buildings of a height over 60m, specialist fire safety advice should be sought by the duty holder/s if required, including a robust fire risk assessment carried out by a competent assessor who will focus on the nature, use and specific circumstances pertaining to that particular building, as this will vary from one premises to another.

The Scottish Government expects all Boards, to comply with the legislative requirements, and in their role as employers to meet the standards set out in the national workforce policies. All guidance regarding patient health, health care delivery and workforce policies and updates, are communicated to key stakeholders in Boards for dissemination.

These are all published publicly on the NHS Scotland Publications website.