Chamber and committees

The legislative changes recommended by the completed Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland are being implemented via the forthcoming Integrated Authorisation Framework (IAF) regulations.

The proposed changes are designed to strengthen SEPA powers to ensure effective management practices are implemented and followed by operators within the industry.

A consultation on the proposed IAF regulations is due to be published early next year and stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals relating to sewage sludge.

The Scottish Government is committed to tackling gender based violence and ensuring that all victims and survivors can access the help and support they need at a time they need it.

During the United Nations 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence, the Scottish Government held a spotlight event with key partners, focussed on gender based violence and mental health. These important discussions will help further our understanding of issues faced by women and girls affected by GBV and will help inform on-going policy development, including the refreshed Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, accompanying delivery plan, our Workforce Action Plan and the new national Specification for Psychological Therapies and Interventions.

We know that some psychological interventions, including counselling, are delivered by partner organisations, including small, local community grassroots groups and organisations . Therefore, in 2021-22 we have invested £21m in our Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults. We have provided a further £15m in 2022-23.

Since 2018, the Scottish Government has invested over £5 million in a National Trauma Training Programme (NTTP), including a total of £3.2 million of funding distributed to all local authorities in 2021-22 and 2022-23 to work with community planning partners to further progress trauma-informed services, systems and workforces.

A review of the Home Owners Support Fund (HOSF), of which Mortgage to Shared Equity is part, was commissioned in February 2022.

The review is wide ranging and will consider all aspects of the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) and Mortgage to Shared Equity (MTSE) eligibility criteria including local authority property valuation thresholds and capital and equity limits.The work is being led by two full-time equivalent Scottish Government officials with support from other officials, including analysts, as required.

The main stages of the review include: identification of issues; information gathering and modelling; developing recommendations and implementation. Independent user research has been conducted with a number of key stakeholders, to identify areas of concern and gather information in relation to aspects of the process that are working well. This involved recent applicants to HOSF, registered social landlords and accredited Money Advisers from organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureaux, local authority Debt Advice services and law centres. Further consultation with stakeholders is ongoing and user testing is planned for later stages of the work.

The review will conclude in the spring of next year with implementation of any policy changes to take place thereafter.

The Scottish Government proposes to take a phased approach to the alignment with the recast Drinking Water Directive. This prioritises the health based standards that can be implemented now and recognises that some parts of the Directive apply at a later date.

A more detailed description of the approach to alignment is provided in the policy note which accompanies The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002 (draft). This is contained in the Clerk’s papers for the 32 nd Meeting of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee ( 4647 (parliament.scot) ).

Consultation will be undertaken with relevant stakeholders as the various parts of the Directive are introduced to ensure that they are proportionate and in Scotland’s interests.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring people get access to person-centred support that is tailored to their needs. Through working directly with a wide range of stakeholders, which encompasses both NHS directors as well as Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) service leads and third sector organisations, a range of work is underway to ensure that any person that presents at any service with a mental health or substance use issue is offered support and guidance throughout their treatment.

This includes the recent Rapid Review of Mental Health and Substance Use Services; the development and implementation of standards for adult secondary mental health services, alongside the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Pathfinder project to design new approaches to care for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use issues.

The recently published summary of the 2021-2022 ADP annual survey reported that, over nine in ten (92%) ADPs routinely offer mental health support for people who use drugs or alcohol.

We will continue to work closely with local authorities, health and social care partnerships and people with lived experience to improve services and outcomes for people.

In August 2021, funding of £10m was made available to local authorities in relation to improving ventilation in schools, and this was claimed in full.

Additionally, in January 2022, funding of up to £4.8m was made available to local authorities. Of that funding, £3.8m was claimed.

Therefore, in total, £13.8m has been allocated to local authorities in relation to improving ventilation in schools.

Recommended actions from the Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland which have already been completed include publication last year of the James Hutton Institute report on the impacts on human health and the environment arising from the spreading of sewage sludge to land, and implementation of the remedial actions that were recommended to be taken by Scottish Water.

The legislative changes recommended by the review are being implemented via the forthcoming Integrated Authorisation Framework regulations. A consultation on proposed regulations is due to be published in 2023 and stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals relating to sewage sludge.

The Scottish Government anticipates that the proposed cap on fishing activity (up to three nautical miles) will contribute to our efforts to deliver a step change in marine protection. We will consult on our proposals to apply an activity cap in due course.

Earlier this year the Scottish Government published a draft future catching policy for consultation. The policy is intended to address long-running operational issues with the landing obligation, which bans the discarding of fish. The policy seeks to improve upon current rules, whilst staying true to the principles of the landing obligation, to support fishers to reduce waste and delivering sustainable and responsible fisheries management. We received 244 responses to the consultation, covering the full range of policy proposals, and are now undertaking analysis and evaluation.

The Scottish Government deploys a range of spatial and technical measures to manage Scotland’s fisheries. In addition, we have delivered a number of projects over the past four years to improve spatial management of inshore fisheries. These have included the Mull Crab Box and the Outer Hebrides Inshore Fisheries Pilot, which have been delivered as part of a co-management approach with our Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups. Fisheries management measures are not a regional marine planning matter.

Under the Bute House Agreement we will also soon consult on measures that will improve spatial management of our inshore waters, namely proposals to cap (to current levels) fishing activity within the three nautical mile area. The Agreement outlines further protections for our marine environment by introducing Highly Protected Marine Areas covering at least 10% of our waters by 2026, and delivering management measures for existing Marine Protected Areas where these are not already in place, as well as for Priority Marine Features at risk from bottom towed fishing gear out with these sites by 2024.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12798 on 12 December. 2022. 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 .