Chamber and committees

There have been a number of significant changes to Public Health policies in relation to Covid over the summer, resulting in the profile of Covid spend reducing significantly compared to when funding was provided to IJBs.

In response to this, surplus Covid reserves will be redistributed across the sector to meet current Covid priorities, including Test and Protect and PPE provisions.

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

Progress on developing the planned IAF regulations was delayed due to Covid-19 and other priority work such as Brexit. This work has now been reprioritised and has recommenced. A consultation on 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.

Other 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.

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 .

We are currently reviewing the F-gas Regulation jointly with the UK and Welsh Governments. We will publish an assessment report on the efficacy of the Regulation in the coming weeks.

Following the report, we will jointly consider policy options to ensure our regulations continue to support our ambitious Net Zero targets. As part of this, we will also consider other important issues including leakage incidents. We expect to publish a joint consultation on these future policy proposals in due course.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12087 on 22 November 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 .

The Scottish Government and its agencies support many of our festivals and events in a multitude of ways as set out in the following table:

Financial Support – financial year 2022-23

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of day services to both those who use them and to their families and carers and has been working closely with local areas to ensure that services are delivered safely. Revised guidance for buildings-based day services was published on 26 May 2022 and 28 September 2022. The guidance says that such services should return to pre-pandemic capacity wherever possible, while operating safely in line with COVID-19 guidance.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) was commissioned to gather and provide insights into different approaches to the redesign of learning disability day services, recognising the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has created for service users, their families and service providers. A range of methods have been used to progress this programme of work including national learning sessions, connections sessions and focus groups. As a result, services have collaborated with people who use services, families, carers and disabled people's organisations to develop new community-based approaches to day service provision. Information on the work currently being undertaken can be found on the ihub website at: New Models for Learning Disability Day Support Collaborative | Healthcare Improvement Scotland - New Models for Learning Disability Day Support Collaborative (ihub.scot)

This programme of work concludes at the end of March 2023 and a final report will be published on the ihub website.

The Scottish Government is in regular dialogue with the culture sector, who have been clear that the impact of rising costs are significantly hampering their ability to recover following the Covid-19 pandemic.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6O-01540 on 16 November 2022, which is available on the Parliament’s website Official Report - Parliamentary Business : Scottish Parliament .

The Scottish Government’s ability to respond to the cost crisis is limited by the inactivity of the UK Government and the financial restrictions of devolution. The Scottish Government budget is largely fixed.

The Scottish Government will continue to urge the UK Government to take a different approach to public finances in order to ensure sufficient support is made available for Scotland’s culture sector.

As of 12th December 2022 there are:

(a) 7 posts in the Alcohol Harm Prevention Team, all posts are currently filled

(b) 4 posts in the Alcohol Treatment Policy Team, with 3 posts filled

(c) 46 posts in the Drugs Policy Division, with 44 posts filled