Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent price rises in the cost of energy will have on people, especially those using medical equipment at home, such as CPAP machines for the treatment of sleep apnoea.

Decisions about the reimbursement of energy costs associated with CPAP machines and other medical machines in individuals’ homes are made by NHS Boards. The Scottish Government continues to work with NHS Boards to address financial pressures across the healthcare system, including the impacts of the increase in energy costs. In May 2022, we published our Resource Spending Review that set out investment of £73 billion in health and social care to 2026-27.

The Scottish Government will also use the Emergency Budget Review to increase the Fuel Insecurity Fund to £20 million in 2022-23. The Fuel Insecurity Fund is aimed at helping people who are at risk of self-rationing their energy use, or self-disconnecting entirely because they cannot afford their energy bills.

The authorisation of plant protection products (PPPs) is an area devolved to the Scottish Government and Scottish Ministers have arranged for functions related to regulating PPPs to be exercised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on our behalf. Whilst Asulox does not currently hold a full approval for use, the Scottish Government carefully considered and consented to, the HSE’s recommendation to authorise limited and controlled emergency use of Asulox for bracken management during 2022.

Delivery of PPPs by drone falls under the HSE regulations covering aerial spraying. To ensure safety on the ground and in the air both the HSE and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are involved in considering any such applications. Scottish Ministers encourage our regulator and stakeholders to look to solutions that decrease risks to human and environmental health.

The Scottish Government has committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill to ensure that the rights of autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and neurodivergent people are respected and protected.

Across our work, we involve organisations led by disabled people and charities representing the views of a wide range of people who come under the learning disabilities, autism and neurodiversity umbrella.

Our intention is that the Bill will be fully co-designed with people with lived experience, and we ran 30 events with 18 different organisations during the scoping work which took place between May and July 2022.

We are also establishing a lived experience advisory panel to support the development of the Bill. Details about the recruitment process for the panel will be available shortly.

I refer the member to question S6W-10779 on 20 September 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 2021-22 season has seen the UK’s largest outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to date, which has affected wild bird populations, including some internationally important seabird populations.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out year-round highly pathogenic avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds reported to Defra’s GB national helpline, which captures information on the general location and strains of avian influenza that are present in wild birds. To date, there have been no confirmed findings of avian influenza in European storm petrels in Scotland. More information on the programme and findings in wild birds is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-outbreaks/#wildbirds .

In addition to the GB Dead Wild Bird Surveillance Scheme, NatureScot and other relevant parties have been carrying out monitoring at key seabird colonies across Scotland to collect data on bird numbers and any mortality events. This surveillance and monitoring has not recorded any mortality of European storm petrels.

While the full extent of the impact of the current avian influenza outbreak on seabirds, is unknown, some colonies have clearly been affected. A Scottish Avian Influenza in Wild Birds Task Force has been established to co-ordinate activity to monitor and minimise the impact of avian influenza on wild bird populations in Scotland. This will involve identifying surveillance, monitoring and related research needs, which will allow a better understanding of the current and likely future impact of the disease on wild bird populations.

Furthermore, NatureScot will be collecting samples from European storm petrel nesting boxes in Mousa over the next few weeks, as part of the FluMap programme, to improve understanding of the transmission of avian influenza in wild birds. Colony surveys will also be undertaken during the 2023 breeding season to assess the status of seabird colonies potentially impacted by the current HPAI outbreak.

A total of 35 homes have been completed through the Rural and Islands Housing Fund since November 2021. The following table provides a breakdown by local authority area.

The application window for the first year of the Just Transition Fund closed on 15 July 2022, with a total of 102 proposals received.

The Fund was advertised through the Scottish Government’s website and social media platforms, as well as through local partners, including: Aberdeenshire Council, Moray Council; Aberdeen City Council; Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce; Moray Chamber of Commerce; and the Just Transition Partnership. The Fund was also advertised through the ‘Find Business Support’ portal.

Applicants were notified about the outcome of their proposals on 6 September 2022, but the full list of projects won’t be published until after the mourning period following the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.

The provision of advice to health professionals on the efficacy of particular treatments, whether clinical or non-clinical, is the responsibility of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) who base their recommendations on Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines, produced from the views of experts and the latest research. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to undertake this type of analysis but we are supportive of the concept of a person-centred approach to care which includes non-clinical options. This aligns with the principles of Realistic Medicine .

The Scottish Government Environment Strategy (2020) recognises the urgent need for action at all levels, in tackling the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. Sadly, the evidence tells us that in common with the rest of the world, Scotland has not yet done enough to prevent the continuing decline in biodiversity. We recently consulted on our new biodiversity strategy, which sets out our ambition to halt nature loss by 2030 and reverse it by 2045. The consultation closed on 12 September and we are currently analysing responses.

The Scottish Government is committed to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which at least 70% will be available for social rent and 10% will be in our remote, rural and island communities. This is backed by £3.6bn funding available in this Parliamentary term including support of up to £30 million for the continuation of the demand-led Rural and Island Housing Fund.

SMEs play an important role in the delivery of affordable homes in all areas of Scotland both as developing landlords, contractors and the wider supply chain.