Chamber and committees

Where a patient deemed ready for discharge refuses to leave hospital, there is a clearly defined procedure in place:

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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

Discounts, exemptions and reductions for household water and sewerage charges are funded by the wider household customer base.

Roughly 50% of households receive a discount on the published rates. These include status discounts which apply to Council Tax (e.g. single occupant) and reductions for those in receipt of Council Tax Reduction. This helps to ensure that charges remain progressive and protect those on the lowest incomes.

Scottish Water publishes details of interest paid in its annual report and accounts, routinely laid in Parliament, and available online at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/Help-and-Resources/Document-Hub/Key-Publications/Annual-Reports.

As published in the Water Industry Commission for Scotland’s (WICS) Final Determination of charges for 2021-27, the maximum amount of charges that Scottish Water can levy on its customers is CPI+2% on average for each year of the regulatory period (equivalent to CPI+12.6% over the 6 year period). Charge increases in the first half of the regulatory period were significantly less than the charge cap, reflecting the financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis on households.

Water charges are set by Scottish Water’s Board, with approval from the independent economic regulator WICS. The Board must balance affordability with funding critical investment needs to protect our drinking water quality and the environment. As recognised in Scottish Water’s Draft Long Term Strategy published on 4 February 2025, charges need to increase to fund the impacts of the climate emergency, the replacement of ageing assets and a growing population.

Cash balances are published in Scottish Water’s annual and interim accounts which are laid before Parliament. The latest figure is available in Scottish Water’s interim report and accounts for 2024-25, published on 18 December 2024 and available at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/-/media/ScottishWater/Document-Hub/Key-Publications/Annual-Reports/Interim-Reports/SCW2701-Interim-report-2024-NOT-SIGNED.pdf.

Flytipping is a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, albeit one in relation to which a Fixed Penalty Notice can be issued to discharge any liability to criminal conviction. Through our National Litter and Flytipping Strategy, we are working with stakeholders to improve reporting, investigation, and enforcement. We will continue engaging with Local Authorities, Police Scotland, and SEPA to ensure they have the necessary tools to tackle flytipping effectively.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33259 on 11 February 2025. 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

Scottish Government is committed to minimising disruption to scheduled surgeries and is working in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) and NHS Boards to ensure appropriate clinical pathways are in place to meet demand, and ensure patients are seen at the right place, right time.

The objectives for my visit were to raise the profile of Scotland’s energy offer in Germany, with a view to future trade and investment possibilities; to position Scotland as a leading player in the energy transition, with valuable learning to share with Germany and internationally; and to engage strategically with major German energy companies to gain insights on their growth plans and promote Scotland as a destination for further business opportunities.

I addressed the Handelsblatt Energy Conference, where around 1000 senior energy stakeholders were in attendance, and secured widespread coverage in German media of Scotland’s energy offer and the attractiveness of our industrial sites and workforce. The high profile of the Handelsblatt platform and subsequent media coverage further promoted innovation and investment opportunities in the Scottish supply chain.

My visit enabled me to meet with a number of German businesses to promote investment in the Scottish sector, including RWE Generation, EnBW and Siemens Energy. These meetings helped progress and deepen important relationships with German stakeholders who will be important to Scotland’s developing green hydrogen and CCUS propositions, as well as helping to develop the energy sector to facilitate Scotland achieving its climate targets. I also met with Germany’s former hydrogen commissioner, the CEO of Germany’s largest transmissions system operator, and senior officials from the German Foreign Office. Officials will now take forward actions from those discussions, in Scotland and Germany, to progress companies’ commercial interests in Scotland.