Chamber and committees

The most recently available projections, published in 2020, suggest that Scotland will be fully compliant with the nitrogen dioxide limit values by 2023. Compliance projections are calculated based on a combination of data from the UK wide air quality monitoring network operated jointly by the four UK Governments, and modelling using the UK Pollution Climate Mapping models.

The Scottish Government has made clear its commitment to maintain or exceed EU standards, including air quality limit values, following the UK's departure from the European Union (EU). This commitment includes ensuring that EU environmental principles continue to sit at the heart of environmental policy and law in Scotland.

The purpose of the Ministerial Group will be to oversee at a strategic level implementation of the actions set out in Cleaner Air for Scotland 2(CAFS 2) and the accompanying delivery plan. The transport section of CAFS 2 sets out current Scottish Government transport policy as it relates to air quality.

The previous Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Economy and Fair Work met with the local authority culture conveners on 2 March 2021. This was the second meeting since the Culture Strategy was published. Scottish Government officials are working with COSLA to organise a further meeting soon.

The Minister for Transport will have oversight of Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 actions which are within his portfolio responsibilities.

We understand the benefits of having a pet and sympathise with tenants who have to give up their pet when they move to a home where no pets are allowed. Decisions on whether pets are allowed in a tenancy are a matter for individual landlords and will be reflected in each tenancy agreement.

Landlords should however give careful consideration to policies that restrict pet ownership. We would encourage both social and private rented sector landlords to take a practical and considered approach to this and consider the benefits of reduced social isolation and loneliness that can come from pet ownership, particularly in cases where a tenant has a pet and needs to move to a new tenancy.

As part of the shared policy programme between the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party a new deal for tenants will be the focus of a Rented Sector Strategy we will publish by the end of 2021, and consult on in early 2022. This new deal will introduce new and strengthened rights for tenants, for example giving tenants greater flexibility to decorate their home and to keep pets.

No information is collected on how many specialist dementia beds have been available in each year since 2007, either nationally or broken down by NHS Board.

It is encouraging to see a record number of new patients – including those who have waited longest – starting treatment in CAMHS in the last quarter, as our NHS continues to remobilise.

Long waits are unacceptable and we remain committed to meet the standard that 90% of children and young people begin treatment within 18 weeks of referral.

Over the last 6 months Scottish Government officials provided enhanced improvement support to Boards with unacceptable backlogs to increase CAMHS capacity and reduce waiting lists. £4.25m of the Renewal Fund has been allocated to all Boards to reduce backlogs this year.

Yes, this remains Scottish Government position. We strongly discourage trade with all illegal settlements, including those in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

We will work collaboratively with partners, communities and other stakeholders to take forward the ten-year £500m Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray. The delivery of the Fund will exemplify our co-design and co-delivery approach that will be supported by a programme of broad engagement in the area. This Fund is a new commitment which will require detailed policy design work and implementation planning. We will provide further information on the process in due course.

The Just Transition Fund will support and accelerate energy transition, create good, green jobs and maximise the region’s future economic potential. We are determined to tackle climate emergency and mitigate the impacts of the transition on communities across Scotland, and will work at pace to deliver our sectoral plans for a just transition.