Chamber and committees

Details are provided in the following table.

The Scottish government recognises the importance of a UK wide partnership approach to plant health. The establishment of the UK Plant Health Alliance, in collaboration with industry, and publication of a best practice biosecurity standard, the Plant Health Management Standard and associated assurance schemes was an important step to strengthen biosecure procurement. The UKISG is just one of a number of assurance schemes that are in place to help promote responsible sourcing in the plant supply chain.

Under the Scottish Plant Health Strategy 2024 -29 there is a commitment to explore opportunities for biosecure procurement. If and how this can be integrated into Scottish government grant options for woodland creation, including assurance schemes, will be considered as part of work on future grant support for forestry.

The Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme is available to homeowners in Scotland and provides a grant, interest free loan or a combination of both to support the installation of energy efficiency measures and clean heating systems.

The scheme provides up to £7,500 of grant funding for heat pumps as well as £7,500 for energy efficiency measures. In addition, the scheme offers optional interest free loan funding of up to £7,500 and a remote rural uplift of £1,500 to supplement both of these grants.

Further information on the available measures and how to apply can be found at: https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/home-energy-scotland-grant-loan.

In addition, the HES advice service also acts as the gateway to a number of other Scottish Government funding schemes and provides free, bespoke, impartial advice on energy efficiency, renewable heating and fuel poverty support available. HES can be contacted on 0808 808 2282 or via their online portal https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/.

Security of supply for gas and electricity is a matter reserved to the UK Government and is delivered by the National Electricity System Operator (NESO) across the whole of GB, under regulation from Ofgem. The National Grid has also confirmed that Great Britain’s eight main gas storage sites remain healthy. However, we remain engaged to plan for any challenging scenarios that might emerge this winter.

The Scottish Government’s Solar Vision, which will be published in due course, will set out the commitments that we will take to enable greater deployment of solar in Scotland. We will continue to support the sector to minimise barriers to deployment, wherever possible.

In 2023 and 2024, we introduced new and extended permitted development rights to simplify the planning process for the installation of zero- and low-carbon technologies, including solar canopies in car parks. Relevant guidance is contained in Planning Circular 2/2024: Non-Domestic Permitted Development Rights.

The fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) sets out the Scottish Ministers’ policies and proposals for the development and use of land. NPF4 places climate and nature at the centre of our planning system and is a significant step forward towards achieving a net zero Scotland. It makes clear our support for all forms of renewable, low-carbon and zero emission technologies, including solar panels. When making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities must consider the development plan (which includes NPF4 and the relevant local development plan) as a whole, alongside all other material considerations.

A) The Scottish Government does not record the information you have requested in an easily accessible format. The costs for each case are recorded in the individual case files or across multiple sources of information. As set out in the answer to question S6W-31821 on 9 December 2024 the costs to provide this information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. The requester asked for information spanning 18 years.

The table referred to in PQ S6W-33144 on 21 January 2025, which is held in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (BIB number 65598), gives a breakdown of the numbers of specialty posts available for recruitment and vacancies after recruitment for the past 10 years.

NHS Education for Scotland, in collaboration with wider stakeholders, are taking action to support recruitment into underfilled specialties including cancer and psychiatry. These actions include initiatives to promote these specialties through recruitment campaigns; increase exposure to these specialties, particularly during medical school and early career stages through Foundation placements and programmes, careers fairs and training days and; supporting recruitment in specific regions.

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

Recruitment to specialty training is undertaken on a UK-wide basis and managed by NES in Scotland. The number of posts advertised by NES each year is determined by two factors: (i) individuals who have vacated their post and whose posts are therefore available for new applicants for apply for, and (ii) whether any additional posts have been created.

The Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group – membership of which includes the Scottish Government, NHS Education for Scotland, British Medical Association, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and various Health Board representatives including regional workforce planners – undertakes an annual review of medical training establishments and makes recommendations to Scottish Ministers on the need to create additional training places in order to meet increased demand and future anticipated consultant need.

In line with the Tobacco and Vaping Framework, work is underway to improve the technical infrastructure of the existing register of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product retailers.

Officials are working with Scottish IT developers ePass, selected by the Scottish Government through CivTech Challenge 9, to create and deliver an up-to-date web-based register product. It is expected that this new product will make enforcement easier, will support improvements in data quality, as well as support engagement with retailers and increase the value of registration for retailers. It is expected to launch in Spring this year.

The data below shows that 1083 Foundation Year 2 doctors have returned to training in Scotland since 2020.