Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-35767 on 1 April 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

The Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) audit was commissioned by Scottish Government in July 2024. Whilst there was an initial delay regarding recruitment, this has now been completed, and progress now continues at pace.

Public Health Scotland are responsible for the delivery of the FLS audit and Scottish Government officials remain close to its development.

In line with all newly commissioned audits, we expect the audit to take several years to create high-quality, standardised data and consistency across NHS Boards in order to drive improvements and support clinical decision making.

I refer the member to the answer to questions S6W-35534 and S6W-35567 on 21 March 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

Whilst all questions about Strategic Investment Model (SIM) proposals should be directed towards the SIM Project Management team in the first instance ([email protected]), the Scottish Government is happy to encourage collaboration between the SIM crew transfer and service operation projects and the analysis being taken forward by Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and others.

Freight capacity is usually measured in the number of available paths, i.e. the number of freight trains it is possible for infrastructure to accommodate alongside passenger trains. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35073 on 4 March 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

As noted in my previous response on 6 January 2025 (S6W-32278 on 6 January 2025),applicants already have to agree to specific terms and conditions when signing up for the scheme, however we are working to strengthen these through changes to application forms to specify expected standards of behaviour when travelling and development of a behaviour code linked to operator’s conditions of carriage and existing legal protections.

We are exploring the legal means to suspend access to concessionary travel for perpetrators of persistent antisocial behaviour of any age, and this will inform development timescales. The National Concessionary Travel Schemes in Scotland are provided on a universal statutory basis, therefore detailed and thorough consideration of any process and penalty must be undertaken to ensure consistency and fairness.

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 leadership framework provided the Scottish Assembly with significant investment over three years from 2022-23 to 2024-25 totalling £430,000. Funding was provided for a time limited project which has reached its natural conclusion.

The funding was provided to aid with the expansion of the Scottish Assembly and the delivery of the project aims of the leadership and engagement framework. The funding was not recurring and the expectation that the Scottish Assembly would explore alternative funding and income streams to ensure long term sustainability of the organisation was made clear in the terms and conditions of funding.

All applications for trapping or lethal control of beavers require that satisfactory alternatives are considered.

The beaver licence application form asks what alternative mitigations have been attempted. NatureScot specialists can advise whether there are other satisfactory alternatives that could be put in place and can require that these should be attempted first, before determining an application for a licence.

We firmly believe there is no contradiction between high quality food production and producing it in a way that delivers for the climate and nature and it is important that we do not offshore our emissions as we work towards net zero.

We are supporting our farmers and crofters to improve their efficiency, thereby improving their productivity and profitability and reducing their emissions. We also recognise that agriculture and food production relies on natural processes and will always cause some degree of emissions.

The Whole Farm Plan will help farmers and crofters measure their businesses’ impact and find ways to become more efficient and to cut emissions. We continue to explore new, innovative ways to help mitigate emissions from agriculture, measure and build carbon sequestration, while continuing to produce high quality food and improve biodiversity.

We are also helping to reduce emissions from farming through measures such as the reform of the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme and are looking at a potential pilot scheme on how support payments could encourage the uptake of methane suppressing feed products.

In February, the First Minister announced that around £14 million will be allocated to delivering the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS). FFIS will offer flexible support for capital items that can be used to improve efficiency or support nature and climate-friendly farming.

We will bring forward a draft Climate Change Plan in the coming year that will set out policies and proposals for how our agriculture sector will continue to play its part in meeting our ambitious net zero national target by 2045.

We must also recognise the risks to our farmers and crofters of being undercut by imported goods with lower production standards as a result of the previous UK Government’s post-Brexit trade deals. Scotland wants to trade based on its high regulatory standards to protect consumers and enable producers to champion Scottish provenance. Scotland’s Vision for Trade sets out five key principles that should underpin Scotland’s trading and investing relationships, which include Sustainability and Net Zero. In line with those principles, our asks of UK Government include committing to regulating in line with the precautionary principle, to prevent environmental harm and maintain high regulatory standards in food safety, animal welfare and climate. We continually urge the UK Government to reflect those priorities through all UK Free Trade Agreements and other trade negotiations.

The Scottish Government is committed to promoting active travel throughout Scotland and we are working with our partners in the Cairngorms National Park Authority and The Highland Council to progress the Aviemore to Carrbridge Non-Motorised User (ACNMU) scheme

Transport Scotland has committed to include the proposed ACNMU scheme in the A9 Dualling construction programme as part of the nearby Dalraddy to Slochd project providing all the statutory consents and the necessary land are in place for the ACNMU project.

A planning application for this 9km active travel route was submitted to The Highland Council on 31 March 2025. Progression of the ACNMU scheme, either in part or whole, can only commence if approved under the relevant statutory authorisation procedures and thereafter a timetable for delivery can be set.

NHS Boards and IJBs have a statutory duty to involve people and communities in the planning and development of care services. Revised joint guidance with COSLA, Planning with People, supports Health Boards, local authorities and IJBs in engaging with local communities on the health and social care services they provide. Planning with People sets out actions that should be taken when changes to services are being considered, and emphasises that community engagement and active participation of people is essential.