Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is planning to require ScotRail to procure replacement trains for the current fleet, known as the High Speed Trains (HST) fleet which operate on its InterCity routes between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Inverness.

The aim for the replacement trains will be to provide a more consistent, comfortable experience for passengers on the InterCity routes.

This will ensure the reliability of Intercity routes for the long-term, will reduce emissions from Intercity services and will provide a path towards a decarbonised Intercity network.

The decision follows a process of appraisal to look at different options to replace the trains. These options take into consideration the potential transition from diesel power to electric trains, the availability of funding and affordability challenges.

A contract notice will be published in the coming weeks, with a more detailed delivery timeline available at the point of contract award.

The Convention of the Highlands and Islands is a public meeting and anyone is welcome to attend. However, only Members and invited speakers are able to contribute to discussions on the day.

While the Scottish Government is the Secretariat for the Convention, it is for the collective membership to decide where non-members should be invited to contribute to the discussion of a meeting of the Convention.

Constituency and regional MSPs for the host area will be made aware of Convention meetings in advance and in accordance with the Ministerial Code (2023).

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29098 on 3 September 2024. 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.

Regulations, such as The Equality Act 2010, make it unlawful to discriminate against a breastfeeding mother in the workplace.

The Scottish Government encourages employers to adopt a breastfeeding and return to work policy such as the NHS Workforce Breastfeeding Policy. Our Fair Work First Guidance, provides good practice examples to guide employers and, importantly, explains the benefits of fair work for workers. Good practice examples for supporting women at work include providing safe spaces for breastfeeding mothers to express milk at work.

Parent Club, our national on-line parenting platform, provides practical advice and information on rights for breastfeeding mothers on returning to work.

The First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, via a Microsoft Teams call, on Wednesday 17 July 2024. Discussion highlighted that the forecast reduction in Capital and Financial Transactions (FTs) funding is causing significant challenges for the Scottish Government’s investment in affordable housing.

The First Minister met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, via a Microsoft Teams call, on Wednesday 31 July 2024. The First Minister raised his close interest in the UK Government’s housing agenda, and reiterated the impact of the reductions to our capital and FTs.

The First Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister met in person at Bute House on Thursday 15 August 2024. The First Minister again raised the issue of reductions to financial transactions funding in relation to affordable housing. The First Minister also restated his commitment to building a constructive and collaborative relationship with the UK Government that delivers for the people of Scotland.

On 28 August, the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government met the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Glasgow and reiterated the concern of the Scottish Government over the damage that has been done to housing investment by the real terms reductions in the overall Capital Budget and the budget for Financial Transactions. The First Minister encouraged the Chancellor to rectify this in her Budget Statement on 30 October.

As one of the five main drivers of biodiversity loss and a barrier to nature restoration, the Scottish Government takes the control of invasive non-native species (INNS) seriously and we work with a range of partners to minimise their negative impacts. We recognise that more action is needed on tackling invasive non-native plants; as a key component of the Biodiversity Delivery Plan, we are developing an INNS Action Plan to better focus resources on preventing and tackling INNS where possible.

In addition the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI) is tackling a range of invasive non-native plants including giant hogweed alongside water courses in an area of rivers of 29,500km2 within northern Scotland (approximately a third of mainland Scotland). Last year phase two of the SISI was awarded over £2 million under the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund. Phase two will run for three years and will focus on continuing the work to control and eradicate invasive non-native plants in current control areas as well as expanding this programme to many new downstream catchment locations.

The Scottish Government is considering how climate change will impact the introduction and spread of INNS. INNS that pose a threat to GB are currently being assessed for addition to both the GB and Scottish lists of species of special concern. Once added to these lists these species will become subject to a range of restrictions. In 2021 the Scottish Government commissioned a horizon scanning study on INNS. This work involved analysis of pathways of spread of INNS into Scotland and is feeding into decisions on listing species. Horizon scanning will be repeated every five years and the next exercise will take place in 2026.

The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the effectiveness of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and is committed to improving its implementation through a phased approach, within the limits of devolved competence.

We are progressing key initiatives under the improvement regime of the PSED, including our approach to inclusive communications, pay gap reporting, and utilising ministerial powers under Regulation 11. Insights from commissioned international research are also being considered to inform our policies.

Our focus remains on effectively implementing and improving the current frameworks.

An Order granting SRUC taught degree awarding powers was made by the Privy Council on 29 August, and was laid in the Scottish Parliament on 2 September 2024. Once the parliamentary process is complete, the Order will come into force on 14 October 2024.

The Scottish Government is aware of the recent reported detection of Hepatitis A in North Lanarkshire.

This is being managed locally by the NHS Lanarkshire health protection team with support from Public Health Scotland and other partners. Although the Scottish Government has had no direct discussions with NHS Lanarkshire or North Lanarkshire, we are in regular contact with Public Health Scotland and will take appropriate action should the situation escalate.

A series of public health measures has already been implemented, including provision of vaccination and information to identified contacts who may be at risk.