Chamber and committees

Sub-contracting arrangements within the Small Vessel Replacement Programme Phase One vessel contracts are ultimately determined by the main contractor and may reflect existing supply chain relationships. The wider programme of works to support the new vessel deployment and operation includes around £40 million of shore power upgrades, power connections and port improvement works. These works will be progressed across the network over the coming years to enable delivery from around summer 2027 and may present further sub-contracting opportunities.

Adult to child staff ratios are set by the Care Inspectorate as the regulatory body for the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector and as experts in assessing high quality, safe and nurturing ELC provision.

The Care Inspectorate has no plans to update the current guidance, published 2018. Therefore, the Scottish Government has made no assessment of the potential impact on the average cost of childcare provision relating to ratios.

Transport Scotland undertakes an annual assessment of the safety performance of the entire trunk road network, including the A90. Further investigations are then carried out and, where appropriate, mitigation measures are prioritised for delivery.

Whilst the Toll of Birness junction was not, itself, identified for further investigation through the 2023 annual assessment, it was agreed, following a request from the Council, to include the A90 Toll of Birness junction within an investigation being undertaken by Transport Scotland’s Operating Company for the North East, Amey.

The report is currently in draft and will be finalised in April/May 2025.

Two interactive road signs were erected in 2017 with a third interactive sign to supplement the northbound signs erected in 2021. These signs alert drivers to vehicles turning at the junction and encourage drivers to drive within the speed limit. Other work involved an additional northbound advance direction sign.

The A90 at its junction with the A952 will be programmed for resurfacing improvements in August 2025 which will see improvements to surface texture, white lining and road studs within the scheme extents.

Transport Scotland through their role as statutory consultee in the planning process continue to engage constructively around developments allocated in Aberdeenshire Council’s 2017 Local Development Plan, and the necessary mitigation measures required to offset any potential traffic impacts on the trunk road network.

The council’s Plan allocated approximately 1,200 houses within Mintlawas well as a number of smaller allocations. The Plan also allocates land for over 1,400 houses plus extensive employment in Peterhead, with a further 1,000 houses allocated in Fraserburgh, again with areas of employment land. All of these planned developments have the potential to impact on the operation of the A90(T) and A952 corridors and significantly affect the performance of the Toll of Birness junction.

At this time, through existing planning consents, Aberdeenshire Council has effectively imposed an infrastructure capacity of 200 houses across the allocated sites within Mintlaw until such a time as the Toll of Birness Junction has been upgraded.

Transport Scotland has been clear and consistent in its engagement with all parties, in that Aberdeenshire Council and/or developers will be required to fund and deliver improvements to the Toll of Birness Junction as a result of development.

You may be also be aware that Nestrans, the statutory Regional Transport Partnership (RTP) for North East Scotland, has engaged Stantec to undertake an appraisal of the A90(N) / A952 Road Corridor. This study includes identifying issues and opportunities within the transport infrastructure system and evaluating potential short to medium term road improvements on the A90 north of Ellon. The findings of this review are currently under consideration.

The Learning Disability Support Fund aims to sustain and support organisations working directly with people with learning disabilities in Scotland to build a more inclusive society, reduce inequality and provide opportunities for fulfilling lives.

Funded work will contribute to at least one of the following objectives:

• A more inclusive society
• Improved health outcomes for people with learning disabilities
• People with learning disabilities have a social network and safe relationships

Further details on the Learning Disability Support Fund can be found via the fund manager, Inspiring Scotland’s, website here Learning Disability Support Fund - Inspiring Scotland.

Three year funding was provided separately to the Scottish Assembly for the Leadership and Engagement Framework project. This was a time-limited project which came to a natural conclusion in 2024-25.

This information is not held centrally. However all recommendations are published on the website of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and are publicly available.

Under Scottish law all houses must meet a minimum standard to be considered fit for human habitation.

1.Developers of residential properties must adhere to specific fire safety regulations to ensure occupancy. Developers should consult the Building Standards Technical Handbook for comprehensive guidance on compliance. Building standards technical handbook April 2024: domestic - gov.scot.

2.All homes in Scotland are required by law to meet the minimum Tolerable Standard. Local Authority landlords and registered social landlords are required to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) Improving housing standards - Social housing - gov.scot which includes compliance with the Tolerable Standard. Private landlords are required by law to meet the Repairing Standard. The standards that private landlords are required to meet from 1 March 2024 are available online Repairing standard: statutory guidance for landlords - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

3.The Housing (Scotland) 2014 introduced a registration scheme for letting agents. Under the Letting Agent Code of Practice, the duties on letting agents depend on whether they manage repairs and maintenance directly for the landlord. If they provide that service for the landlord, they must have written procedures for the notification of any repairs and maintenance required. Repairs and maintenance must be dealt with promptly in line with the letting agent’s agreement with the landlord and the letting agent’s written procedures.

4.Contactors and site operators (dutyholders) involved in construction and renovation projects must adhere to specific fire safety regulations to ensure the safety of both workers and future occupants. Key legislative framework and guidelines include the Fire Scotland Act 2005 (for the safety of workers). Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) 2015; Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Guidance and Building Standard Technical Handbooks.

The specific requirements depend on the type of structure, but key areas include alarms, escape routes, materials, and heating systems.

The mandatory Tolerable Standard under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 do not differentiate between traditional and non-traditional housing. Detailed guidance on compliance with the tolerable standard and building regulations is available on the Scottish Government website.

Furthermore, The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) deliver a programme of Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSV) which provide people with fire safety advice for their homes. The SFRS visits are based on the person’s vulnerability and how they live, not the structure of the home.

Fire Safety laws for all homes in Scotland, including non-traditional homes, are primarily governed by:

• The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004
• The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Guidance
• The Tolerable Standard under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987

The tolerable standard is a minimum standard for all houses in Scotland including houses constructed using non-traditional construction techniques. The tolerable standard sets out the basic requirements for a safe and habitable home including standards relating to electrical and fire safety. From February 1 2022, an amendment to the statutory tolerable standard requires that all houses, regardless of tenure (or method of construction), must have satisfactory provision for detecting and giving warning of fire or suspected fire.

All new build houses, including non-traditional housing must comply with the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 which includes requirements for electrical and fire safety.

The mandatory tolerable standard and building regulations do not differentiate between traditional and non-traditional housing. Detailed guidance on compliance with the tolerable standard and building regulations is available on the Scottish Government website: Fire and smoke alarms: changes to the law - gov.scot (www.gov.scot);Fire safety guidance - gov.scot: Building standards technical handbook April 2024: domestic - gov.scot.

The mandatory Tolerable Standard under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 do not differentiate between traditional and non-traditional housing. Detailed guidance on compliance with the Tolerable Standard and Building regulations is available on the Scottish Government website.

Cancer remains a national priority, within the Scottish Government and across NHS Scotland, and I recognise that we must do more to ensure patients with cancer are treated faster.

We have invested over £40 million across NHS Scotland over the past five years to support cancer services and improve waiting times, with a focus on urology, colorectal and breast.

In NHS Grampian specifically, over £1.5 million of cancer funding has been provided to the board in 2024-25, to support delivery of diagnostics and treatment for patients referred with an urgent suspicion of cancer to reduce waiting lists.

Each territorial Health Board across Scotland has agreed performance improvement plans in place, detailing what is being done at local level to drive improvements. The Scottish Government has a sustained focus on the delivery of these plans and meet with Cancer Management Teams in all health boards across Scotland frequently, including NHS Grampian, to identify challenges, explore solutions, and share best practice.