Chamber and committees

Operational decisions are rightly a matter for Police Scotland. They use a range of existing powers under road safety and antisocial behaviour legislation to take appropriate action in response to the illegal use of off-road vehicles. This includes various initiatives which take account of local need such as local engagement, increased and targeted patrols at hot spot areas, use of off-road vehicles for pursuit where it is safe to do so. We are aware that drones have been used operationally by Police Scotland and it is their decision when they are utilised.

We continue to consider ways forward in partnership with Police Scotland and Local Authorities for tackling vehicle nuisance and related safety issues.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36274 on 17 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 Scottish Government responded to this correspondence on the 20March 2025 and will be meeting with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), virtually, on 24 April 2025. As the response was about arranging a meeting between EHRC and the Scottish Government only, it will not be published.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36274 on 17 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 Scottish Government plans to lay secondary legislation in summer 2025 to add child contact services to the list of care services that the Care Inspectorate regulates. The Care Inspectorate will develop a Quality Framework for child contact services to help ensure the best outcomes for all children using these services, including those with additional needs.

The intention is that the Care Inspectorate will also be required to notify the Equality and Human Rights Commission where a child contact service provider has, or may have, failed to comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010, and in particular any duty to make reasonable adjustments to premises to facilitate their use by disabled people.

The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 provides for a register of child welfare reporters, who can be appointed in child contact cases to obtain the child’s views or report on the child’s best interests. Once implemented, the register will help ensure reporters are skilled and trained in key areas, such as communicating with children and child development, including learning disabilities.

The Scottish Government will make further commencement regulations this year in relation to the 2020 Act, including provisions to enhance how the views of the child are heard. This was outlined to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on 11 March 2025: Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety.

The Scottish Government has also consulted on a proposed Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill. Proposals include better identification of neurodivergence within the justice system and mandatory training. The Scottish Government has committed to publishing draft provisions for this Bill.

Development consent for the Lower Thames Crossing was granted by the UK Secretary for State for Transport on the 25 March 2025. The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer noted in a speech made on the 29 January 2025, that the UK Government was exploring private finance as option to fund the project. Therefore, it is currently unclear what, if any, Barnett consequentials may arise from this project and in any case, these are not ring fenced for transport projects in Scotland.

The ongoing stage of the early development process for Clyde Metro, known as the Case for Investment, is being led by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), supported by Glasgow City Council, with Transport Scotland providing a project assurance role. This key stage, which will inform decisions around network selection, phasing and implementation is well underway and is currently anticipated to be complete by mid-2027.

This initial stage in the development process is being delivered drawing upon funding from the Glasgow City Region Deal. It is too early in the development process to determine the longer term funding of Clyde Metro, however, it is envisaged that the funding models for its implementation will be considered as part of the on-going Case for Investment work.

The Scottish Government is supporting the development of UK-wide clinical guidelines on alcohol treatment which will be published this year, and is also committed to publishing a service specification for alcohol treatment and recovery. The clinical guidelines and service specification will set out the need for early detection and prevention of alcohol-related liver disease. Implementation of early detection will build on existing pilot initiatives and services already commissioned in local areas.

The Scottish Government, at present, has no plans to review the eligibility criteria of the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme, which sets out that funding is reserved for primary private residences only.

Enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics is undertaken by local authority enforcement officers. Enforcement officers are authorised by local authorities to exercise powers in the Regulations in order to determine whether an offence is being committed. This includes the power to enter premises to investigate. The full powers are contained in Regulation 15.

Enforcement officers report cases to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, who are responsible for prosecuting the offences in the Regulations.

The Environmental Protection (Injurious Articles) (Fixed Penalty Notices and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 also make provision for a fixed penalty notice procedure in relation to offences under the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

Research into the implementation of the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 is nearing completion and will be published in the near future.

The following table provides the amount of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) consumed by the MV Glen Sannox for the period covering December 2024 until March 2025.