Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government want to ensure that changes to deer management policy are effective in achieving our climate and biodiversity aims.

We are aware that there are a range of views on changes to the female deer close seasons. That is why we undertook a full public consultation on proposals for deer legislation which included this issue. We have also ensured that animal welfare organisations have been fully consulted.

We are carefully considering all the responses, and we are in regular contact with gamekeepers and other land management stakeholders, on deer management issues. We will continue to work with them as our deer management legislation develops.

It is important to note that deer close seasons set a time period during which it is unlawful to kill a female deer, on deer welfare grounds. The timing of deer management outside these close seasons remans a decision for deer stalkers and, where appropriate, their employers.

The purpose of the Deer Working Group (DWG) was to “examine the issues over the standards of deer management in Scotland and recommend changes to help resolve these issues in ways that promote sustainable deer management”.

Therefore, the DWG was comprised of experts from both deer management and environmental backgrounds. The DWG included a number of individuals who represented those, or were themselves, directly involved in deer management. Andrew Barbour, acting Chair of the DWG from September 2018, is a farmer and forester with experience in managing deer, and Robin Callendar has had over 30 years’ experience in deer management as a land manager. Alongside DWG members, Richard Cooke then Chair of the Association for Deer Management Groups, served as an external adviser. The DWG terms of reference and member profiles are available on the Scottish Government website.

Technological advances in biometrics have brought huge benefits to police and other justice agencies in detecting, preventing and prosecuting crime.

With regard to live facial recognition technology, the Scottish Government is aware that concerns have been raised about privacy and inaccurate results for the faces of people from racialised minorities. That is why it is important that in adopting new technology, it is done in a way that secures public confidence. Any deployment of new technologies should be lawful, effective, proportionate and compliant with the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).

The use of live facial recognition technology is an operational matter for Police Scotland, under the scrutiny of the Scottish Police Authority. Police Scotland must also abide by the relevant laws; the ECHR; and the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner’s statutory code of practice.

The Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer have been developed to support primary care clinicians to identify those with symptoms suspicious of cancer and identify those who require urgent assessment by a specialist.

Referrals are closely monitored to ensure capacity and support is available for those on an Urgent Suspicion of Cancer pathway. A clinical refresh of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer is underway to help ensure the right person is on the right pathway at the right time.

The Scottish Government expects Health Boards to follow regional clinical management pathways and any guidance from the appropriate royal colleges when discussing monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance or any other conditions with patients.

We continue to work alongside the Poverty Alliance and others to support the aims of Taking Action on Rural Poverty.

Scottish Government officials are currently working in partnership with the Poverty Alliance in preparation for Challenge Poverty week, including presenting at the event launch on the 4th of October.

As part of Challenge Poverty Week, both myself and the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity will visit rural projects supported by the Scottish Government’s Community Led Local Development fund which aim to tackle Child Poverty.

In June 2024 officials also attended a Taking Action on Rural Poverty - Learning Partnership, meeting with rural poverty stakeholders, including the Poverty Alliance to explore further opportunities to address rural and island child poverty.

CMAL are currently finalising the outcome report for the 1st stage of the Procurement exercise for SVRP and expect to issue the Invitation To Tender in the coming weeks at which point they will disclose the number of expression of interest in the contract.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26978 on 7 May 2024, which details the spend and homes delivered by local authority areas through the 2022-2023 National Acquisition Programme.

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 remains committed to introducing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service in Scotland.

We have invested more than £35m to date in the delivery of a thrombectomy service in Scotland and will continue to work with our stakeholders to further develop and support delivery of an equitable service across Scotland to maximise patient access.

The Scottish government will announce more comprehensive spending plans for 2025-26 in its budget, scheduled for 4 December.

There is no maximum number. Normally all vehicles queuing are convoyed through in the first convoy cycle. Those who miss the convoy vehicle are required to wait for it to return.

The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to commission further research in relation to student housing.