Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-32419 on 17 December 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

There have been no recent discussions with the UK Government regarding upgrades to the A77 trunk road.

I had a productive meeting with members of the A77 Campaign Group on the 21 November 2024. Following that my officials from Transport Scotland last met with the A77 Campaign Group on 5 December 2024 as part of a regular series of meetings that they have with the group. The next meeting date has yet to finalised, however, it is likely to be in April 2025.

With respect to hosting a roundtable meeting, I intend to convene this in the near future with a focussed group of transport stakeholders from the south west, including members of the campaign group. My officials are currently making arrangements.

While our response to the Independent Review of Audiology is implemented, we continue to work with the NHS, Third Sector and private providers to identify an appropriate model of community care for any future service reform, and ensure that the voices of those with lived experience inform this work.

The Scottish Government does not hold any information relating to individual NHS Board delivery of audiology services.

The Ayrshire Growth Deal has faced significant challenges - including cost inflation, technical complexities and the COVID-19 pandemic - which have adversely affected project timelines and budgets. In addition, development of two key projects resulted in them no longer being deemed commercially viable. These challenges have largely been beyond the control of the Growth Deal,

Despite such challenges, partners across the three Ayrshire local authorities have been progressing substantive development work, including a reassessment of capital projects as part of a wider programme review aimed at accelerating progress.

Scottish Government officials continue to work closely with Deal partners to ensure projects are delivered within the remaining period of the Growth Deal and within budget.

We assess the environmental impact of farming operations at Knocknagael through the use of Biodiversity and Carbon audits.

We do not hold information on the numbers of livestock owned and managed by our farm and croft tenants or assess any environmental impact of livestock farming on a tenant by tenant basis.

The information requested is not held centrally. Work has begun to routinely collect patient level data from all three hubs.

We are exploring a new long term conditions strategy to better recognise the fact that many people living with long term conditions need the same types of support and care, regardless of their condition.

The Scottish Government is aware of the concerns of some conservation organisations regarding section 16AA of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024, where a grouse shooting licence area is determined solely by the applicant. It is considered that there is the potential for the area to be very tightly defined so that it excludes most of the area where relevant offences might take place.

NatureScot have added a condition to licences so that certain relevant offences committed anywhere on the landholding can be taken into consideration as to whether to revoke or suspend a licence.

We are considering whether any further steps need to be taken to address this issue.

The Scottish Government agrees with the comment made by NatureScot that raptor persecution undertaken in connection with grouse moor management could take place anywhere on a property, not just on the grouse moor itself.

NatureScot introduced a new condition to enable them to revoke or suspend a licence where there is evidence of raptor persecution, connected to the grouse moor but outside of the licensed area. The condition added by NatureScot is an alternative to amending the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024. However, we will monitor the situation and, if necessary, consider amending the legislation.