Chamber and committees

The results of the scoping exercise carried out by Scottish Natural Heritage, which was a proposal in the Land Use Strategy 2016 – 2021, were published in July 2017. We are currently considering the results, including the recommendations made, and will take a decision on their implementation in due course.

Publishing the detailed reporting framework for the Land Use Strategy has been delayed following the result of the EU referendum. The Scottish Government is looking to integrate work on future strategic policy for the environment and agriculture with the next steps for the Land Use Strategy, however we have made progress on several of the proposals and policies put forward as part of the Land Use Strategy, such as policy 5 (the publication of the Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement on 28 September 2017).

The Scottish Government is keen to encourage self and custom build housing in Scotland and to encourage alternative house building models including options like cooperative housing. However, it is the responsibility of local authorities to determine the appropriate housing required in their areas, based on the findings from their Housing Need and Demand Assessment and Local Housing Strategy policies. We encourage local authorities to consider all types of delivery models to provide a wide range of housing types to suit the needs of people of all ages. Housing is also addressed in current planning policy documents and we are committed to reviewing the National Planning Framework and Scottish Planning Policy, including their role in supporting housing development.

Scottish Government does not record farmed salmon mortalities by year but does maintain and publish the percentage of fish harvested from each year class in the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey; http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Fish-Shellfish/FHI/surveys. Mortality is included in the number of fish not harvested for human consumption, which also consists of fish which have escaped, have been culled for production reasons, have been removed for sampling purposes, statutory culls or have been selected for broodstock production.

A year class represents all smolts put to sea in any one year. The production cycle of any year class is complete within two years. The following table details the data from the 2010 year class onwards, as these fish will have contributed to mortality in 2012. The latest fin fish production survey was published in September 2017 and the most up to date information available is for the 2014 year class.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. As fire safety is a responsibility of local authorities, this information may be available by contacting local Authorities directly and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

However, I wrote to all local authorities in August seeking reassurance of fire safety across the school estate. From the detailed responses received, we are reassured that local authorities have taken all steps necessary to ensure the fire safety of their schools.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. As fire safety is a responsibility of local authorities, this information may be available by contacting local Authorities directly and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

However, I wrote to all local authorities in August seeking reassurance of fire safety across the school estate. From the detailed responses received, we are reassured that local authorities have taken all steps necessary to ensure the fire safety of their schools.

Commercial fishing for sandeel does take place within the Scottish zone, although only a small (< 5000 tonnes) monitoring fishery is permitted within the North east UK sandeel closure that was imposed in 2000, in response to advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) following concern about fishing impacts on marine predators such as seabirds. The closure covers almost all of the foraging range of sandeel reliant seabirds during their breeding season. Landings outside the closed area within Scottish waters have tended to be low in recent years with ICES only advising on a precautionary Total Catch Allowance (TAC). However, ICES did advise on a TAC in 2017, although information on landings for this year will not be available until February 2018.

Marine Scotland Science has worked with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology to consider the effect of the fishery on the biomass of sandeels taken by seabirds, fish and the fishery. However, it is unlikely that the fishery had any significant effect on breeding seabirds since the North east UK closure was put in place, and fishing also ceased at coastal sandeel grounds around Shetland in the late 2000s.

Responsibility for monitoring Performance against the Neurological Health Services Standards (HIS,2009) is a matter for NHS Boards. These standards are currently under redevelopment by HIS.

From 1st April 2018 the Health and Social Care standards will be taken into account by the care Inspectorate, healthcare Improvement Scotland and other scrutiny bodies in relation to inspections and registration of health and care services.

The Review of Targets and Indicators for Health and Social Care in Scotland report, published on 15 November 2017, identified some key principles in how to use targets and indicators across both health and social care to improve outcomes for people. A further stage of work will be undertaken aimed at ensuring a broader-based assessment of the overall quality of care whether in hospital or in the community.

The existing National Transport Strategy (NTS) was published in 2006 and set out a 20 year vision to 2026 and strategic framework setting out our priorities for transport in Scotland. A Refresh of the National Transport Strategy was undertaken and published in January 2016, keeping the overall NTS framework and updating the strategic context whilst also recommending fuller, collaborative Review of the NTS. The full Review of the NTS is underway building on the earlier work. Both the existing 2006 National Transport Strategy and on-going Review are not predicated on any one source of evidence but are informed by a range of available evidence. This includes a call for evidence issued to support the work of the Review: https://www.transport.gov.scot/consultation/national-transport-strategy-call-for-evidence/.

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 placed a duty of each Regional Transport Partnership to develop a regional transport strategy (RTS) for their area. The RTS should have regard to the needs of the region and take account of and guidance given to it by the Scottish Ministers such as the National Transport Strategy.

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 enables local authorities to prepare local transport strategies. Local transport strategies are a way in which local authorities can have regard to the statutory RTS and are able to detail how they intend to deliver on national objectives at a local level, and provide an action plan for meeting local challenges and objectives.

It is the role of the Scottish Government to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards so they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local Boards, taking into account national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment.