Chamber and committees

Paragraphs 77 and 78 of the NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy 2022-2026 outline adaptation requirements for NHS Scotland Health Boards. In particular paragraph 77 requires that Health Boards will prepare and implement climate change adaptations plan to ensure resilience of service under changing climate conditions.

The Material Flow Accounts model is being reworked so that its new trade data will be aligned with EU material flow accounting practices. Zero Waste Scotland is also exploring the scope for mapping material flows to economic sectors.

As a result of the UK’s departure from the EU, the Material Flow Account model can no longer source its trade data from Eurostat and the model needs to be significantly reworked as its new trade data will not be in alignment with EU material flow accounting practices. Zero Waste Scotland has therefore decided to make these methodological changes before reporting results to ensure clear communication of Scotland’s current material consumption.

Zero Waste Scotland will confirm a publication date once the review is complete.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23191 on 7 December 2023. 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

Information on the location, damage and costs caused by individual flood incidents is not held by the Scottish Government but detailed information may be held by local authorities, emergency responders and the insurance industry.

SEPA collect information on incidents of flooding from local authorities and also from members of the public through its Report–a–flood tool. Verified records are used to improve flood mapping and inform the National Flood Risk Assessment.

Dundee City Council published its audited 2021-22 annual accounts on Monday, 7 November 2022. The accounts are available for inspection on its website:

Dundee City Council Audited Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 | Dundee City Council

Developing a net zero or decarbonisation plan can help businesses to understand how they can change their practices to reduce their carbon emissions and the benefits they can gain from doing so. The Enterprise Agencies provide a range of support to help businesses develop net zero plans and to transition to net zero. Since 1 November 2022, Scottish Enterprise grant funding has been provided on the condition that the recipient business either has a net zero action plan in place, or commits to developing one within twelve months of accepting the grant. Scottish Enterprise retains a record of those organisations which have a net zero plan in place.

The following table shows capital expenditure per head of population for the 32 local authorities shown.

In any given year, capital expenditure per person varies substantially between local authority areas. This will in part reflect the different priorities of local authorities. However it also reflects differences in the timing of capital projects. Expenditure on capital projects can be highly variable as some projects can be high-value and infrequent, and expenditure per head in local authority areas will move, possibly substantially, from year to year as projects begin or wind down.

Capital expenditure information is excluded from the table for Valuation Joint Boards, Tay Road Bridge and Transport Authorities (HITRANS, NESTRANS, SESTRAN, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), SWESTRANS, TACTRAN and ZetTrans).

See Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics ( Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics 2021-22 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ) for more information.

Capital Expenditure (£) per head of population by Local Authority, 2011-12 to 2021-22

Sources:

LFR CR & LFR CR Final. Various Years.

NRS Population Estimates Time Series Data.

The Scottish Government has not explored potential applications for artificial intelligence (AI) specifically focused on the development and delivery of services for the Armed Forces and veterans community. However, Scotland’s AI Strategy , published in 2021, set out a clear vision for Scotland to become a leader in the development and use of trustworthy, ethical and inclusive AI and to do this in a way which offers benefits across all Scottish communities.

The Strategy was written with a desire to look behind the technology and to consider the role and impact which AI has on our people. We want the public to be assured that the products, services and decisions enabled by AI are safe and secure and protect their rights. It is important that we ensure that Scotland is well prepared to maximise the potential economic and social benefits of AI, but will do this in a way which protects and benefits our citizens.

As part of the development of the Deposit Return Scheme, Zero Waste Scotland has undertaken various pieces of work for the Scottish Government. This includes impact assessments, including the Business Regulatory Impact Assessment, and managing the return point operator exemption process.

Zero Waste Scotland did not receive specific payment for performing these functions as they receive funding through annual grant awards from the Scottish Government’s Zero Waste budget.

The Scottish Government also used independent third party contractors to undertake services associated with consultation, publication of regulations and associated documents, evaluations, independent reviews and assurance. The total paid for these services was £224,956.05:

• £54,331.80 in 2018-19
• £30,758.37 in 2019-20
• £9,614.00 in 2020-21
• £88,307.64 in 2021-22
• £15,647.50 in 2022-23
• £26,296.74 in 2023-24

Planning applications are determined by planning authorities locally in the first instance and are not recorded centrally. The information requested is not held centrally.