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We move to general question time. I would be grateful for concise questions and responses so that we can include as many members as possible.
Electricity Infrastructure Consenting
To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding its proposed reforms to electricity infrastructure consenting in Scotland. (S6O-04029)
I note my entry in the register of members’ interests in respect of current and proposed pylon wayleaves.
In November 2023, the previous Conservative-led UK Government agreed to review Scottish consenting in its transmission acceleration action plan, as a response to recommendations from the UK Electricity Networks Commissioner, Nick Winser. Our officials have been working closely with UK Government counterparts on that work since February 2024, albeit with a pause during the election period, to impart a better understanding of the issues that are faced by all relevant stakeholders in Scotland, from developers to communities. During that period, the two Governments have exchanged formal correspondence to acknowledge the on-going work and established clear expectations. Engagement is now progressing in collaboration with the new UK Government.
Constituents have complained that the consultation is not user friendly, with the bulk of the questions directed towards business. The period in which to make submissions was only one month and the consultation closes tomorrow. Many of my constituents believe that the Government has deliberately made it difficult in order to reduce the number of submissions from people whose communities will be destroyed by the projects. Will the minister confirm whether he has any influence to extend the submission period?
I am not quite sure whether Alexander Burnett fully appreciates that the Electricity Act 1989 is reserved, UK Government legislation and that changes to the relevant clauses will ultimately be made by the UK Government. Nonetheless, the Scottish Government has been working closely with our UK counterparts and has co-designed the consultation. I am satisfied that many organisations and communities are taking part in it, but I remind Alexander Burnett of the role of the UK Government in it, too.
The independent Climate Change Committee has forecast that, for the Scottish and UK Governments to meet net zero targets, electricity supply must be doubled to meet demand, which would mean a significant increase in electricity infrastructure projects across the country. Will the minister advise how we can, on the one hand, work with local communities and protect our natural environment, while, on the other, being a key enabler of decarbonisation and green economic growth?
Rona Mackay points to our twin aims of ensuring that we have a fair process and ensuring that we decarbonise the country. I am satisfied that we are seeking to achieve both those aims. In collaboration with officials and ministers at the UK Government end, we are seeking to ensure not only that we make new projects easier to develop but that we make the process fairer and simpler and, indeed, that we update it in the way that the process has already been updated in England.
Additional Support Needs
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that students with additional support needs receive adequate resources and tailored educational support. (S6O-04030)
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all students with a disability, a long-term medical condition or additional support needs are supported as they study in further and higher education.
The Equality Act 2010 places a specific duty on colleges and universities to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled students can access education and any related services. We have also opened up living cost support to disabled students who are studying full-time distance learning courses, who are unable to study campus-based courses because of their disability.
What progress has been made in relation to colleges and universities that builds on the measures that are currently in place to support students with additional support needs?
In 2023-24, the number of full-time higher education students with disabilities or additional support needs who were supported by disabled students allowance increased to 5,855, which represented a 5.4 per cent increase over the year. The support comes to a total of £14.1 million, which is an increase of 18.4 per cent over the year.
The data also shows that we now have a record number of new students at university with a recorded disability or an additional support need. In Scotland’s colleges, a record level of learning hours was delivered to learners with a declared disability. That represented an increase of two percentage points over the year.
Colleges and universities continue to offer a range of support directly to students with additional support needs, by implementing reasonable adjustments and providing support with exams and assessments. Of course, we and they aspire to do more.
The last time the Government consulted on a review of support for disabled students was in 2019, and since then the landscape has changed. One of the recommendations of that review was that a forum should be established to look at disability-related issues in further and higher education. Is the minister considering setting up such a forum? Will he meet me to discuss that proposal?
As the member is aware, we are committed to looking at a range of issues around student support for not only disabled students but all students.
With regard to her point about a forum, I am more than happy to meet her to discuss the issue. It is a reasonable point to make. However, I would be keen to extend the remit of any such forum, if possible, so that it could look at apprenticeships as well.
Forensic Pathologists
To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to address the reported shortage of forensic pathologists across Scotland. (S6O-04031)
There are 14 forensic pathologists in Scotland covering the services required by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in its deaths investigations, and the Crown Office confirms that there have been no significant delays to post-mortems that require a forensic specialist.
There are currently four forensic pathology training posts in Scotland, and the Crown Office is engaged in supporting the Royal College of Pathologists training programmes.
I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. I am surprised that the Lord Advocate, who is responsible for the service, is not here to answer the question.
I believe that there are now no forensic pathologists employed in the north-east, which means that agency pathologists are flown into the city of Aberdeen for a day’s work. That results in huge costs and long delays for families who are looking for answers. I have also heard of bodies being transferred to other parts of Scotland without the families’ knowledge.
How has the Scottish Government allowed this crisis in forensic pathology to happen? What will be done to tackle the inadequate training provision, to train and retain people in Scotland?
I understand the serious issues that Douglas Lumsden narrates. Pathology services in the north of Scotland were previously provided by the University of Aberdeen. However, NHS Grampian has now taken over the provision of toxicology and histopathology services in that area, and the health board is also working to establish a forensic pathology service.
In the meantime, appropriate forensic pathology coverage is being delivered by locums and other service providers in Scotland. I also point Mr Lumsden to what I said in my earlier answer about the training places that are available. If he requires any further detail, I would be happy to provide that in writing or in a further discussion in a meeting.
Last Night Out Campaign
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to the nightclub industry, in light of the Night Time Industries Association’s launch of the last night out campaign. (S6O-04032)
A vibrant, high-value and quality night-time sector is important to our economy. We will continue doing all that we can to support businesses to thrive. We are already freezing the basic property rate in 2024-25 and providing a package of reliefs worth an estimated £685 million, including the small business bonus scheme. That scheme is the most generous relief of its kind in the United Kingdom and we estimate around half of properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are eligible for 100 per cent relief in 2024-25.
The Deputy First Minister met the Night Time Industries Association on 15 November to discuss the current challenges and solutions, and that engagement will continue.
More than three UK clubs close every week and there is a danger that all UK nightclubs will close by the end of the decade. During the summer, I met business owner Donald MacLeod at one of my old haunts, the Cathouse rock club, and we spoke about the lack of support that businesses receive to allow our night-time economy to thrive. We mentioned low-emission zones, the lack of public transport, the lack of rates relief for businesses and the decline of towns, high streets and city centres.
The night-time industry is being dismantled brick by brick, so the Government should back the last night out campaign to help support significant nightclubs, such as the Catty. Will the minister save the rave?
I commend the member on her excellent taste in nightclubs. I too frequented the Cathouse, and Voodoo before that, when I was younger and had hair as long as the member’s. I very much appreciate the sincerity of the points that she makes and I know her personal commitment to the issue as convener of the cross-party group on town centres.
The Government is committed to working constructively with the night-time industry and across hospitality and leisure. Using a range of interventions to support our town and city centres is a priority for the Government, and regulatory and fiscal measures will be set out as part of our tax policy in the budget next week. I am committed to engaging with businesses and would be more than happy to meet the member, or with any other member who wants to work constructively to ensure that our night-time industries are supported.
School Absences (Medical Conditions)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its policies and collaboration with local authorities to ensure that support is provided to pupils who cannot attend school for medical reasons. (S6O-04033)
When illness leads to children and young people being absent from school for a prolonged period, section 40 of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000 places a statutory duty on education authorities to make special arrangements for pupils to receive their education elsewhere, such as at home or in hospital.
We have published guidance for local authorities that provides advice on their roles and responsibilities and those of hospitals and other services regarding children who are unable to attend school due to ill health.
I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for that update.
I have been contacted by families in East Kilbride who are concerned about the lasting impact of Covid, particularly around mental health, on children and young people, some of whom have not been able to attend school regularly.
What consideration has been given to sharing best practice across the country on integrating pupils back into school after absence due to ill health? What work is under way to support parents, guardians and teachers to put mixed-model learning into action where that would be appropriate in ensuring that young people can achieve their full potential?
The member raises an important issue. She will be aware that additional Government support was provided to local authorities during the pandemic to help young people make the transition back to formal education. The on-going effects of the pandemic remain acute in some schools.
We are considering a review and update of the guidance that I alluded to in my original answer. The member also spoke about the hugely important role of parents. We are already rolling out a new approach to support for parents across the country, and I will take the issue that she raises back to officials in order to consider what more we might be able to do on the specific issues of Covid and how to facilitate post-pandemic support.
Cross Border Connection
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the cross border connection proposals for the Scottish Borders. (S6O-04034)
The regulation of electricity networks is reserved to the United Kingdom Government. Scottish ministers have devolved responsibility for determining applications for consent under the Electricity Act 1989. Given that, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual infrastructure projects that may come forward as I may not interfere with or prejudice any decisions that may come before the Scottish ministers for determination.
In general, however, the Scottish Government recognises that the expansion of the electricity grid will play a crucial role in delivering on our energy ambitions and maximising the economic opportunities of Scotland’s abundant renewable resources.
Borders residents are inundated with energy developments, and communities now face more than 75km of pylons stretching right through the Scottish Borders. In the coming weeks, I will chair a virtual village hall meeting to give locals a chance to voice their legitimate concerns directly to Scottish Power. Will the Scottish Government stand with residents and ensure that no plans proceed against the will of local communities in the Scottish Borders?
The national planning framework makes it clear that potential impacts on communities—the member alluded to them, although, as I said, I cannot comment on the specific case—and on nature and heritage, including the cumulative effects of developments, are important considerations in the decision-making process. She will forgive me: if I read the question correctly and there was an invitation in it, the ministerial code prevents me from commenting. However, I thank her for her question.
Budget 2025-26 (Consultation)
To ask the Scottish Government what consultations it has held with businesses in advance of its 2025-26 budget. (S6O-04035)
The Scottish Government has had a wide range of engagement at ministerial and official levels to inform budget choices across all portfolios. That has included engaging with a number of business representative organisations and sector bodies, and consideration of written representations that have been received.
The Scottish National Party Government does not understand business. That is not my view, but the view of businesses across Scotland that feel the damage that has been caused by years of SNP tax rises and anti-business regulations. If we want the Scottish economy to grow, we have to support our businesses in that endeavour. My party wants to reverse the tide of rising taxes, starting with a fully costed plan to give pubs and restaurant businesses across Scotland full rates relief for one year. Will the cabinet secretary finally listen and do something positive for business in Scotland?
I do not accept Jeremy Balfour’s characterisation of that at all, because a number of measures in the current budget already benefit businesses and properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, including the freeze of the basic property rate and the most generous small business bonus relief in the United Kingdom. We estimate that around half of properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will be eligible for 100 per cent relief in 2024-25. Decisions on non-domestic rates and reliefs for the 2025-26 budget will be considered in the context of the budget announcement next Wednesday.
United Kingdom Budget (Taxes)
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on Scotland’s finances, how much it estimates will be raised in increased taxes in Scotland in 2025-26 as a result of the UK autumn budget. (S6O-04036)
Scotland faces more than £2 billion in higher taxes next year as a result of the UK Government’s autumn budget, which is largely driven by higher employer national insurance contributions. The impact of the employer national insurance contribution increases in Scotland is estimated to be around £750 million for the public sector and the wider sectors that are contracted to provide and support public services, such as general practitioners, social care providers and early learning and childcare providers. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations estimates that the third sector faces costs of around £75 million. The remainder of the employer national insurance contributions increase will be borne by businesses across Scotland and will pose a serious challenge to many organisations and businesses.
Before we move to Mr Kidd’s supplementary question, I note that a number of conversations are going on across the chamber. I would be grateful if those could end.
As the cabinet secretary said, a significant proportion of the higher taxes that we are talking about come down to Labour’s decision to increase national insurance contributions. It is of deep concern that the UK Government now appears to be briefing that it will not cover the full cost of the national insurance increase to Scotland’s public sector, which could cost our public services hundreds of millions of pounds and who knows how many jobs. Can the cabinet secretary provide any update regarding what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the impact that that short-sighted Labour decision could have on our public services?
If the amounts that were reported this week are all that is provided, that will mean that the chancellor will short-change services that the public depend on by more than £400 million. That is a direct impact on GPs, social care, colleges, early learning and childcare, to name just a few. The UK Labour Government still has time to fix that, by confirming that the full cost to the delivery of public services of its national insurance increase will be reimbursed. We will pursue the UK Labour Government rigorously on that point.
That concludes general question time.
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First Minister’s Question Time