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As set out in the Scottish Budget, the financial position for 2024-25 is extremely challenging and we continue to operate in a volatile period, with difficult decisions being made and robust spending controls in place. In light of the potential financial risks and uncertainties, we are unable to confirm the 2024-25 Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) funding position for local authorities at this current time.

Ministers have, however, authorised an initial release of PBIP funding to support projects that are well underway and at risk of stalling, to protect significant investment made to date, and to reduce the risk of losing match funding. Scottish Government officials have been working closely with councils to identify these priority projects.

We hope to be able to provide further clarity on the full PBIP allocation for 2024-25 in the autumn.

Given the nature of Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) funding, it is the responsibility of local authorities to administer and manage their respective PBIP allocations. As such, the Scottish Government does not hold that level of information on local authorities’ provisional plans for use of their PBIP funding.

We hope to be able to provide further clarity on the full PBIP allocation for 2024-25 in the autumn.

Of the 1,050 enquiries now received by the Scottish Land Matching Service (SLMS) since 2019, a total of 35 have been formally matched by the service.

In addition to these matches, the service has supported, and continues to actively support, the exploration and facilitation of a further 263 potential joint venture agreements. This engagement includes the provision of impartial advice by Land Matching Service advisers to encourage successful future matches and provides quality, impartial, future-proof advice on next steps for customers to take.

A further 537, which are largely seeking land, are on the service’s database and are routinely reviewed when opportunities arise. 215 have engaged with the service, registered interest, but ultimately decided not to pursue their enquiry with the service.

The Scottish Government does not undertake assessment of the accessibility of streets nationally.

National Performance Framework (NPF) 4 policy 14, highlights the six qualities of successful places which development proposals should demonstrate. The qualities of safety, attractiveness, connectedness and adaptability can improve the accessibility of a place to all users. NPF4 is part of the development plan, which means that planning decisions should be made in line with NPF4 policy unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Designing Streets is a policy statement that promotes the consideration of street design towards placemaking and away from the system focus upon the dominance of motor vehicles. It emphasises the need to consider accessibility and inclusive design for people over vehicular movements. It is not a standards based guidance but promotes a balanced decision making on designing for place and movement, and relates to both planning and transport policies.

NPF4 policy 13 is clear that development proposals will be supported where they have taken into account, at the earliest stages of design, the transport needs of diverse groups including users with protected characteristics to ensure the safety, ease and needs of all users.

The regulatory regime for hydrogen in Scotland is a mixture of reserved and devolved powers and we continue to routinely engage with UK Government on a range of hydrogen policy matters including the regulation of and responsibility for the decommissioning of hydrogen production sites.

To achieve our hydrogen production ambitions, we must ensure that the regulatory framework for renewable hydrogen developments supports the scale-up of hydrogen at pace, whist protecting the environment and communities.

This is why the Scottish Government is working with the Scottish Regulatory Steering Group, comprised of key regulators, to assess the regulatory requirements for the development of the hydrogen sector in Scotland. This work with UK and Scottish regulators is designed to ensure that action is taken to address any identified issues and create a clear regulatory framework for the full life cycle of hydrogen projects, including the decommissioning of assets.

Energy policy, including smart meter policy, is mostly reserved to the UK Government and telecommunications is wholly reserved.

Despite the limitations imposed by these reservations, the Scottish Government has taken the lead in addressing poor coverage by allocating its own resources to ensure Scotland's homes and businesses are not left behind.

The Scottish Government has invested over £600 million in the Reaching 100% (R100) programme – including the three R100 contracts and our R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme – which will improve access to broadband services in Aberdeen and across Scotland. This will enable Scottish energy consumers to benefit from the advantages of smart meters, helping to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.

Scottish Government officials and Ministers continue to engage frequently with their UK counterparts and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the connectivity needs of the people of Scotland are being met.

In May 2023, information on Primary Care Improvement Fund (PCIF) spend during 2023-24 was collected by Scottish Government alongside workforce numbers and access to NHS board provided services, which was published in June. Data is provided directly by Integrated Authorities and may be revised. Primary care improvement plans: implementation progress summary - March 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Table one provides a breakdown of the PCIF allocation and spend in 2023-24. Where spend is higher than allocation, Integration Authorities and Health Boards have used additional resources to support Primary Care Improvement Plan implementation. To note, for the purposes of reporting, some Integration Authority areas provide combined returns.

Table 1 - PCIF allocation and spend by Integration Authority 2023-24

Forestry and Land Scotland reduce impacts on red squirrel by scheduling operations to avoid the breeding season in areas that are thought to hold higher than average densities of red squirrels. Prior to any harvesting operation, a pre-operational survey is carried out to assess the extent of use of the felling coupe by red squirrels, and to locate squirrel dreys.

If red squirrels are identified as being present, various mitigation may be enacted, such as retaining drey trees, avoiding areas with dreys until after the breeding season, and directional felling to slowly usher adults and kits into adjacent stands. During operations machine operators are required to report any dreys felled with kits in them. No such reports have been made in 2024 or 2023 seasons.

It is impossible to know with certainty whether in fact any kits are killed each year , for example if unobserved dreys are felled, which are consequently unreported by machine operators. FLS have therefore calculated a hypothetical maximum assuming worst case scenarios in all assumptions. Based on the current felling and harvesting programme, the potential numbers for a) 2024 and b) 2025, is:

a) 903 (or 1.2% of the estimated population of kits in Scotland)

b) 876 (or 1.17% of the estimated population of kits in Scotland)

This will change as the programme is adjusted and finalised.

Only a small proportion of the theoretical deaths of squirrel kits due to forest operations would be extra mortality, as over 70% of young kits naturally die during their first winter.

As indicated in the answer to S6W- 27677, we are currently considering how the Teacher Induction Scheme can better address challenges around probationer allocations in certain geographical areas and in certain subjects. This work is under development and further updates will be provided in due course.

Whilst the Government recognises the value of prevented fatality (VPF) as a methodological approach, it is not currently routinely used in our analysis. With regards to the closure of minor injury units, it is for Health and Social Care Partnerships to plan and provide local services, in line with national policies and frameworks and as informed by best practice.