Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government through the Scottish Freight and Logistics Advisory Group previously conducted an assessment of HGV rest stops and facilities in 2010-11.

Details of the previous study are available here: scotflag-lorry-parking-known-overnight-issues-report-1-oct-2011.pdf (transport.gov.scot)

The Scottish Government regularly engages with local authorities and the wider public sector, including through COSLA and the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN), where current opportunities and challenges within local authority climate action are frequently discussed. Scottish Government officials also engage with the Improvement Service on the capacity needs of local authorities in delivering net zero.

Through the cross-sectoral Climate and Procurement Forum and underpinning work streams, we work together with local authorities and other sectors to advance the capability of the wider public sector in addressing the Climate Emergency. For example, in partnership with Scotland Excel we reviewed demand for Climate training in 2020 and in response to this created Climate Literacy e-learning. This was launched in March 2021 and by end June 2022 had been completed by over 150 users across 20 Local Authorities in Scotland. The Climate Literacy training has been augmented by updated tools and guidance on our Sustainable Procurement tools platform ( Sustainable Procurement (sustainableprocurementtools.scot) )

We published new climate leadership guidance to public bodies, including local authorities, in October 2021. This includes specific guidance on reducing indirect Scope 3 emissions including those from procurement.

The Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into the role of local government and its partners in financing and delivering a net zero Scotland. In addition, Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) recently launched an investigation into support for local authorities in delivery of climate change targets. Scottish Government welcomes such independent scrutiny and will give the resulting reports and recommendations due consideration

Identifying the number of individuals monitored electronically in each year is not possible from the data held without significant further analysis to remove from the data, those individuals who may have received multiple orders and licences over the period.

However the number of installations onto electronic monitoring made each year (with the caveats below) is a reasonable proxy for monitored individuals.

Financial Year Apr-Mar

2016-17 3813

2017-18 4457

2018-19 4140

2019-20 4030

2020-21 2831

2021-22 3620

An installation is the action to fit a monitoring tag, irrespective of the licence or order monitored. While most electronically monitored individuals will be installed on an order or licence only once in a year, the same individual may have more than one installation in the course of a year, for example, if they have a subsequent new order or licence in that time period.

The impact of COVID-19 has been felt across all services within the justice system including within courts and prisons. During the financial year 2019-20 the number of installations of those electronically monitored (court orders and licences) was 4030, however the number then significantly dropped during the periods of COVID-19 disruption.

The numbers of those currently monitored are continuing to rise and we are now once again approaching some of the highest levels of monitoring we have seen.

The second part of the question asks for a breakdown by local authority area. This information is not currently held (although breakdown by issuing court area for example is possible). However a recent systems change from June 2022 means this breakdown by local authority area will be possible in future years.

Unlocking investment in the supply chain to build skills for zero emissions heating and energy efficiency must start with a clear demand for products and services. Our investment of at least £1.8 billion and the proposed regulatory framework for zero emissions heat and energy efficiency, as outlined in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, will strengthen demand and support an increase in jobs and skilled workers. The Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) is central in defining our ambitions to create a future workforce that can support our transition to a net zero economy and Skills Development Scotland have recently established a new Heat Decarbonisation Subgroup to work with industry to develop new targeted skills support, bolster training capacity and establish new skills pathways for entrants to the sector.

As set out in our recently published "Heat in Buildings - Quality Assurance Policy Statement", we believe in setting a high standard for installers of home energy measures and those providing advice to homeowners. We will adopt the principles of the PAS2030/35 British Standard for retrofit works funded under Scottish Government Programmes, and we are using the Microgeneration Certification Scheme as the standard for any microgeneration technologies.

Both MCS and PAS2030/2035 set requirements in terms of the core competencies and qualifications required to carry out work. We have worked extensively with the Scottish supply chain and sector skills bodies to ensure there is clarity on the minimum Scottish Qualifications required under these schemes and we have published our position in the "Energy efficiency, zero emissions and low carbon heating systems, microgeneration and heat networks - Installer Skills Matrix".

We are also currently considering how to build upon the successful projects delivered through our National Transition Training Fund which has provided over £1.3m in support for relevant zero emissions heat and energy efficiency training since October 2020. We will publish further detail on our plans in the forthcoming Heat in Buildings Supply Chain Delivery Plan.

The Zero Emission Truck Taskforce met on 4 May 2022 and 23 June 2022. The next meeting is scheduled for 25 August 2022.

Recommendation 36 of the second Strategy Transport Projects Review (STPR2) recommends a detailed national audit and review of support for lorry parks to address barriers hampering their development, consider their financial stability and develop adequate standards.

This would include consultation with the freight industry, representative bodies, local authorities, and other stakeholders to collect views on the provision of lorry parks including where and what type of facilities are required and the potential demand for alternative fuel provision zero emission vehicles.

The STPR2 final reporting is due for completion later this year and will follow the conclusion of the public consultation which closed in April. Work on recommendation 36 will commence thereafter.

Transport Scotland has engaged with CalMac and Ministers regarding routine Winter 2022-23 timetable requests and decisions have been fed back to Ferry Committees and local stakeholder groups.

The service continuity measures and alternative timetables during the Uig closure period are yet to be finalised. Transport Scotland continues to engage with CalMac and elected officials on this matter.

CalMac will publish Winter 2022-23 timetables in due course and are proactively engaging with stakeholders to keep them updated.

The Scottish Government is committed to a full rewrite of the Parole Board (Scotland) Rules 2001 and this is currently underway. On Friday 22 nd July 2022, the Scottish Government launched a public consultation ( Consultation on changes to the Parole Board (Scotland) Rules 2001 - Scottish Government - Citizen Space ) featuring a number of proposals that seek to modernise existing rules and certain procedures. These include, but are not limited to:

• a new procedure for handling non-disclosure information and appointment of a special advocate
• adding ‘refusal to disclose a victim’s body’ as a matter the Parole Board may consider
• a new procedure to allow the Parole Board to review a decision.

Following analysis of contributions to the consultation, reformed parole rules will be laid in parliament in due course.

The Scottish Government has increased local government funding by over £1 billion in 2022-23, a real terms increase of 6.3 per cent, despite a 5.2 per cent real terms reduction in the overall Scottish Budget. Local authorities are independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities. It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

The Scottish Government is committed to using public procurement to contribute towards the transition to a more resource efficient, lower carbon economy. Support and mentorship is available through the Sustainable Procurement Training Framework. To support environmentally-friendly buying options, our national frameworks are available to the wider public sector, for example our Non Domestic Energy Efficiency Frameworks support the transition to a low carbon economy across sectors.

In addition, we established the National Climate and Procurement Forum and associated work streams with representative bodies of key sectors, to provide leadership and direction to enable traction on climate change.

The Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into the role of local government and its partners in financing and delivering a net zero Scotland. In addition, Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) recently launched an investigation into support for local authorities in delivery of climate change targets. Scottish Government welcomes such independent scrutiny and will give the resulting reports and recommendations due consideration

Information about the Zero Emissions Truck Taskforce, including membership and minutes, can be found on the Transport Scotland website at: Zero Emission Truck Taskforce | Transport Scotland.