Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S60-00653 on 20 January 2022 in relation to the report from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission on the use of glue traps I set out our plans to introduce a ban on the sale and use of glue traps.

While the Commission’s report found that there are public health concerns in certain high-risk situations that require effective and rapid pest control in order to reduce the spread of disease the report was also clear that the animal welfare issues connected with the use of glue traps would justify an immediate outright ban on their sale and use .

I understand there are some concerns from the pest control industry on the available alternatives to glue traps, which is why the Scottish Government has been and will continue to engage with stakeholders as this policy develops.

As part of the normal legislative process, we intend to have a full public consultation to seek views on our proposals, and this will include consideration of whether a transition period is necessary.

All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 20/01/2022 | Scottish Parliament Website .

I have not instructed ScotRail to undertake an environmental impact assessment on what is a temporary change. There is positive progress being made on pay negotiations with ASLEF in Scotland, and I am hopeful that additional services will be added in the near future.

I would note that any environmental modelling undertaken but UK government in relation to the UK-wide RMT strikes, has not to this point been shared with the Scottish Government, although I would welcome sight of any such reports.

ScotRail has not undertaken an economic impact assessment on what is a temporary timetable change. There is positive progress being made on pay negotiations with ASLEF in Scotland, and I am hopeful that additional services will be added in the near future.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many crimes were reported in connection with the use of e-scooters.

Police Scotland collect data on road traffic accidents that were a) reported to the police and b) involved someone being injured or killed. Figures for 2021 are provisional and final figures will be published in October 2022. Figures for 2022 are still being collected and verified and are therefore not currently available.

The following table shows the number and severity of casualties in 2021 who were injured in road accidents that involved an e-scooter and the location of the accident.

Mobile home owners that are eligible for inclusion in their energy supplier’s Priority Services Register can request their site owner to register with their energy supplier as having vulnerable people on the site, if the residents do not have their own account. The situation and process is likely to vary depending on the supplier. If the residents experience a difficulty with this or the site owner refuses, Advice Direct Scotland can offer advice on how to take further action.

We will shortly share further information about the process and timetable for which will enable one or more areas to be designated as a National Park. This designation will take place before the end of the current Parliament.

The Scottish Government has recently closed an initial consultation to start a national discussion about our National Parks. We will be working with NatureScot over the summer to engage further with the general public and stakeholders to help develop the evaluation framework that will be needed to determine which area or areas should be designated as National Parks. We will soon share further information about the process and timescales which will be followed to progress one or more areas to statutory designation.

The investment of around £40 million to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in 2021-22, through the Scottish Government’s Mental Health Recovery and Renewal Fund, was calculated and allocated to NHS Boards using the agreed National Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) formula. It is NHS Boards’ responsibility to ensure funding is used locally in a way that will best deliver required outcomes. Mental Health is a priority for operational planning and recovery, as such, CAMHS is a priority in the NHS Recovery Plan . Funding was split into two phases – Phase 1 was allocated as full-year effect to NHS Boards in May 2021, and Phase 2 was allocated as part-year effect to NHS Boards in September 2021. The funding was allocated as follows:

The date of March 2023 was chosen to drive progress with NHS Health Boards, reflecting the importance of reducing waiting times and meeting the standard that 90% of patients begin treatment within 18 weeks of referral, while also recognising the operational challenges that Boards have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This date was chosen as a challenging target, based on regular engagements with Boards and evidence on performance, published on a regular basis by Public Health Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland .

We are working with Boards closely and will continue to monitor their performance against the waiting times standard.

Transport Scotland currently has a planned investment in routine maintenance of £7.2m for the A75 for 2022-23.