We asked for views on the Scottish Government’s proposed definition of ‘Gypsies and Travellers’ for the purposes of section 16B of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. This would be provided in Local Development Planning Regulations that will overall support the implementation of the future local development plan system, a system which manages the development and use of land in the long term public interest.
We asked 7 consultation questions. These sought views on our proposed definition of ‘Gypsies and Travellers’, how councils can better involve the Gypsy and Traveller communities in planning consultations and processes, and the impact this (or any) definition would have in businesses and protected characteristics (to inform the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment and Equalities Impact Assessment). We asked for responses by 15 February 2023, allowing 8 weeks for comments.
As part of this consultation, we also conducted four in-person engagement events with Travelling community members and have been considering the feedback from these events alongside the online responses.
You provided us with 41 responses to our consultation questions. These included responses from 23 organisations and 17 individuals. Respondents included local authorities, housing services, Gypsy/Traveller representative bodies, Travelling Showpeople organisations, third sector organisations and other professional bodies, as well as communities and individuals.
Respondents were generally supportive a definition of ‘Gypsies and Travellers’ to provide clarity on the Evidence Report consultation stage of the local development plan. Key recurring issues with our proposed definition included:
We have taken account of the responses which have informed the final definition to be included in Development Planning regulations, laid in Parliament on the 24th March 2023.
Independent advice was provided to the Scottish Government on aspects of education reform in Scotland in March 2022. We welcomed Professor Muir’s recommendation in relation to the creation of a shared framework for the inspection of early learning and childcare (ELC) and we committed to further consult the ELC and school aged childcare sector on the challenges raised regarding a dual inspection approach.
The consultation set out our vision for how inspection of ELC and school age childcare services will contribute to improving outcomes for children and families and the guiding principles that underpin that approach. It sought to gather views on the strengths of existing arrangements, where improvements can be made and on specific proposals to streamline and improve the inspection of ELC and school age childcare services through the introduction of a shared quality framework.
254 responses were provided to the written consultation. Additionally, 11 events recorded comments provided by 380+ attendees. Feedback was received from a wide range of respondents, including local authorities, trade unions, ELC and school aged childcare representative and membership bodes, academic organisations, the Inspectorates, and parents/carers. The largest proportion of responses came from practitioners and childcare providers themselves.
A strong desire for change was expressed with 78% of respondents in favour of the introduction of a shared framework to be used for inspection. The consultation responses also confirmed the following:
The Scottish Government has published a comprehensive response to the consultation findings. This outlines the work we will take forward in response to a number of the issues raised. The response also includes a joint statement from the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland, which confirms their commitment to working together to develop a shared framework which will be ready to implement in 2024.
We will provide updates as this work develops.
From 1 July to 7 October 2022, the Scottish Government held a consultation on a draft plan to improve and strengthen Scotland’s equality evidence base. Alongside this consultation, the Scottish Government also undertook six engagement events.
There were a total of 116 responses to the consultation, of these 29 were from individuals and 87 were from organisations, including equalities/advocacy groups, public sector and other organisations. The engagement events were attended by around 200 representatives from a range of organisations.
Overall, there was general agreement on the need for a strong equality evidence base upon which services can be designed and policy can be made. There are, however, some concerns over the robustness of much of the existing evidence due to small sample sizes, meaning that robust statistics cannot be produced for some groups from nationally representative datasets, and evidence gaps in relation to specific characteristics across a range of topics.
We commissioned a research organisation, Why Research, to carry out an independent analysis of the consultation responses and we have published the analysis report on the Scottish Government website as an annex to our new Equality Evidence Strategy (Annex C). An easy read summary of the main findings of the analysis has also been published.
We have also published the responses, where permission has been given to do this, on Citizen Space.
We have used the views communicated to us through the consultation and the events to develop Scotland’s Equality Evidence Strategy 2023-2025, including the vision, principles and actions to strengthen the equality evidence base. The strategy was published on 24 March 2023.
We sought views on the proposed river gradings for the 2023 salmon fishing season and on a regime to enhance catch and release rates to 100%, either through the use of voluntary or mandatory measures. The consultation opened on the 10 August and closed on 9 September 2022.
There were 211 responses to the consultation from individuals (77%) and organisations (23%). Nearly half of respondents (47%) supported the proposed river gradings while a third (33%) objected to them and a fifth (20%) had no specific view for or against the gradings. A few respondents (7%) indicated that they believed the proposed grade assigned to a specific river was incorrect and should be changed.
Nearly half of respondents (46%) supported a 100% catch and release policy in some form, although only a minority (18%) supported the use of mandatory measures to achieve this. Over two thirds of respondents indicated that they would like to see action taken on other pressures impacting wild salmon populations including predation (53%) and fish farms (41%), either in parallel with or instead of changes to the catch and release regime. A number of respondents indicated a range of potential impacts of a 100% catch and release regime, including deterring anglers from the sport (39%) and the economic impact on businesses that benefit from angling (26%). The majority of respondents (41%) felt that the introduction of a 100% catch and release policy, either through voluntary or mandatory measures, should be reviewed annually.
The views given on the proposed river gradings have been used to inform the process of finalising the gradings for the 2023 fishing season, which will be used in the annual amendment to The Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016.
Whilst no specific plans for the introduction of a 100% catch and release policy were laid out, this consultation sought the views of stakeholders on encouraging voluntary measures or introducing mandatory measures to achieve a 100% catch and release policy. An additional aim was to highlight how post-catch mortality can be reduced by adhering to catch and release best practice. There are no plans to change the existing approach to catch and release, however the views received will help to inform policy development in the future. Actions that contribute to further the protection and restoration of wild Atlantic salmon populations will be set out in the Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan.
We sought views on what the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Scotland should look like. The consultation opened on 29th June and closed on 9th September.
There were 495 responses to the consultation from a mix of individuals (54%) and organisations (46%). Some of the key points raised were as follows:
The majority of responses agreed with out proposed vision and definitions, and provided a range of opinions on what success for the Strategy might look like. A majority of responses also supported our proposed outcomes, although there was clear feedback that some of the draft outcomes needed to be more specific and measurable. We have clearly heard that respondents wanted to see fewer outcomes in the final Strategy.
Respondents also shared information on how they manage their own mental health and wellbeing. Many of the responses told us about some of the things that have a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of the respondents as individuals, or someone they know or support.
An independent analysis of the consultation responses was undertaken and was published on 17 February 2023. We are using the results of said consultation to inform further engagement with our stakeholders, including people with lived experience of mental health and wellbeing and practitioners. This will be used to inform the drafting of the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Delivery Plan that will be published in the Spring of 2023.
As part of the Roadworks Consultation 2022, we asked the Roadworks community, and wider public, for views on two elements within Roadworks policy, these were qualifications and Reinstatement Plans. Regarding qualifications we sought views upon the appropriateness of the current model, to inform plans for any future reform. Regarding Reinstatement Plans we sought views on timescales related to the issue of, amendment of, or update to, a Reinstatement Quality Plan by any organisation. In total, there were four questions to answer; three for Qualifications, and one for Reinstatement Quality Plans. The consultation opened on the 13 July 2022 and ran for eight weeks ending on 8 September 2022.
In total, forty one responses to the consultation were received, from utility undertakers, roads authorities, informed individuals and members of the public. Brief analysis of these responses is detailed below. If we receive additional responses after the closing date they will not feature in the analysis, but will be considered if relevant.
It is clear from the consultation that there are mixed views surrounding prescribed ranges for numbers of operatives and supervision activities. However, on the question of other types of qualifications required, it is clear that there is an appetite for a bespoke ‘inspectors’ card, which was recommended in some cases to be the existing supervisors "Streetworks Card". Furthermore, on Reinstatement Quality Plans, having initially proposed an sixty day period for submission of Reinstatement Quality Plans, strong support and evidence was given to increase this to a ninety day period.
The responses to the consultation have now been fully considered. Regarding qualifications, this will clearly require a longer piece of work to review which may not require any new legislation. It may be that there are other methods to drive consistency in this area. We look forward to working with the community and the office of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner in looking into this further. On the matter of Reinstatement Quality Plans, as a result of this consultation, we are minded to progress the necessary Scottish Statutory Instrument with a ninety calendar day period for initial Reinstatement Quality Plans.
We will now use the information to support the Roadworks policy stance and amend legislation if required.
We asked for feedback on draft updates to the Scottish Government's Home education guidance.
The consultation received 98 responses from a range of individuals and organisations.
The responses have been analysed and the Home education guidance analysis report is available on the Scottish Government website.
For your comments and input regarding proposals to extend reporting requirements to include Scottish public bodies for the publication of modern slavery statements as part of work to improve Transparency in Supply Chains.
You told us that you were principally in favour of the proposal for the requirement for reporting on TISC to be extended to public sector bodies, including broad support for the specific topics likely to be mandated within modern slavery statements. However, there were concerns raised as to the resource implications that would be associated with this requirement. Additionally, many responses queried the proposed enforcement measures and the use of Civil penalties for non-compliance.
We analysed the responses provided and summarised the key themes and feedback to feed into policy development ahead of the proposed publication of the UK Modern Slavery Bill.
We held a public consultation on improving victims' experiences of the justice system between 12 May 2022 and 19 August 2022. In the consultation we asked for views on potential reforms to empower and protect victims of crime, with particular reference to sexual offences. The proposals in the consultation considered the work of the Victims Taskforce and recommendations from Lady Dorrian’s review into improving the management of sexual offence cases.
The consultation received 69 responses. Of these, 24 were from individuals and 45 from organisations, including victim and witness support organisations, legal organisations, local authority groups, public bodies and law enforcement. There were strong levels of support across the responses for almost all of the proposals. While some proposals attracted a more neutral or mixed response than others, very few were met with a negative response.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the consultation.
We commissioned an independent research company to carry out analysis of the consultation responses and we have published the analysis report on the Scottish Government website. An easy read summary of the main findings of the analysis has also been published.
We have also published the responses, where permission has been given to do this, on Citizen Space.
We have been using the responses to the consultation to help inform the Criminal Justice Reform Bill that was announced in this year’s Programme for Government.
Envrionmental Strandards Scotland published a draft Strategic Plan for consultation on 25 May 2022 and invited responses by midnight on 17 August 2022. The consultation sought views on ESS’ proposed approach to carrying out its oversight role.
You welcomed the establishment of ESS, and broadly supported the aims and level of ambition set out in the Strategic Plan. You made suggestions to enhance or strengthen the Plan and its contents. You also sought clarification about some of the terminology used to better understand how ESS will undertake its responsibilities.
We reviewed all the comments made, and updated text, diagrams and the glossary to clarify terminology and explain our processes. We have now laid a revised Strategic Plan before the Scottish Parliament for approval. An accompanying statement gives further detail about how the Plan was revised to reflect consultation responses. See our website for more information.
We asked 181 questions over 4 themes; Rights and Ethics, Governance, Jurisdiction and Powers, Conduct and Standards, and Liability for unlawful conduct.
The consultation was developed in response to Dame Elish Angiolini’s independent review published in November 2020 on Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues in Relation to Policing which recommended improvements to policing systems and structures. The consultation reflected the principles in this review of improving fairness, transparency, accountability and proportionality to current policing systems and governance structures.
The consultation asked questions about your views on how to implement these recommendations.
You provided views on a wide range of issues including those we asked about as well as around the themes more generally. Some shared experiences and interactions with the police and gave an insight into what benefits some of the suggested changes would make in terms of public confidence in policing.
Your consultation responses will help us better understand what could be improved in the current policing landscape, its systems and governance structures in relation to police complaints and misconduct handling. These will help us plan our policy making in the future and achieve the outcomes of the Dame Elish review with the context of how those changes will support organisations and the public.
We have commissioned an independent company to analyse the responses received. Once this is complete we will publish the analysis and provide a link to it here. Where permission has been provided we will also publish the consultation responses. This will help inform our policy development as preparations for a Police Complaints and Misconduct Bill in this Parliamentary session continue.
We held a call for evidence between 6 June 2022 and 15 August 2022 to seek views on a new funding model to ensure high quality, accessible specialist services across Scotland for those experiencing any form of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
In addition to the call for evidence, the Review has undertaken extensive stakeholder engagement to obtain the views of organisations and survivors within the VAWG sector, including seldom heard groups.
The call for evidence received 475 responses. Of these, 393 responses were from individuals and 82 by organisations including third sector organisations, local authority groups and public bodies.
Respondents welcomed the introduction of a new funding model and provided a broad range of answers and evidence. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond.
We commissioned an independent research company to carry out analysis of the call for evidence responses and the analysis report was published on 31 January 2023.
We have also published the responses, where permission has been given to do this, on Citizen Space.
The analysis report, and all of the other sources of evidence that have been provided to the Review, will be considered as part of the work to develop recommendations and its final report will be submitted to Scottish Ministers by June 2023.
The Scottish Government is developing the first ever Data Strategy for Health and Social Care in Scotland. A public consultation for the Health and Social Care Data Strategy was launched on 16th May 2022 and ran until 12 August 2022. The consultation sought views on the following:
In addition to the public consultation, the Scottish Government has undertaken extensive stakeholder engagement to obtain the views of organisations within the health and care sector as well as those of seldom heard groups.
In total, 162 consultation responses were received. Individuals provided 62 responses to the consultation; the remaining 100 were from organisations. We heard a range of views on what matters most to people with regards to having greater access and control over their health and social care data. The importance of transparency and consent were a key theme in part one of the consultation. For part two, we heard views on the importance of data quality, data standards and interoperable systems to improve data sharing across organisations to improve the delivery of health and care services. Finally, for part three, we heard that people are supportive of their health and care data being used for research and innovation purposes on the basis that it will help drive medical advancements and be for public benefit.
We would encourage you to read the analysis of the consultation responses report to understand the full range of views provided.
The Scottish Government's analysis of responses to the Data Strategy for Health and Social Care was published on 10th November 2022.
The responses from the consultation analysis will be used alongside the extensive stakeholder engagement that has been undertaken to inform the development of the Data Strategy for Health and Social Care. The Data Strategy will be published in early 2023.
The public consultation sought views on proposed legislative changes to permitted development rights (PDR), as well as the Town and Country (Use Classes) (Scotland) Order 1997.
It formed part of the second phase of the extensive work programme on the review of PDR to help support:
95 responses were received, of which 72 were from groups or organisations and 23 from individual members of the public.
Craigforth, a research consultancy, were commissioned to undertake an independent analysis of all responses. Their analysis report presents the findings from the public consultation and explains the methodology that was used to analyse the responses.
Where permission to publish has been provided, the consultation responses are now available to view on line.
The responses, together with the analysis report, have informed and shaped the Scottish Ministers' approval of the Scottish Statutory Instrument, laid before the Scottish Parliament on 10 February 2023. The legislative changes are intended to come into force on 31 March 2023. The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development and Use Classes) (Scotland) Miscellaneous Amendment Order 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)
The Scottish Government is undertaking a full policy development process in order to reach a finalised position on coal extraction in Scotland, in line with statutory requirements. The first step in this process was the launch of a call for evidence which ran from 21 June to 02 August 2022, which invited stakeholders’ views on the extraction of coal in Scotland.
Stakeholders provided a range of responses to the question Considering the information presented in this call for evidence paper, and your own knowledge and experience, what are your views on the extraction of coal in Scotland?.
Having considered stakeholders’ views and the evidence received alongside wider Scottish Government energy and climate change policies, the Scottish Government's preferred policy position is no support for coal extraction in Scotland.
This preferred policy position is subject to statutory and other assessments before the policy-making process can be completed. The preferred policy position on coal extraction will be included in the impact assessments, including Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the wider Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, the draft of which is due to be published by the end of 2022. The finalised policy position will be confirmed on conclusion of this process.
The Scottish Government is transitioning to a net zero emissions Scotland for the benefit of our environment, our people, and our prosperity, with Scotland’s ambitious climate change legislation setting a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045.
This means that our contribution to climate change will end, definitively, within one generation. In line with this commitment, our Programme for Government 2021/22 states that “unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is incompatible with our climate obligations and meeting the aims of the Paris Agreement”. It is more important than ever that we move towards this goal at pace, and continue to put words into actions.
This can be clearly demonstrated in the Bute House Agreement, formalised in September 2021, which states that: “given the urgency of the climate emergency, we accept that countries around the world, including the UK, cannot continue with unlimited recovery of hydrocarbons if the aims of the Paris Agreement are to be met - we cannot ignore the concern that unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is simply incompatible with protecting the planet”.
Our emissions reduction targets are at the heart of Scottish Government policy, as outlined in our December 2020 Climate Change Plan update, our plans for a just transition, and our Energy Strategy. Our Energy Strategy, which will be refreshed during 2022, will include a comprehensive range of policy positions for related areas; this includes onshore conventional oil and gas exploration and development.
We are therefore undertaking an evidence-gathering process to establish our finalised policy position on onshore conventional oil and gas in Scotland.
Stakeholders provided a range of views which have be considered by Scottish Ministers when developing their preferred policy position of no support.
The Scottish Government is required to undertake relevant statutory and other impact assessments, including a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), prior to policy finalisation. The draft policy position of no support for onshore conventional oil and gas is included in the impact assessments of the wider Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, with the finalised policy position being confirmed on conclusion of this process.
For your views on improving the collection of education data in Scotland for improvement purposes and to assess progress towards closing the poverty-related attainment gap.
The consultation was launched on 9 May 2022, in response to both the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Audit Scotland reports which made recommendations relating to data collection and the need to ensure it reflects the ambitions of Curriculum for Excellence.
The consultation asked 10 questions around:
The consultation closed on 18 July 2022. A total of 75 responses were received from a broad range of stakeholders and individuals. You provided views on the wide range of issues presented including those we asked about as well as around the themes more generally.
The Scottish Government’s analysis of the consultation has been published as well as the consultation responses (where permission was granted).
The responses to this consultation have informed policy development in the form of:
This call for evidence asked for evidence on the size and nature of the market for, and environmental impact of, certain single-use items in Scotland.
Stakeholders provided a range of answers and evidence to the call for evidence questions.
The wide range of answers and evidence will be taken into account when developing policies to move to a more circular approach to consumption in these areas.
The Scottish Government launched its written consultation on a Health and Social
Care Strategy for Older People on 8 March asking a range of questions on the issues that mattered to older people and the organisations that support them, to assist in the development of a Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People.
Our consultation on a Health and Social Care Strategy took place March-July 2022 and as well as receiving 127 responses to the consultation we also carried out 30 online and face to face engagement events with older people and the organisations that support them.
We heard a range of views on what matters to older people, including access to GPs, accessible and affordable transport, accessible homes and preparing for palliative and end of life care.
The Scottish Government has been considering how a Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People links into a new National Care Service, and how the views that have been gathered through this consultation can best inform the development of a National Care Service.
We therefore propose to extend the timeframe for development of a Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People in order to take account of, and contribute to, the development of the NCS. This is especially important since the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill proposes making provision for the establishment of area boards to carry out Ministers’ functions in relation to social care, social work and community health.
Ministers remain committed to developing a Health and Social Care Strategy for Older People informed by this consultation analysis, once we have fully considered the implications of the National Care Service Bill.
However, in the meantime, work continues on many aspects mentioned in consultation responses.
Access to GPs
The pandemic has been the biggest shock our NHS has faced in its history. Unfortunately, COVID has necessitated the imposition of Infection Prevention Control measures in order to contain its spread, particularly in the earlier days of the pandemic prior to the vaccination programme being fully rolled out.
These Infection Prevention Control measures, which have recently been deescalated, changed the way GPs see their patients. The Scottish Government wants to see greater availability of face-to-face appointments and is working with the BMA and RCGP to ensure this happens as quickly as possible. However some precautions remain in place as COVID has not gone away. We are clear that where clinically necessary face-to-face consultations will always be available to those who need them.
Ultimately what is most important is that appointments are agreed between GP and patient through shared decision making, balancing patient choice and clinical judgement.
My Health, My Care, My Home, is a new and transformative healthcare framework that sets out a series of recommendations to improve the outcomes for people living in care homes. It has a strong focus on multidisciplinary team (MDT) working, with the person living in the care home firmly in the centre of their care and having constant support from their family, friends and the care home team.
We hope that the framework will enhance the health of people living within a care home, improving the way we assess, monitor and respond to their complex and ever-changing health and care needs through a collaborative approach involving health and care professionals, health and social care partnerships and care home providers. Evidence tells us that current health and care provision is sometimes fragmented, reactive and poorly coordinated. Teams across health and social care should pull together as one entity to improve the integration between health and social care. This can enhance the health and wellbeing of those living in care homes, and therefore, improve outcomes
The framework also aims to meet the needs of all people living in care homes by enhancing not only their health, but also their wellbeing. People who live in care homes have told us that the biggest difference to their health is the environment that they live in. Therefore the first section of the healthcare framework focuses on the importance of the nurturing environment for a person’s health and wellbeing. The importance of day-to-day meaningful activities for the health and wellbeing of those living in care homes has never been clearer.
Affordable and Accessible Transport
We are investing in the bus network to support long term growth, providing over £2.1bn for bus over the rest of this parliament. We are continuing free bus travel for older and disabled people to travel anywhere in Scotland by bus, for free. We are seeing more people travelling by bus since the pandemic and I hope to see passenger numbers increase further. The sector faces a range of challenges currently and I am convening the first meeting of the industry taskforce today to explore these issues and work together to find solutions to these.
Scottish Ministers recognise the important role community transport services play as part of the transport network in Scotland and that they play a major part in reducing isolation and increasing social inclusion.
Local authorities are provided with resources for the support of community transport services through the local government finance settlement.
The Scottish Government continues to provide grant funding to the Community Transport Association Scotland to develop the community transport sector in Scotland and to provide advice and support on issues affecting it.
Community transport plays an increasingly important role in supporting patients to access health appointments. This helps to ensure that patients across Scotland are able to access the right care, in the right place and at the right time.
Our Plugged in Communities Fund, which is funded by Transport Scotland and delivered by Energy Saving Trust, is providing £1.5m this year to help community transport organisations to make the transition to zero emission vehicles.
The Scottish Government is also helping community transport organisations to decarbonise their buses through the new Scottish Zero Emission Bus Market Transition Scheme launched in August.
Community transport organisations are also able to receive support through the Network Support Grant.
Housing
We want older and disabled people in Scotland to have choice, dignity and freedom to access suitable homes, built or adapted to enable them to participate as full and equal citizens.
Wherever possible, all new affordable homes are built to Housing for Varying Needs standards to help them achieve a degree of flexibility to meet people’s needs. In 2020-21, where information was returned, 95% of new build homes delivered by housing associations and councils met those standards.
We have flexible grant funding arrangements ensuring that specialist housing provision, identified by local authorities as a priority, can be supported.
We are introducing a Scottish Accessible Homes Standard from 2025-26 which all new homes will be expected to achieve.
We are also looking to establish an inclusive programme of retrofitting social homes to make them more accessible and providing help to older and disabled homeowners who want to move to a home that better meets their needs.
We are planning to streamline and accelerate the housing adaptations system and will develop recommendations on how best to improve the system so that it will be fit and capable of dealing with the increased demand that an ageing population will drive.
And we are working to embed a person-centred approach that aligns Housing and Health and Social Care services.
We have also issued guidance requiring local authorities to set all-tenure targets for the delivery of wheelchair accessible homes and expect them to set out this requirement in their annual Strategic Housing Investment Plans along with planned investment and delivery to date.
National Care Service
The development of the National Care Service (NCS) will bring together social work, social care and community health to strengthen health and social care integration and to create a comprehensive service that focusses on the support people need to live a full life with human rights at its heart. It will ensure fair and high quality care for everyone in Scotland. Within the NCS, services will continue to be designed and delivered locally but there will be national oversight to ensure consistency, allow for better sharing of good practice and innovation and to remove unwarranted duplication, making best use of public funds. We introduced the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill in June 2022 and we are committed to establishing a functioning NCS within the lifetime of this Parliament, by 2026.
Palliative and End of Life Care
We have appointed a Clinical Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care - Kirsty Boyd, Reader in Palliative Care, University of Edinburgh - and an expert Clinical Leadership Team to drive and support the development and delivery of the next Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy.
We will continue to work jointly and engage closely with those partners to develop a new strategy to achieve the very highest standards of care right up to the end of life, and ensure that everyone who needs it can access seamless, timely and high quality palliative care.
This will contribute to a holistic, integrated and multi-disciplinary approach which will ensure access to palliative and end of life care wherever and whenever it is needed, and which has the person and their families and carers at the centre.
We will also now be able to consider the implications and benefits arising from a new National Care Service.
For your view on proposals to revise the arrangements for fees payable by developers to the Scottish Government for the determination of applications for electricity generating stations and overhead electric lines under sections 36, 36C and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. Revisions were proposed in order to more accurately reflect the costs of the resources required to determine the applications.
We received 25 consultation responses. Some of the key matters you raised were as follows:
We published on 1 November 2022 the analysis of the responses to the consultation.
We published on 1 November 2022 the Scottish Government response to the consultation, setting out full details of the revisions which Ministers determined to implement.
The revised fees were implemented by the Electricity (Applications for Consent and Variation of Consent) (Fees) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022, which came into force on 13 December 2022.