It is proposed that the carbon capture project at Peterhead Power Station would connect into the CCS infrastructure being developed by the Acorn Project and the wider Scottish Cluster. This would see its emissions transported through shared pipelines and safely stored under the North Sea.

Timescales for the legislative process are set out in the Scottish Parliament’s Standing Orders (for example in relation to Scottish Statutory Instruments) or are determined by Parliament on the advice of the Parliamentary Bureau (for example in relation to target dates for the completion of stages of Bills).

When the Scottish Government contributes its perspective to timetabling discussions it seeks to balance the need to make progress in delivering its legislative programme with the need for Parliament to be able to appropriately scrutinise that legislation, whilst also recognising the role of parliamentary authorities and the time they need in supporting members ahead of amending stages of Bills.

There is no register of people in Scotland qualified to draft legislation, neither is there a defined category of person qualified to provide these services. Therefore, the Scottish Government can only answer this question in relation to its own drafters.

The Parliamentary Counsel Office drafts all Scottish Government Bills. The Scottish Government currently has 23 parliamentary counsel (21.5 FTE). All parliamentary counsel are qualified lawyers. There are no additional special qualifications needed to be appointed as parliamentary counsel but the Scottish Government does invest heavily in training counsel in the specialist skills needed to draft primary legislation.

Lawyers within the Scottish Government Legal Directorate (SGLD) draft most Scottish Government secondary legislation, including Scottish Statutory Instruments. As of April 2024 there were 192 qualified solicitors in SGLD who may be asked to draft legislation as part of their duties.

We are committed to help deliver drug checking facilities across Scotland and are making progress to establish this service in three pilot areas (Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow), alongside a national hub which will be able to provide additional analysis of samples.

We have highlighted our desire to introduce these facilities to the Home Office as any activity which involves the possession of controlled drugs would require a Home Office licence. As a result, the Home Office have provided a set of criteria to assist in the completion of these licence applications and which they would expect any prospective drug checking facility to adhere to. That information has been shared with those pilot areas and we continue to provide them with support.

However, these criteria make clear that such a license would only be granted for a facility attached to an existing drug treatment service, and that it be specifically targeted at those with problem substance use. Furthermore, UK Ministers have been clear in their opposition to ‘front of house’ drug checking, as might be found in festivals and other venues, and so would not grant a license for such a service.

We welcome interest from further cities or organisations who would wish to implement this harm reduction measure in alternative venues, including music festivals. We would be willing to work with them, and partners such as Police Scotland, to explore what might be possible in Scotland.

The 2023-24 Programme for Government outlined our commitment to develop legislative proposals and other actions to support Community Wealth Building across Scotland. In 2023, we held a consultation that sought views on the changes and actions required to advance the approach. An independent analysis report of the consultation was published in October 2023.

We are undertaking detailed analysis of respondents’ feedback in relation to the proposal for a duty to advance Community Wealth Building and examining the feasibility of the proposals for other areas of legislative change that were submitted through the consultation exercise.

All NHS Boards have been briefed on the current situation and the NHS Cyber Security Centre of Excellence will continue to support Boards to be alert and respond to potential threats.

This is in addition to the routine work that the Scottish Government undertakes to support Health Boards in their cyber security through ensuring compliance with the Network and Information System Regulations.

As set out in S6T-01869 on 19 March 2024, which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament , colleagues will appreciate that this incident is the subject of a live Police investigation. As a result I am limited in the detail I can share.

However, I want to assure the member that the Scottish Government continues to fully support NHS Dumfries and Galloway as they respond to the cyber-attack.

While I understand this news will have been alarming for both patients and staff, I can assure Parliament that the Board responded swiftly and in line with established protocol. I have personally spoken to the Chief Executive of Dumfries and Galloway and I am assured that my officials are fully supporting Dumfries and Galloway as part of a multi-agency approach.

In addition to this, I can confirm that other NHS Health Boards, at the Governments request, have been mobilised to provide technical support to Dumfries and Galloway.

Scottish Government officials have been meeting regularly with the UK Government and the other devolved nations to discuss and share plans around the potential impact of synthetic opioids. These meetings are now occurring on a monthly basis. This issue has also been raised on a number of occasions at a Ministerial level, including at the recent British Irish Council Ministerial meeting in January and the UK Drugs Ministerial meeting which took place in November.

The early warning system using wastewater analysis and overdose reports will provide vital information in terms of changes in the drug supply and in identifying changes in use in different locations. Scottish Water are involved with this work and we will get the data on a quarterly basis and this will feed into our surveillance plans.

It is vital that we are able to share surveillance information, intelligence and details on changes in drug trends between the different administrations, particularly as the illegal drug supply is not impacted by borders.

The Scottish Government welcomes the report by the Environmental Standards Scotland published in February 2024. As outlined in their report, the previous 2018 Climate Change Plan received recommendations from committees of the Scottish Parliament and the Climate Change Committee. The Scottish Government responded to these recommendations in March 2021, accepting 66 of the Climate Change Committee’s recommendations, with a commitment to delivering many of these through the practical implementation of the Climate Change Plan update, with the next Climate Change Plan also identified as the mechanism to address any other recommendations.

This remains the mechanism and, as such, Scotland’s next Climate Change Plan will set out our approach to delivering on Scotland’s net zero ambitions up to 2040 and provide information on the costs and benefits of all policies contained within the Plan. Work is ongoing to ensure the next Climate Change Plan provides a credible and robust pathway to deliver Scotland’s ambitions and the recommendations outlined by ESS in their report are being considered as part of that process. We will, of course, consult widely on the new Plan, including with ESS.

The National Public Energy Agency – Heat and Energy Efficiency Scotland (HEES) – has been operating in virtual form in-house within the Directorate for Energy and Climate Change since October 2022. The resources allocated to the Agency are integrated into the overall Heat in Buildings (HiBs) revenue allocation, amounting to £40.1 million for 2023-24 and £37.8 million for 2024-25. This includes managing and overseeing the operation of our delivery schemes, which provide advice and financial support for households and non-domestic property owners as well as capital and pre-capital funding for heat networks, social housing, and public and private sector buildings.

The virtual agency continues to build its presence and develop its role in leading and co-ordinating project development and delivery. For example, the virtual agency’s Heat Network Support Unit (HNSU) offers a suite of services, including feasibility and business case development support. We recently announced the expansion of the HNSU's role to assist Local Authorities in executing their local heat and energy efficiency strategies (LHEES) heat network related actions and developing strategic approaches for district heating development.

The virtual agency is developing a programme of public awareness, education, and participation around clean heat and energy efficiency, as set out in our Public Engagement Strategy . This will build on our past successful marketing and engagement activity.

We continue to consider next steps with regards the creation of a new, standalone body and will provide a detailed update to the NZET Committee in due course.

The education and skills system is critical to the delivery of a just transition and the further education sector is actively supporting individuals to gain the skills and knowledge they need to participate in the green economy.

Our forthcoming Just Transition Plans will set out where the Scottish Government, partners in the private sector and educational providers can further support this ambition.

Additionally, the Scottish Funding Council’s Net Zero and Sustainability Framework for Action sets out the long-term plan to support the sector transition to net zero.