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The Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS) was introduced in in 2012-13 in recognition of the fact that the Scottish Government guarantees the combined General Revenue Grant (GRG) and distributable Non-Domestic Rates Income (NDRI) funding thereby reducing the incentive for local authorities to try and maximise their NDRI. The BRIS is focussed on incentivising local authorities to maximise their existing NDRI and also to grow their local business tax base. This is achieved by the Scottish Government setting annual locally based targets. Any local authorities that exceed their annual target retain half the extra income achieved from growth in their tax base until the next NDR revaluation assuming they maintain the extra income in the subsequent years. The amounts to be retained are calculated from local authorities’ audited annual non domestic rates returns. The information requested is set out in the following table.

Due to the impact of COVID-19 on NDRI as a consequence of the enhanced relief package, Scottish Ministers took the decision to suspend the scheme for both 2020-21 and 2021-22.

No, I attended the Astley Ainslie Hospital on 25 August to visit NHS Lothian’s Mental health After Covid Hospitalisation (MACH) service. During the visit, I met with staff from the MACH team, service users who have been involved in group therapy delivered by MACH, and members of the MACH National Specialist Advisory Group.

The Scottish Government has supported the development of the Scotland Loves Local (SLL) gift card scheme as part of the SLL programme aimed primarily at economic stimulus and building community wealth. The card can be pre-loaded with funds for rewards and gifts, including for use for retail, hospitality, transport, culture and leisure.

In February, we launched the £80 million Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery (LACER) fund which empowers councils to consider the needs of local businesses, communities and households and to target support to maximise economic recovery in their areas. The dual purpose approach of economic stimulus and support for low income households was first pioneered in late 2021 by East Ayrshire Council who chose to use their own funding to provide £20 and then £50 SLL Gift cards to low income households.

Some local authorities chose to use the existing SLL gift card scheme as a mechanism to deliver the dual purpose of support to low income households and local business. To date, over £12m of funding has been committed for the SLL cards targeted at low income households via the LACER. This includes Glasgow £8.9m, Aberdeen £1.1m, Argyll & Bute £800,000 South Ayrshire £500,000 East Renfrewshire £450,000 with other local authorities’ still to be confirmed.

The consequentials form part of the savings package of over £500 million set out to the Finance and Public Administration Committee on September 7 th . As stated in the letter, savings have been utilised to meet increased costs as a result of inflationary pressures, increase help for those hit hardest by the cost of living crisis and to fund enhanced pay settlements.

No, I attended the Astley Ainslie Hospital on 25 August to visit NHS Lothian’s Mental health After Covid Hospitalisation (MACH) service. During the visit, I met with staff from the MACH team, service users who have been involved in group therapy delivered by MACH, and members of the MACH National Specialist Advisory Group.

The publication of the analysis report is still under consideration however is expected to be published in due course. My officials in Transport Scotland will keep the member updated of any progress.

Fixed Penalty Notices are a matter for Police Scotland.

You may be referring to Penalty Charge Notices, which were discussed within the Penalty Charge Notice for Parking Enforcement Consultation. The analysis report of this consultation is due to be published within the next few weeks.

As of 30th June 2022, the number of completed thrombectomies across the three centres are:

West of Scotland: 22

North of Scotland: 41

East of Scotland: 36

Through the Thrombectomy Advisory Group (TAG), work is currently underway to establish the optimal approach to increasing the out-of-hours availability of thrombectomies, the resources required to do so and the appropriate timescales for safely increasing access.

The Scottish Government continues to work with stakeholders to better understand what resources will be required for the development of a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service.

We estimate that a fully functioning 24/7, Scotland-wide thrombectomy service could deliver around 800 thrombectomies per year.

Through the Thrombectomy Advisory Group (TAG), work is currently underway to establish the optimal approach to increasing the out-of-hours availability of thrombectomies, the resources required to do so and the appropriate timescales for safely increasing capacity.

As the thrombectomy service develops we will continue to work closely with NHS colleagues and stakeholders to consider how to improve the service to ensure that safe and high quality interventions are provided to patients.