Chamber and committees

Due to the continued importance of the UK Government Block Grant in determining the full package of resources available to the Scottish Government, the Scottish Government only has resource DEL funding allocations for the period covered by the UK Spending Review period. The current UK Spending Review period ends in 2019-20. As a consequence there are no current plans to provide the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service with a three year funding cycle.

Details on the number of firefighters, appliances and fire stations are included in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Fire Safety and Organisational Statistics and is published on its public website.

http://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/fire-and-rescue-statistics.aspx

The future numbers of fire fighters, appliances and fire stations is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

'Intersex' and 'differences of sexual development' both refer to variations in the chromosomal, genital or other physical sexual characteristics that people are born with. These may differ from the conventional ideas about male or female bodies.

The Scottish Government considers these terms to be synonymous, and we recognise that people will describe their variation – and themselves – in different ways.

Scottish Ministers have no direct role in the support of children and young people with differences of sexual development. The medical treatment or support of children, adolescents and adults with differences of sexual development is an operational matter for NHS Scotland. NHS National Services Scotland facilitate a national managed clinical network of healthcare professionals specialising in differences of sex development, and there are several specialist multi-disciplinary clinics across Scotland. The network aims to ensure equity of high quality care is provided across Scotland.

My answer to S5W-12802 on 29 November 2017, explains that we will shortly publish a consultation seeking views about the actions needed to address the issues experienced by intersex people/people with differences of sexual development and their families. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

We recognise that people who have a difference of sexual development may not identify with the term 'intersex'.

My answer to S5W-12802 on 29 November 2017 explains that the Scottish Government will publish a consultation seeking views about the actions needed to address the issues experienced by intersex people/people with differences of sexual development and their families. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government has not provided any direct financial support to organisations that support intersex people/people with differences of sexual development.

In 2014, the Scottish Government added intersex (I) to its sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBT) equality approach. In each of the years 2015-16, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018, funding of £45,000 per annum has been allocated to the Equality Network for their intersex equality project. Rather than providing direct support to intersex people/people with differences of sexual development, this funding supports national work to facilitate engagement between intersex people, equality organisations, the NHS and other service providers to help inform and develop a shared understanding of intersex equality, rights and inclusion priorities as well as supporting intersex people to engage in equality policy and good practice development.

In the Fairer Scotland Action Plan, we committed to reforming gender recognition law so it is in line with international best practice for people who are transgender or intersex.

Intersex people/people with differences of sexual development face issues that are distinct from those experienced by transgender people, and those issues go beyond legal gender recognition. For those reasons, we have decided that we should consult separately on these issues. We expect to publish a consultation shortly seeking views about the actions needed to address the issues experienced by intersex people, people with differences of sexual development and their families.

Over the past 6 years the Scottish Government has grant funded all 32 Local Authorities a total of nearly £10 million to install electric vehicle charge points across the country. In addition to monetary support, we also offer help and advice on the charge point installation process to ensure that all local authorities continue to develop the ChargePlace Scotland network of now over 700 public charge points. We will continue to work with all local authorities to strengthen this network, ensuring that drivers have confidence in electric car charging, irrespective of location. Local authorities currently have the power to fund and install their own charging facilities which the Scottish Government would encourage and would continue to offer guidance and support on this process.

As set out in September’s Programme for Government announcement, we plan to expand our electric charging infrastructure between now and 2022. This is one of a number of actions to meet the target to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032. We have already made significant progress in creating “ChargePlace Scotland” (CPS), the public EV charging network which is available to all drivers included those who live in tenements or do not have private driveways. Over the coming months we will set out future plans for the CPS network, including the development of approaches to charging for people who live in tenement properties, or do not have private driveways. We are also supporting the introduction of charging hubs including through the European supported Low Carbon Travel and Transport Hubs programme.

In ChargePlace Scotland (CPS) (www.chargeplacescotland.org), we already have one of the most comprehensive EV networks in Europe, with over 700 public charge points, including over 175 rapid chargers. Since 2012 the Scottish Government has invested approximately £15 million in the development of this network. Grant funding has been provided to all 32 Scottish local authorities to install charge points in town centres and in public car parks. Furthermore, the Energy Saving Trust (EST) administrate grant funding for the provision of charge points on non-local authority land such as local businesses, commercial operators and local attractions. The EST also manage funding for domestic charge points.