Chamber and committees

This work is progressing as planned and we intend to issue updated support materials and guidance to Integration Joint Boards later this year.

The Scottish Government has not made an analysis of savings achieved by having access to housing adaptations. However we are aware of research undertaken by others both in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK that considers the evidence for potential savings to health budgets from adaptations being made to the homes older or disabled people who need them.

Housing Statistics for Scotland details the total number and the cost of housing adaptations delivered by each local authority. Information on Scottish Government-funded housing adaptations carried out by Registered Social Landlords is provided to SPICe, as we committed to providing an annual update of information about Scottish Government-funded housing adaptations as part of our responses to S4W-28622 on 9 December 2015 and S5W-01638 on 16 August 2016.

Officials are reviewing existing legislation and guidance relating to adaptations. This work has a practical focus which will identify barriers and potential areas for development. We intend to issue revised and updated guidance and support to Integration Joint Boards later this year to help them deliver a tenure neutral, person-centred approach to adaptations for older and disabled people.

The Scottish Government launched an independently led review of its air quality strategy 'Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Future' in November 2018. The issue of domestic wood burning stoves will be considered as part of the review. The review will conclude later in 2019.

The independently led review of the air quality strategy 'Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Future' held a stakeholder workshop in January which included representatives from the wood burners industry. Domestic wood burning stoves are a specific issue being considered by one of the expert working groups which includes industry representatives, and will provide recommendations to the review. Wider public consultation on these recommendations will take place later in 2019.

The Scottish Government's measures to reduce particulate matter pollution are set out in the Government's air quality strategy 'Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Future' (CAFS). The Scottish Objectives for particulate matter are at least as stringent as WHO guideline values, and go beyond the requirements of the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive with which Scotland is required to comply.

The review, which is currently on ongoing and will conclude later in 2019, will consider this issue as part of its remit.

This investigation is being undertaken on a UK wide basis, led by Defra. The work is currently still ongoing and an update on when a final report might be published will be provided in due course.

Recorded crime data is a matter for Police Scotland.