Chamber and committees

In our Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan we committed to considering and addressing the causes of mental health inequality at a structural and individual level, particularly the impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of minority ethnic groups. We have established a Mental Health Equality and Human Rights Stakeholder Forum, with representation from organisations representing Race equality, to provide advice on the implementation of the Plan and wider equalities work within mental health policy. The Forum first met in February and we continue to consult with the group as we implement the Plan.

We recognise that there is a need to improve data collection to help us understand any barriers faced by people from minority ethnic communities accessing mental health support, as has been recommended by the Expert Reference Group on Covid and Ethnicity and the Mental Welfare Commission in its recent publication on Racial Inequality and Mental Health in Scotland.

As part of the Scottish Government’s Equality Data Improvement Programme, government analysts are assessing evidence, including on ethnicity/race, across the health and social care portfolio and are committed to developing an action plan to improve equality data. Scoping of requirements for initial research on mental health and ethnicity will take place over the coming months.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally, as local authorities and integration authorities have legal duties to provide carer support under the Carers Act. In practice they commission third sector organisations, including carer centres, to provide much of that support on their behalf. The 2020-21 budget contained an additional £11.6 million and the 2021-22 budget a further increase of £28.5 million in the local government settlement for Carers Act implementation. Added to similar (baselined) increases in previous years since the Act came into force in April 2018, this brings the total investment in the Carers Act for 2021-22 to £68 million per year. It is for local authorities and integration authorities to decide how to use the funding to meet their duties under the Carers Act, but it is expected that this will include providing additional funding to carer centres and other organisations commissioned to expand carer support.

The previous Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport wrote to local authorities in March 2021 to highlight the importance of using this additional funding to expand carer support: www.gov.scot/publications/carers-act-finance-2021-2022-letter

Alongside funding for the Carers Act, the Scottish Government also funds the Time to Live scheme, administered by Shared Care Scotland, to enable local carer organisations to provide small grants for carers to spend on short breaks or something that gives them a break from caring. In recent years, £490,000 per year has been allocated to this scheme but in response to the pandemic, the Scottish Government put an additional £910,000 into the scheme in 2020-21 and has committed a further £400,000 in 2021-22.

In April 2020, we established a £500,000 fund to help local carer organisations transition to home working, so they could continue to provide advice and emotional support remotely, such as telephone counselling and online sessions.

In March 2021 the Scottish Government also provided over £24,000 of funding to 28 local carer organisations, who requested assistance with the cost of informing carers about how to access priority Covid-19 vaccinations.

While there is no mandatory requirement for public body senior officers to take specific carbon mitigation training, in recognition of the value of climate literacy the Scottish Government has supported the Royal Scottish Geographic Society to develop a Climate Solutions Qualification, written with University of Stirling’s Management School, University of Edinburgh’s Centre for carbon innovation and the Institute of Directors. This course is designed to increase climate literacy and climate action throughout public and private sector leadership.

The Scottish Government has supported the delivery of 100 places on the course to leaders across the public and private sectors, equipping them with a vital understanding of key issues related to addressing the climate emergency. In total, 400 leaders from business and the public sector have now completed the full online qualification, and 60,000 people have subscribed to a shorter 90-minute version.

International travel restrictions are important in limiting the importation of further cases of the virus, in particular new variants, which could undermine the rollout of our vaccine programme. Exemptions to self-isolation requirements have been granted for seafarers returning directly to Scotland from red or amber list countries outside of the UK. Seafarers who are repatriating in Scotland are also exempt from isolation and the financial pressure that isolation incurs. This exemption does not apply to seafarers returning to Scotland for a period of leave or any other non-work-related circumstance. Offshore workers arriving from amber list countries to work on the UK continental shelf are also exempt from isolation requirements. Where workers are required to travel internationally for business reasons, employers are encouraged to consider how they support their employees to comply with restrictions on their return to Scotland.

The offshore wind sector has a vital role to play in decarbonising our energy system and ensuring we become a net-zero economy by 2045. With a pipeline of new projects set to be provided by the first cycle of ScotWind leasing, the Scottish Government committed to setting out a Strategic Investment Assessment (SIA) for Offshore Wind within our first 100 Days of Government and this was published on 20 August. The findings contained within the report by Ironside Farrar were essential in assessing current and future marshalling and assembly capacity in Scotland’s ports and form a key element of the SIA findings and recommendations. Both the SIA and the Ironside Farrar report set out a clear path of the steps we must take to seize the economic opportunity offshore wind supply chain presents for Scotland. The Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC) co-chaired by Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise and Brian McFarlane of SSE, will be responsible for taking forward delivery of the recommendations and actions from the SIA which includes the findings from the Ironside Farrar report.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02895 on 23 September 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

In addition to the meetings I had with Colleges Scotland and Universities Scotland soon after becoming Minister, the Scottish Government has engaged extensively with further and higher education institutions, trade unions representing members in these sectors – including the Education Institute of Scotland, the University and College Union Scotland, Unite, and Unison – and the National Union of Students through the Covid Recovery Group, which I Chair. The minutes of the Covid Recovery Group are available on the Scottish Government website at this link: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advanced Learning Recovery Group - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

This group has worked collaboratively to develop the Beyond Level 0 guidance, which includes guidance on face coverings, to help support students, staff and institutions prepare for the academic year. This guidance was published on 15 July, and is subject to periodic review to account for developments relating to alleviating the harms of the virus, and the latest expert and legal advice as that evolves.

It is consistent with, and where necessary, builds upon, the measures identified within our Strategic Framework and put in place for broader society.

Outwith the Covid Recovery Group, I have met individually with all the Trade Unions and the principals of all colleges and universities since taking up post as Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training. Our Colleges and Universities are at the heart of our recovery and I am committed to working in partnership with Colleges, Universities and Trade Unions to achieve this.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02895 on 23 September 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Yes, this remains Scottish Government position. We strongly discourage trade with all illegal settlements, including those in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.