Chamber and committees

To raise awareness of the new Fire and Smoke Alarm regulations coming into force in February 2022, the Scottish Government’s extensive marketing campaign began on 19 August with a TV advert supported by ongoing radio and digital coverage.

Information leaflets are also available in libraries throughout the country. The leaflet provides information about the types of alarms such as battery operated and mains wired which can be used and the necessary kite marks they must carry in order to meet the legislation requirements. A factsheet is also available on the Scottish Government website - https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/ . Our information leaflets - it explains that mains wired alarms should be installed by a qualified electrician and that battery operated alarms can be installed by the homeowner.

Home owners are responsible for the costs of on-going work needed to protect and preserve their own property, which includes the costs for the fire alarms to meet the new standard. We have provided £0.5 million additional funding for Care and Repair Scotland to provide help installing alarms for older and disabled homeowners on low incomes. We have also provided £1 million to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to provide alarms for owners who are considered most vulnerable to the risk of fire. Local authorities also have broad discretionary powers to provide advice and support to owners.

Following the marketing campaign, and as the fitting of the new alarms in people’s homes progresses ahead of the standard coming into force, the Scottish Government will be able to provide an update on assistance provided to homeowners.

The Scottish Government has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that as many people as possible know about the new fire and smoke alarm regulations ahead of the February 2022 implementation date.

The Scottish Government has made clear its commitment to maintain or exceed EU standards, including air quality limit values, following the UK's departure from the European Union (EU). This commitment includes ensuring that EU environmental principles continue to sit at the heart of environmental policy and law in Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01952 on 16 August 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

All air quality limit and target values that apply under the Ambient Air Quality Directive are currently being met in Scotland, other than nitrogen dioxide. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02787 on 23 September 2021 for information on compliance with the nitrogen dioxide limit value.

Domestic air quality objectives set under the Environment Act 1995 and associated regulations are the responsibility of local authorities.

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 .

Both organisations already deliver a range of activity, such as Creative Scotland’s delivery of the Youth Music Initiative. The action in the Culture Strategy “Work with Creative Scotland and Education Scotland to help improve cultural experiences for learners of all ages” is driving a programme of joint work between the two organisations.

Education Scotland and Creative Scotland have been working closely together to update their approach to joint working in response to COVID-19, and to implement commitments against two existing frameworks: Scotland’s refreshed Creative Learning Plan and the Culture Strategy for Scotland. The two organisations have jointly developed a new Strategic Agreement which sets out five areas of focus for joint working over the next 3 years:

• Learners’ mental health and wellbeing is improved through creativity and arts experiences
• Learners are more confident and able to articulate their creativity skills and can apply them in all contexts.
• High quality cultural and expressive arts experiences are more widely accessible to all learners.
• Learners are directly influencing more of their own creative learning and creative experiences.
• Creative approaches are further embedded in curriculum design.

An action plan, aligned to the Strategic Agreement, is now being finalised, putting programmes in place to deliver on these areas of focus. Some of these actions are already underway, including the launch of the Creative Wellbeing Fund , offering six grants of between £12k -£15k to support schools to take a creative approach to addressing learner wellbeing, and the recent opening of the Creative Learning Network Fund for applications, offering grants of up to £7k per Local Authority to support the Creative Learning Networks to implement Scotland’s refreshed Creative Learning Plan. As per the agreement between Education Scotland and Creative Scotland, the Creative Learning Networks are being asked to look across the Culture Strategy for Scotland and explore their role in helping to improve cultural experiences for learners of all ages.

Additionally, the two organisations are currently overseeing artform-led research with both the visual arts and theatre for young audiences’ sectors to map and analyse the current level and extent of provision available in schools across Scotland. The concluding reports will suggest ways the delivery of expressive arts in schools could be enhanced.

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.

In their most recent CAMHS Waiting Times Data Quality Report, Public Health Scotland published that NHS Grampian are experiencing challenges reporting on “did not attend appointment” (DNA) due to the functionality of their current patient management system and database. Work is ongoing to rectify this and NHS Grampian anticipate that they will be able to provide this to Public Health Scotland by the end of 2021 when they expect to have transitioned to their new patient management system.

https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/8867/data-quality.pdf