Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6T-00019 on 26 May 2021. The answer is available on the Parliament's website at: Official Report - Parliamentary Business : Scottish Parliament .

Students will be able to register an intention to appeal from 25 June. However, the formal appeals process will not commence until the results are issued on 10 August. Universities will not confirm offers until they have received the certificated grades in August.

For those students waiting on a result for a university or college place or for an employment or training programme, appeals will be processed as a priority.

The SDS Helpline will be available through the summer for students to talk to an experienced adviser, with the dedicated Results Helpline opening from 10 August. The National Qualifications 21 Group has issued a letter to learners highlighting a range of support available. This is available online and can be accessed at:

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/NQ21-letter-supports-for-learners.pdf

SQA is arranging for a hard copy of the letter to be sent out to all learners.

This information is not held centrally. Altering images or producing deepfake pornographic material is not a specific offence, therefore:

(a) the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal service are unable to separately identify such offences from their database and provide number of charges and

(b) The Scottish Government is also unable to separately identify convictions from their database for the same reason.

Altering images or producing deepfake pornographic material is not a specific offence and the production of such material in itself, would probably not amount to a criminal offence. However, the distribution, publication or sale etc. of such material, where it appears to depict a person who has not consented to such a depiction may amount to a criminal offence. Depending on the facts and circumstances, this may be capable of being charged under offences including section 2 of the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016 (non-consensual sharing of intimate images), section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (threatening or abusive behaviour) or section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 (misuse of a public electronic communications network). However, the Scottish Government’s and COPFS data only details numbers of convictions and charges under these acts, and not detailed information on the specific conduct which resulted in the charge or conviction.

Yes, in summer 2021 our current vaccination status letters will be replaced by fully digital Covid Status Certificates to be used for outbound international travel. The World Health Organisation is currently developing international standards for this, and it is expected this will include either a QR code or 2D barcode. We are working across the Common Travel Area and our four nations to put in place our fully interoperable digital solution that aligns with these international standards being developed. This digital solution will also have an accessible option for those that need it, such as those who do not have a smart phone.

Following an extensive review of how best to deliver support to community networks, it was concluded that – despite helping to deliver a number of successful community projects – Community Broadband Scotland (CBS) was no longer the most viable model. As such, CBS was officially closed down in January 2018, with communities given the option of continuing with their own project with public sector support or being included in the Reaching 100% (R100) programme, with all 15 remaining pipeline communities opting for the latter option.

In total, 18 community projects received grant funding, totalling £2.1 million, through CBS – delivering a total of 1,490 connections. In financial year 2016-17, CBS grants totalled around £313,000. In financial year 2017-18, they totalled around £19,000.

The Scottish Government published its Drugs Strategy, Rights, Respect and Recovery in November 2018. This provides the framework for our work with national and local partners, including Police Scotland, to focus on prevention which will reduce the individual, family and societal factors which increase the likelihood of alcohol and drug use and related harm.

We work with our partners to focus and align efforts to ensure people across Scotland are and feel safe in their communities. To support this aim, the Scottish Government provides support and funding to national community safety organisations to champion and take forward community safety activities. This includes annual grant funding the Scottish Community Safety Network SCSN (£250,000 in 2021-22), Crimestoppers (£104,000 for 2020-21), Neighbourhood Watch Scotland (£118,000 for 2021-22) and the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (£150,000 for 2020-21). Crimestoppers and Fearless run regular campaigns targeting drug related crime in Scotland. From 2020 this has included a focus on County Lines and the exploitation of children and young people who are coerced to move drugs across the country.

Local developments include the following:

The Scottish Government fund the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU) who are currently working across the South and East Ayrshire local authority areas to help collaborative partnerships focused on supporting vulnerable individuals and families with multiple complex issues, including drug use. The SVRU have expanded their reach to the Wallacetown area of Ayrshire. The aim is to prevent violence by creating an environment where service providers work much more closely together in partnership, ensuring activity can be collaboratively focused on supporting vulnerable individuals and families with multiple complex issues, including drug use, to improve outcomes for the whole community.

The SVRU are also working with partners to test a Navigator model within Bowhouse Prison, Kilmarnock, to support inmates in their return to the community. The programme will address the individuals priority areas, identifying existing supportive networks as necessary. Crucial to this service is its ability to link with other providers and specialists such as addiction services.

In September 2019 a peer support pilot commenced in Ayr Police Office Custody Suite for arrested persons with drug or alcohol dependency. This was led by the Alcohol & Drugs Partnership and delivered by those with lived experience with the aim of better supporting those with addiction issues and encouraging them to engage with some of the local support groups in the area. The initial pilot ran until March 2020 and in that time 121 people were visited by a peer support worker whilst in police custody, with many taking up the offer of additional support. The pilot has seen some positive outcomes and is now in the final stages of evaluation with a view to a roll out across other custody suites in Ayrshire.

The South Ayrshire Alcohol and Drug Strategy for 2019-24 details a number of strategic priorities:

• develop innovative approaches to engage those at risk of an alcohol or drug related death in services and support, including individuals experiencing a non-fatal overdose.
• develop innovative ways of providing support for individuals in prison settings, including individuals on remand, and strengthen throughcare support for individuals returning to the community.
• undertake a peer-led police custody referral pilot aimed at increasing engagement with vulnerable individuals affected by alcohol or drugs.

Since the start of the pandemic, businesses have directly benefitted from £3.6 billion in support and the Scottish Government has provided more funding than the consequentials received to support businesses. The Scottish Government publishes statistics, management information & budget allocations relating to its Covid-19 business grants on its website at Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support funding statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The next management information update is scheduled to be published on 11 June 2021.

Neither the Scottish Government or any of its agencies have had engagement with David Moulsdale or his company Spring Depot SPV Limited prior to, or since the purchase of the St Rollox site.

Glasgow City Council received additional discretionary funding of £769,000 to further help businesses affected by the increased period of level 3 restrictions from 17 May. Grants have already been paid and over 2000 businesses received additional support through this fund.

Tim Hair, Turnaround Director of Ferguson Marine, updated the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on the delivery timetable and budget for vessels 801 and 802 in March 2021. The next of the regular quarterly updates on progress, as requested by the committee in their report on ferry procurement is expected at the end of June 2021.