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The total number of FTE staff (rounded to the nearest whole number) employed in the public sector, within the Peatland Action programme, to undertake peatland restoration work – as of November 2023 – is as follows:

Information on the allocation of CashBack funding is only formally collected at a local authority level. The total funding allocation to Fife local authority area between 2008 and March 2023 was £4,124,198.

Estimated funding of £1,061,633 is attributed to the Cowdenbeath constituency during that same period. This includes funding of £745,761 that was allocated to organisations delivering project activity based in the area (Scottish Sports Futures, Basketball Scotland, Boxing Scotland and the Scottish Football Association). The remaining funding was shared between organisations that supported individuals or groups across Fife and were available to children and young people in the Cowdenbeath constituency (Access to Industry, The Prince’s Trust, YouthLink Scotland, Youth Scotland and The Venture Trust).

Phase 6 of the CashBack for Communities programme runs from April 2023 to March 2026. The current estimate of spend across the Fife area is £1,036,803. Of that funding, an estimated £543,266 is currently attributed to the Cowdenbeath constituency, based mainly on anticipated project delivery in that area by Scottish Sports Futures and Starcatchers.

Details of all the Phase 6 CashBack partners and information on project delivery by local authority area are available on the CashBack for Communities website: https://cashbackforcommunities.org/

• The Scottish Government funds five direct delivery partners on an annual basis, based on the government wide capital spending allocations as agreed by Cabinet. These five direct delivery partners are NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority and Scottish Water.
• These delivery partners then sub-contract physical restoration works to organisations in the third sector and private sector contractor companies.
• Contracts for peatland restoration are issued on a composite unit cost basis. Therefore, labour costs – for example machine operator wages – are not itemised separately.
• As each individual project across delivery partner and geographic location can vary significantly, it is not possible to determine an average labour cost across or within the delivery partners.

Scottish Government guidance is reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that information for the public and workplaces aligns to current policy. Policy is driven by the latest data, evidence and expert advice and is reflected in the communication of guidance. Throughout the pandemic public health advice on a range of complementary protective measures has been provided. When restrictions were in place (up to April 2022) advice was in place through guidance to support understanding and adherence of restrictions. Since the lifting of restrictions, guidance offers practical, risk-based advice on how to build infection resilience to respiratory infections including COVID-19, for individuals and workplaces. Any change in response will be driven by the data and evidence gathered, as well as expert advice.

Throughout the pandemic, any changes to Scottish Government’s guidance on the extended use of face masks in healthcare and social care settings went through an extensive consultation process. Whilst direct engagement with NHS staff was not conducted, the Directorate for Health and Social Care's Professional Advisor Group were consulted - this group includes representatives from across Health and Social Care. The Professional Advisors engage with NHS staff through various forums and networks.

The consultation process also included the Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Medical Officer, National Clinical Director and Health and Social Care Directors. All were content with the advice to withdraw the extended use of face mask and face covering guidance, based on the Antimicrobial Resistance and Hospital Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland and Public Health Scotland reviews, the expert opinion of Professional Advisors, and consideration of the current pandemic context.

Direct engagement was conducted between the Scottish Government and social care representative bodies and providers of care homes and care at home services. These groups expressed that the extended use of face mask and face covering guidance was having a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of service users. Representatives were content for services to revert to assessing the need for personal protective equipment (such as a face mask) using the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual and Care Home National Infection Prevention and Control Manual.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s historic environment sector to support our workforce in developing the skills required to manage, protect and conserve our built heritage.

We acknowledge that action delivery from the 2019 plan was impacted by both the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

The Scottish Government will continue to deliver support for Scotland’s historic environment through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, which is leading on developing the current Skills Investment Plan, building on the lessons learned from previous plans and increasing resource to maximise delivery.

The SPCB can confirm that following consultation with MSP staff on training via, a training needs analysis, interviews and engagement forums, a bespoke development programme has been established, specifically for MSP staff. There are a number of training modules open to all MSP staff, covering a variety of development areas and these are all detailed on the intranet pages which all colleagues have access to.  MSP staff can book into and participate in any programme relevant to their role if agreed by their employing MSP. This year the SPCB have listened to what MSP staff colleagues are telling us they need and have therefore made significant investment in training on Mental Health First Aid, Speechwriting, ACAS ‘Training for Managers’ and UK/Scottish Benefits from the £40,000 central budget so far. 

In addition to training offered via the central budget MSP staff can also access additional training that is open to both SPS and MSP staff via our e-learning platform ‘Learning Pool’ and ad hoc online and in person sessions that run throughout the year. 

The SPCB is keen to maximise the central budget to the benefit of all MSP staff and in doing so ensure economies of scale.  Whilst requests for specialist individual training can be made these are considered in the context of the wider MSP staffing group to ensure that equal and fair access to training is offered and that we can offer training that represents value for money and delivers economies of scale. MSPs may also apply to the SPCB direct for reimbursement of the fees or other charges incurred in providing appropriate training for a member of staff.  MSPs wishing to access this provision of the Members’ Expenses Scheme will be assisted to do so by People and Culture staff. 

The SPCB is proud to work with colleagues across all UK and Ireland legislatures to share best practice, innovative ideas, opportunities for shared learning and shared events (e.g., Mental Health Month, Trans and Non-Binary Awareness Week, National Inclusion Week during which seminars and information events are available to all).

The SPCB seeks to ensure that the training opportunities offered to MSP staff in the Scottish Parliament meet both the needs of the individual, their employer and the Parliament as a whole.  It would not be possible to offer the same training as colleagues in the UK Parliament and other UK legislatures as our needs will be different as is the context (training provided to the Scottish Parliament must be considered in the Scottish context within which we operate).  The team that supports MSP staff training regularly conduct reviews of the providers and their content to ensure that quality, effectiveness and value is maintained and where required will seek alternative provision.  The team operates within our procurement guidelines and uses their knowledge and expertise to ensure a quality provider is selected to work with colleagues and maintain our standards in providing relevant, quality training to MSP staff.  

The SPCB can confirm that they are committed to ensuring that all training offered to MSP staff is of the highest quality and that it meets our procurement standards.  As such we will continue to engage with MSP staff to ensure that the training meets their needs and that of their employing MSP.  MSPs and their staff can contact People and Culture colleagues for further support.  Delegates that attend training courses are asked to complete an evaluation form, which is reviewed and acted upon should any issues be raised.

The SPCB will continue to oversee engagement with MSP staff colleagues to review and continually improve our training offering.  We are in the final stages of seeking representation from all groups in order to re-establish the MSP Staff Training Forum, which will provide a mechanism for two-way engagement on training needs and effectiveness.  We will also continue to utilise other feedback mechanisms, including the Caseworker Forum, to ensure that we continue to provide what colleagues need and what represents the greatest return on investment for the Parliament.

Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, asylum applicants are entitled to receive asylum support for a prescribed period after they have been notified of the decision on their asylum application, for positive decisions this remains 28 days. As far as the Scottish Government is aware, the UK Government has not changed the prescribed period and it remains at 28 days.

However, we are aware that there have been issues with communication of decisions from the Home Office to the accommodation provider and local authorities which is impacting provision of information and support for people at the end of their period in asylum accommodation.

The Scottish Government has also raised concerns about the impact of the UK Government’s Streamlined Asylum Process. I wrote to the UK Government on 28 October 2023 to request urgent funding for local authorities and to work constructively with them to ensure that people receiving a positive asylum decision are supported to move-on from asylum accommodation. I am awaiting a response.

People in Scotland who have recently been granted refugee status are entitled to access homelessness support from their local authority. Most funding for homelessness is provided through the local government settlement. In addition to this, the Scottish Government have provided local authorities with £52.5m since 2018 to support the implementation of rapid rehousing transition plans and provide £30.5m annually for their work to prevent homelessness.