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The Scottish Government will carefully consider the recommendations made by the UK Animal Welfare Committee and will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure the welfare of fish throughout the animals’ life.

The Scottish Government is committed to the highest possible welfare standards for animals, including fish. Improving aquaculture health and welfare is an ethical responsibility and is one of the main priorities that is enshrined in our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture.

The Scottish Government will carefully consider the recommendations made by the UK Animal Welfare Committee and will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure the welfare of fish throughout the animals life.

In 2020-21, the latest year for which we have data, we estimate that there were 6,569 people diagnosed with dementia and referred for dementia post-diagnostic support. This is a 20% reduction on the 8,137 diagnosed in 2019-20, which is likely to be due to the effects of measures relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using our current models for estimating the number of people living with dementia, 33.7% of those people newly diagnosed with dementia in 2020-21 were referred for post-diagnostic support, compared to 42.9% in 2019-20. The effects of measures relating to the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to have contributed to this reduction.

Of those referred in 2020-21 for post-diagnostic support, 81.0% received a minimum of one year’s support, which is similar to the proportion in 2019-20 (81.1%).

In Everyone’s Story: A New Dementia Strategy for Scotland , we have identified peoples experiences and access to post-diagnostic support as a critical point of difference we need to make during the strategy’s lifetime. This includes access for a minimum of 12 months, irrespective of where they live or how old they are. We have also committed moving closer to a person-centred system of support that is consistent and equitable throughout Scotland, but allows for flexibility to suit the individual and locally available resources (including within our communities).

These actions will build on current efforts to increase access. This includes investment of over £6m in 2021-22 and 2022-23 to boost uptake across Scotland. We have also provided £1m to Age Scotland over 2 years to provide complementary community-based post-diagnostic support aimed at keeping people active and connected in their local communities.

To estimate diagnosis rates in Scotland we are developing an approach that compiles a dataset of CHI numbers of people with a dementia diagnosis from multiple health and social data sources. Based on this approach, and using our current model for estimating the number of people living with dementia (known as Eurocode), we estimate that 56% of this group received a diagnosis in 2020-21 (the latest year for which we have data).

It should be noted that the rest of the UK uses a different system for estimating the number of people living with dementia (known as CFAS II). For comparative purposes, applying this in Scotland would suggest 79% of people living with dementia are receiving a diagnosis.

The issue of dementia diagnosis rates is highlighted in Everyone’s Story: A New Dementia Strategy for Scotland , including around the need for a greater range of settings in which to access it. We recognise there is more work to be done to improve timely, accessible access to a dementia diagnosis, and this will be reflected in the priorities for our initial 2-year Delivery Plan which is in development. This includes developing actions through a Delivery Subgroup focused on extending the reach of diagnsotic and post-diagnostic support, made up of people living with dementia, care partners and stakeholders.

The Sex Offender Notification Requirements in Scotland requires convicted sex offenders to provide a range of personal information to the police, including their name, and to inform the police should any of those details subsequently change.

Individuals convicted of sexual offences are not prevented from making an application for a Gender Recognition Certificate under the UK Gender Recognition Act 2004.

Budget discussions are still ongoing. We are working hard to confirm the final position for FWDF in 2023-24 as quickly as possible. An announcement will be made once a final decision has been reached. Meetings with the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland are held regularly to discuss updates and any issues relating to the Fund.

The Scottish Government had regular engagement with Circularity Scotland (CSL) as part of preparations for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). Circularity Scotland Ltd went into administration in June 2023 following the UK Government’s decision not to grant a full exclusion from the UK Internal Market Act.

It is not possible to provide a list of all verbal engagements between Scottish Government officials and CSL staff due to the frequency of these working-level engagements and the fact that many of them were informal discussions rather than scheduled meetings. However, the main meetings between CSL and Scottish Ministers or officials are as follows:

1. CSL met with the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity on a monthly basis, [link] .

An individual with sight loss may receive Child and Adult Disability Payment to help mitigate the costs they incur as a result of a disability or long term condition. This means individuals can use it to pay for things such as care, access to community resources, transport, social activities, and any other goods or services of their choosing, including aids or equipment.

Additionally, grant funding is available from Local Authorities, to homeowners and private tenants who require significant changes to the structure of their home. When adaptations are identified as necessary, grant funding will be provided to cover between 80% to 100% of the total costs. Where adaptations are not covered by 100% grant funding, local authorities have a duty to provide assistance to the individual. This can be given in the form of advice, guidance or practical help.

All applications are subject to site-specific assessments. National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) states that potential impacts on communities, nature and other receptors will be important considerations in the decision-making process. NPF4 Policy 11 requires project design and mitigation to demonstrate how impacts on communities and individual dwellings, including residential amenity, visual impact, noise and shadow flicker will be addressed. It is for the decision maker to determine what information is required to support an application, and where Residential Visual Amenity Assessment is provided, to determine the distance to be considered in that assessment.

Breaches of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct are a matter for the independent Ethical Standards Commissioner. The member can obtain this information by contacting the Commissioner directly.