Seòmar agus comataidhean

The information requested relates to Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) data and is not held by the Scottish Government.

SQA has advised that the information requested is available from their website at: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/105160.12093.html .

Due to retention periods, this information is only available from 2018 onwards. The assessment arrangements data is broken down by arrangement type and not centre type.

We recognise the importance of Glasgow and the Scottish Events Campus as one of the world’s top conference and events venues. It is clear that Glasgow and the SEC make a vital contribution not just to the local economy, but to Scotland’s economy as a whole.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau restructured, with the Glasgow Convention Bureau intact. The lead for researching, bidding for and securing UK and international conferences to Glasgow sits with the Bureau. This is the same approach for all of Scotland’s cities with a convention bureau. The concept of the city leading its conference business enables events to be established at the behest and preference of each city, rather than it being delegated to cities by VisitScotland.

VisitScotland supports Glasgow in its efforts to secure business events via the provision of Scotland-branded marketing platforms including tradeshows, enabling Glasgow and Scotland to promote itself to global markets.

In the past 7 years, Glasgow and has been exhibited on the VisitScotland stand at IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX America, The Meetings Show London, IBTM World and the Conference Hospitality Show. VisitScotland has also directly supported business events to come to Glasgow through the match funded National Conference Bid Fund. In the life of the fund 68 conferences have been supported through this route.

Glasgow has also been profiled at international industry events solely through, or jointly with VisitScotland in the past 7 years including: PCMA Convening Leaders; PCMA EduCon; MPI; Destinations International; PCMA Convening EMEA; ICCA World Congress; M&I Forums; and VisitScotland Association Receptions in Washington DC and Brussels.

A programme of communications and engagement is planned to promote the launch of the General Practice Armed Forces and Veterans’ Recognition Scheme. This will include working with key stakeholder groups, and through their networks, raising awareness of the scheme and encouraging take up by General Practices.

We recognise the value of this scheme and are working to ensure that awareness of the scheme is optimised among both General Practices and their patients.

General Practises keen to be involved can contact gp-afv@gov.scot for more information.

I have committed to updating the Scottish Parliament on Phase 3 of the Learning Estate Investment Programme by the end of October.

As Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills I engage with the SQA and Education Scotland regularly on a range of business, including on education reform. This involves meetings with the SQA Chair and Chief Executive and with Education Scotland’s Interim Chief Executive. Additionally, I have undertaken direct engagement with staff in both organisations, by attending an all-staff session with SQA on 4 September 2023 and an Education Scotland all-staff event on 22 August 2023.

Ministers and Scottish Government officials have met representatives of the college sector frequently since 1 April 2021 through in-person meetings, visits and online meetings.

Young Scot are provided with core funding from the Scottish Government. The funding comes from the Children's Rights team and the Health Inequalities team. They have received £975,000 annually since 2014.

The Scottish Youth Parliament are provided with core funding through the Scottish Government’s Children Young People and Families Early Intervention & Adult Learning and Empowering Communities (CYPFEI & ALEC) Fund. This fund is administered by the CORRA Foundation on behalf of Scottish Ministers. They received £325,000 in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 and received £341,250 in 2022 and 2023.

The information requested relates to Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) data and is not held by the Scottish Government.

SQA has advised that this information is available on their website, including historical data for all courses including those specifically listed. The data can be accessed at https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/105159.html .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12962 on 22 December 2022. The Scottish Government does not hold this level of service detail for Rape Crisis Centres. Rape Crisis Centres are independent charitable organisations which hold their own information on their waiting lists. It is for individual local centres, or Rape Crisis Scotland as the umbrella organisation, to provide this information.

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

The introduction of Air Departure Tax (ADT) was deferred due to state aid issues raised in relation to the Highlands and Islands exemption. In January 2023, the UK Government replaced EU state aid rules with its own subsidy control regime.

We continue to explore all options to implement ADT in a way that protects Highlands & Islands connectivity and complies with the UK Government’s subsidy control regime.

The Scottish Government recognises the critical role air connectivity plays in the lives of residents and communities in the Highlands and Islands, and in the promotion of sustainable economic growth across the region.

Once a solution to the Highland & Islands exemption has been identified, we will review the rates and bands of ADT prior to the implementation of the tax, to ensure they are aligned with our world-leading climate ambitions.

The UK-wide Air Passenger Duty will continue to apply in Scotland until ADT is implemented.