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The Neonatal Expenses Fund (NEF) and the Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) are demand-led funds and the Scottish Government has ensured full funding against demand in each year since 2018-19. Actual spend may differ from profiled spend as demand requirements change over time.

The Scottish Government unequivocally condemns any form of racism, hatred or prejudice. We must all play our part in challenging such behaviour and attitudes.

We are currently developing detailed proposals for the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS). A formal remit will be drawn up (and published) in due course.

The work of the Observatory will align closely with our obligations under the Equality Act (2010) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and will inform and support implementation of the Convention in Scotland.

As the legal duty to accommodate homeless households lies with local authorities, the responsibility for ensuring that the temporary accommodation provided meets the temporary accommodation standards framework rests with local authorities. These standards relate to all types of temporary accommodation to ensure that the quality of all temporary accommodation is of good standard and meets all of the needs of the household. The standards framework covers four main areas: physical, location, service and management.

Social housing landlords must ensure that they meet all of their legal duties and responsibilities and that they adhere to the relevant guidance and requirements of other regulators. Social landlords, including local authorities, must submit a mandatory Annual Assurance Statement to the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) to provide assurance that their organisation complies with the relevant requirements of chapter 3 of the Regulatory Framework .

The SHR monitors, assesses and reports on all landlords’ compliance with regulatory requirements and performance of housing activities. All 32 local authorities are included in their annual risk assessment. An indicator used by the SHR to assess risk in relation to performance in delivering services is the percentage of tenants satisfied with the quality of their home.

Where the SHR requires further information and assurance from a local authority, an engagement plan will be published setting out what the social landlord needs to do and what the SHR will do.

We welcome the report by Shelter Scotland. The Scottish Government is committed to including ongoing consideration of what more can be done to improve outcomes for BAME people within social housing.

Our Housing to 2040 strategy continues to provide the frame for our work to advance equality of outcomes in housing, with our vision for what we want homes and communities to look and feel like for the people of Scotland. In this we have recognised and committed to address the housing challenges faced by minority ethnic communities and highlighted that we must act on what we already know, as well as taking steps to improve our evidence base.

Statistics on school attendance and absences can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/school-attendance-and-absence-statistics/

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21029 on‎ 13 September 2023. 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

From April 2021 to the end of July 2023, the Heat in Buildings programme has spent over £315m, with an allocated budget of £333m for the 2023-24 financial year.

The Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan Scheme received 404 applications between April 2020 and August 2023. Of those, 282 applications were successful.

Our Programme for Government confirmed the intention to introduce a Housing Bill to deliver a New Deal for Tenants, including the introduction of long-term rent controls which will apply to homes rented privately.

Where an application to the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan scheme is unsuccessful, the applicant will be informed why they have been unsuccessful. Applicants have the right to appeal and can provide further information to help progress their application.

If an application has been unsuccessful, the HES Advice Service can provide further information and support. Unsuccessful applicants are not precluded from applying to the scheme again in the future.