Seòmar agus comataidhean

There have been no Scottish Fire and Rescue Service stations closed in the last five years. Information regarding the SFRS estate is published annually and can be found here Statistics | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (firescotland.gov.uk)

As advised in the previous answer, the information requested is not routinely gathered or held centrally by the Scottish Government. Any outstanding liabilities to settle equal pay claims will be reflected in a local authority's annual accounts. Information of this nature can be obtained by approaching individual local authorities or COSLA accordingly.

As outlined in our draft route map to 20% car km reduction, the scale of the challenge means that we need to take forward a broad combination of interventions, including infrastructure, incentives and regulatory actions. However, we are committed to a Just Transition, and therefore agree with the Commission that our approach must take into account the needs of those who may be less able to reduce their car use, such as carers and those living with a disability, or in rural locations.

We are taking an evidence-based approach to what might work to achieve change, including learning from what others are doing across the UK and in other countries. We have commissioned research on equitable options for car demand management. Using the findings of this and other research, we will work with local authorities and regional partners to support equitable measures that will encourage active travel and use of public transport, for a fairer and greener transport system.

However, we do not have all the levers we need, and are limited by UK Government inaction. The most direct levers on the cost of buying or running a petrol or diesel car – fuel duty and vehicle excise duty – are reserved to the UK Government, and reforms to transport taxes will be crucial in meeting net zero targets. We will continue to call on the UK Government to urgently set out options to replace existing motoring taxes, with meaningful consultation and agreement with the devolved nations.

The Scottish Government has robust processes in place for assessing outcomes, performance and value for money in relation to expenditure from Portfolio budgets.

Accountable Officers are in place to ensure that public money is used efficiently and effectively in line with guidance published in the Scottish Public Finance Manual. This includes scrutinising significant policy proposals or plans to start or vary major projects/policies, and then assess whether they measure against the required standards for regularity, propriety, value for money and feasibility.

As you will be aware, the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework tracks progress toward our national outcomes and the associated national indicators. There are further tools that are more specific to the Education and Skills portfolio. For example, the primary purpose of the National Improvement Framework since January 2016 has been to bring together an enhanced range of information and data at all levels of the system, to drive improvement for children and young people in early learning and childcare settings, schools, and colleges across the whole of Scotland.

Furthermore, all recipients of grant funding receive letters which clearly outline their objectives and expected outcomes from the funding and targets/milestones in which progress against these objectives and outcomes will be measured.

The Scottish Government has not provided direct funding to Clydebank Women’s Aid. However, in 2021 the Scottish Government awarded £2,250,000 of funding, over a three year period, to Scottish Women’s Aid through the 100 Days (Covid emergency) funding. The funding was provided to frontline services for women and girls affected by gender-based violence, to deal with additional pressures that occurred during the pandemic. Scottish Women’s Aid divided the funding amongst local Women’s Aid organisations including Clydebank Women’s Aid.

The main objectives of the 100 days (Covid emergency) funding are to fund additional staff to respond to an increase in demand from victims of abuse for support services; improvements to organisations’ IT and digital resources; and additional training to allow services to be augmented so that more people can quickly and easily access help.

As set out in Programme for Government 2023, the Scottish Government is continuing to prioritise working across the Health and Wellbeing portfolio to maximise the contribution of culture to achieving key cross-policy outcomes.

The Scottish Government has set up an internal Health and Culture Working Group to support this work and will continue to ensure that culture is represented in any wider Scottish Government discussions about social prescribing going forward.

Launched in April 2023, the first public procurement strategy for Scotland articulates a high-level vision and roadmap for Scottish public procurement. A copy of that strategy can be accessed on the Scottish Government’s website at Public procurement strategy: 2023 to 2028 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

There is a multifaceted approach to monitor the effectiveness and impact of procurement policy and practice in Scotland, informing continuous improvement. This approach includes:

• publishing the Scottish Ministers annual report on procurement, evidencing the impact of procurement activity across Scotland
• researching and evaluating evidence to measure and benchmark our impact, to inform opportunities for improvement and to address emerging challenges
• engaging with businesses of all shapes and sizes to underpin our policy development and implementation
• benchmarking our policies and practices domestically and internationally
• regularly reviewing, testing and refreshing our tools and guidance
• taking cognisance of external scrutiny.

It is by focusing on what the evidence is telling us, responding to that evidence, and by working together with public, private and third sector organisations, that we will maximise the impact of public procurement for communities across Scotland.

Our response to the National Partnership for Culture’s recommendations committed to begin the scoping of a new Youth Arts Strategy, which we are taking forward with Creative Scotland. Our refreshed Culture Strategy Action Plan, which will be published in the coming months, will provide an update on this work.

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

We have had no specific discussions of bankruptcy with local authorities and no local authorities have indicated concerns of potential bankruptcy.

We recognise the challenging environment local authorities face and that is why we are committed to a New Deal with Local Government in order to ensure the sustainability of local services.