Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government held a public consultation on the draft of new physical intervention in schools guidance in 2022.

We are carefully considering all responses received on this sensitive topic and a consultation analysis report is being prepared for my consideration by education officials.

I recognise there has been a delay to this work. We remain committed to publishing the final guidance as soon as possible following the completion of the consultation analysis.

We recognise that there have been calls for further legislation. Alongside the publication of the guidance, and in line with our original commitments, we are exploring options to strengthen the legal framework in this area during the course of this parliamentary term. This includes the option of placing the guidance on a statutory basis.

Individuals are not eligible to apply directly to the Just Transition Fund. Workers in the north east region are supported through our £50 million multi-year capital grant programme, announced in 2022-23.

To date no Scotland Innovates funds have been spent to develop submissions received via the service. We do not hold data on monies spent by other parts of the public sector who have assessed submissions.

Supplementary note “The vast majority of Scotland Innovates submissions are from SME’s and are either “at or near market ready”.

There have been a total of 95 submissions received by the Scotland Innovates service. 66 were received during the 2022-23 FY and 29 have been received so far during the 2023-24 FY.

As outlined earlier this year in response to a similar question from Mr Rennie, our over £600 million investment in the R100 contracts, our R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme and continued commercial coverage – including the emergence of newer technologies such as Low Earth Orbit satellite – means that every property in Scotland is able to consider options for superfast broadband connection today as was the case at the end of 2021, meeting our commitment.

The following primary care projects were allocated capital funding by the Scottish Government in the period 2019-20 to 2023-24:

The Scottish Government will be investing in the North East Glasgow Health and Care Centre over the next two financial years.

A number of other proposals are currently being reviewed, however, as a result of very high levels of inflation in the construction industry and a lower than expected capital grant from the UK Government, there is no ability to expand the health capital investment programme at this point. Therefore, any projects not identified as priorities within the Infrastructure Investment Plan will not be able to be funded until likely 2026.

The Mobile Heat Pump Training Van was launched on 2 August 2023, is accessible to any college in Scotland and is capable of delivering on site training across Scotland, including rural areas.

The facility was at Energy Skills Partnership (ESP) offices in Stirling twice in August to show Colleges from across Scotland the apparatus within the van and explain the booking process. On 28 August South Lanarkshire College delivered the first training in the van to eight heating tradespeople from the plumbing and gas sector who wanted to upskill on heat pumps. At the end of September the training centre was used by the heat pump manufacturer NIBE to provide training to 13 trainers from Scotland’s Colleges to increase the capacity to deliver training.

Throughout September the vehicle has also been made available at events to allow stakeholders to visit the facility and have a demonstration of its heat pump technologies.

Energy Saving Trust is preparing a marketing campaign to promote the training available through the van.

The following table shows the number of care homes with a confirmed case of COVID-19, by week, for residents and staff since 1 January 2023. This data has been supplied by The Care Inspectorate.

Notes:

Data submitted to Care Inspectorate by care homes for adults and older people in "Confirmed case of COVID-19" notifications.

Data based on date of submission.

Data between 1 January 2023 and 24 September inclusive.

This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.