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Scotland needs a system that supports our higher education sector to deliver the best learning, research and experience for those who choose to study in Scotland. The reinstatement of the Graduate Route was welcome but the scope must also be widened to include HND qualifications from Scottish institutions as was under the previous post-study work scheme and Fresh Talent. it remains clear that UK immigration system still does not address Scotland’s economic, demographic and social needs. We will continue to push UK Ministers to engage meaningfully on these issues.

As Scotland’s Redress Scheme will run for at least 5 years from December 2021, fluctuations in the inflation rates over this period are to be expected. To mandate routine or regular changes to account for these fluctuations would have added another level of complexity which may have detracted from the core aim of providing acknowledgement and tangible recognition of harm caused to those who experienced abuse in care.

No amount of money can make up for the harm done, and survivors have told us that, in some cases, the receipt of a payment, rather than the level of that payment, has been the recognition they have been seeking. The redress payment reflects only one part of that tangible recognition, which also includes the provision of support to access a personal apology, which again can be more meaningful to some survivors than the payment.

There is no fixed budget or limit to the number of redress payments which will be paid by the Scottish Government. We are committed to making financial redress to all survivors of abuse in care who receive an offer of payment from the independent decision making body, Redress Scotland, based upon the published assessment framework and associated payment levels .

Payments made through the scheme are not index linked. Section 39 of the Revised Financial Memorandum outlines that there is provision, but not a requirement, for Scottish Ministers to increase redress payment amounts to account for inflation, as set out in Section 41 of the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021, through the introduction of regulations.

At this time, the longer term economic forecasts mean there are no current plans to introduce regulations of this nature, and monitoring of the situation will continue.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to the efficacy of Historic Environment Scotland’s HistoricScot Youth Forum are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.

I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a full reply to his question in writing.

Scottish Government has provided over £150 million to date in additional support to maintain the capacity and capability of the independent sector.

We have also introduced new incentives for recruitment and retention of dentists in certain remote and rural areas. This will mean that dentists, including orthodontists, who join the NHS Board list in Scotland for the first time can receive up to £25,000 over a two-year period.

Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited has advised us that it has reached agreement to second some of its staff to work for BAE Systems on fabrication work for the Type 26 Frigate programme. The precise details are subject to ongoing commercial discussions between the two companies.

Four bids were submitted for Creative Scotland’s recent tender for a partner organisation to deliver ‘Youth-led Arts Funding For Young People’. The successful organisation will be announced early in the new year.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 requires licensing authorities to maintain and publish a public register of short-term let licences on their website, or other website established for that purpose. The register is required to include a note of the kind and terms of each licence granted by the licensing authority, as well as other information set out in paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 of the Licensing Order.

Licensing authorities are also required to share content of their public register with the Scottish Government on a quarterly basis for statistical analysis purposes. We expect to receive the first quarterly return for processing and analysis early in the new year. This initial return will include data relating to the number of short-term let licence applications received by 31 December 2022, and the status of those applications.

All individuals have a healthcare consultation with an NHS healthcare professional within 24 hours of arrival.

Whilst in prison individuals can self-refer to see the NHS Healthcare team and where needed, SPS staff can also refer prisoners to the healthcare team.

The SPS Drug & Alcohol Strategy, currently under revision, aims to reduce re-offending and drug-related deaths by adopting the principles of recovery to reduce the supply and demand of illegal substances and the harm caused by problematic substance use. The revised Strategy will reflect the national approach to embed Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards across SPS.

The Scottish Government is continuing to consider options for the delivery of a National Towns of Culture scheme. As this progresses, the Scottish Government will consult with the culture and creative sectors and community groups to help inform its decision making.

The regulation of consumer protection is reserved to the UK Government which includes the work of Trading Standards Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not hold the requested information.