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Regulation of short-term lets is vital to balance the needs and concerns communities have raised with wider economic and tourism interests. Local authorities are responsible for developing policies on short-term lets in line with the short-term let regulations, and other relevant factors such as feedback received through local consultations, and Scottish Government short-term lets guidance.

The Scottish Government has published the report on COP27 outcomes, achievements and costs. The publication is available here: COP27: outcomes, achievements and costs - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has confirmed that the approach for Ukrainian students sitting exams in Scotland is consistent with the approach that is taken for all candidates for whom English is an additional language. Any candidates undertaking SQA external assessments who have English as an additional language may be allowed the use of a bilingual dictionary and have a standard extra time allowance of 10 mins for each hour of any assessment, subject to teacher assessment of the candidate’s needs. The use of the dictionary, and any additional time requested for using the dictionary, should reflect the candidate’s way of working in teaching and learning.

This approach is consistent with that taken by awarding bodies across the rest of the UK.

More widely, Education Scotland has provided resources to help schools and teachers support Ukrainian children’s mental health and wellbeing and to meet their learning needs.

There are currently no plans to change the structure of the Board of Scottish Rail Holdings.

There is a requirement to review the current Framework Agreement between Scottish Ministers and Scottish Rail Holdings after the first year, which review will commence shortly.

Any proposals for artwork on the bridge piers should be commissioned via Glasgow City Council. Whilst Scottish Ministers and Transport Scotland are responsible for the structure including the bridge piers, Glasgow City Council (GCC) own the land below the bridge, are planning authority and are responsible for the public realm area and local roads below the bridge. The Scottish Government via its Transport Scotland would consider any such proposals favourably, as was the case in advance of the Commonwealth Games and CoP26.

The South-West Operating Company AMEY currently uses grey masonry paint designed to match the existing pier surface colour, to quickly cover over any graffiti particularly where it is offensive.

Details of all Ministerial engagements and expenses are proactively published by the Scottish Government, including the costs of travel and accommodation. The information can be accessed at the below link: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/.

While recruitment is an operational matter for ScotRail to manage, the Scottish Government is supportive of ScotRail’s target to increase apprenticeships.

ScotRail, working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland and the Train Drivers union ASLEF, is developing a new Modern Apprenticeship Framework in Train Driving.

Over the past 2 decades ScotRail has offered apprenticeships in engineering across all 4 of its depots. The 2023 cohort will see a 100% increase in apprenticeship numbers on the previous year’s intake. ScotRail will continue to identify apprenticeship opportunities as part of the workforce planning activity to support skills needs and employment opportunities.

Social Security Scotland does not routinely produce information on households claiming social security benefits.

Information on the characteristics of applicants, including gender, is published as part of Official Statistics publications on Social Security Scotland client diversity and equalities analysis.

These statistics were most recently published in September 2021 and are available at: https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/reporting/publications/social-security-scotland-client-diversity-and-equalities-analysis-to-may-2021 .

There is currently work being undertaken to produce an update to this publication, which will be published by the end of summer 2023. This will cover the period from June 2021 to October 2022.

The Scottish Government works closely with key stakeholders to assess all factors that impact recruitment and retention for third sector providers in the adult social care sector.

The Scottish Government recognises the effect that wider pay settlements may have and that is why a further £100 million is being provided to Local Government to ensure a £10.90 per hour minimum wage for adult social care workers in commissioned services from April 2023. This includes workers in third sector providers and takes Scottish Government recurring funding for adult social care pay in commissioned services to £0.6 billion per year. It is worth noting that the £10.90 per hour rate is the minimum rate of pay for these workers and many providers choose to pay more than these minimums. The Scottish Government will continue to engage with third sector social care providers to understand how this funding is contributing toward supporting recruitment and retention.

We know that it is vital that we continue to support work to build capacity in primary care settings to respond to eating disorder presentations given the increasing demand, complexity of presentations and impact on secondary care services.

We continue to build on the investment we have already made by including outcomes to improve eating disorder services and Mental Health in Primary Care in our Mental Health Outcomes Framework investment in 2022-23, which gives NHS Boards and Integration Authorities flexibility to improve existing pathways.

Through the funding allocated to Beat in 2022-23, we have also introduced Beyond the Symptoms Training for GPs and Healthcare professionals training to support them to identify when a patient has an eating disorder, and to confidently intervene early.

In addition, we are currently developing Eating Disorder Quality Standards which are due to be consulted on in Spring 2023. The Standards cover areas such as service structure and governance arrangements, and aim to improve the care and treatment that people receive from primary care services.

Lastly, we are currently taking forward planning to establish a National Eating Disorder Network in 2023. Included within the Network’s remit will be to further develop specialist eating disorder services and to improve the links between primary and secondary services.