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We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential.

Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 local authorities have duties to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, including those with disabilities. Local authorities and schools should continue to prioritise personalised support to meet the individual, physical and emotional needs of all children and young people, and particularly in light of the impact of Covid-19. This approach is set out in our continuity in learning guidance. As work to enable recovery progresses across Scotland, those working directly with children and young people remain best placed to identify needs and offer support within a model of inclusive learning policy and practice and in line with their statutory duties under the 2004 Act.

The report of the independently chaired review of additional support for learning implementation set a clear direction in how we can continue to build on progress in improving educational experiences of children and young people with additional support needs. The joint action plan, published in October 2020 and updated in November 2021, set out the measures we will take to implement the report’s recommendations. Despite challenging circumstances we have made significant progress against a number of key actions. However, we recognise that there is more to do. We continue to work closely with the Additional Support for Learning Implementation Group (ASLIG) to review the action plan, take stock of our achievements and agree future priorities to deliver meaningful change.

During the COVID-19 pandemic children and young people with additional support needs were prioritised. In the initial phase of school closures educational hubs were made available for those children and young people who were the most vulnerable. During the 2 nd phase of school closures in January 2021 schools were asked to open and prioritise the attendance in person of those learners with additional support needs. In addition, our education recovery work has improving educational outcomes at its heart and the Scottish Government has put in place a number of measures including;

• Funding of 3,500 additional teachers and 500 support staff over this Parliamentary term – over and above the 1,400 teachers recruited during the pandemic – and ensuring more time for teachers to plan high quality learning and teaching by reducing their class contact by 1.5 hrs per week.
• 500m provided to support education recovery in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
• ?Investing £260m in 2021-22 to support local authorities to recruit additional teachers and other staff, including £20m to provide extra support such as tutoring and mentoring or other local interventions to support children and families.
• Delivery of £25m in 2020-21 for over 72,000 devices, and more than 14,000 internet connectivity packages distributed to learners across Scotland.
• Delivery of £3m for targeted youth work to support children and young people.

On the 30th March we also launched the refreshed Scottish Attainment Challenge programme, with up to £200m funding for 2022-23, part of our increased £1bn investment over this Parliament, representing a substantial increase on last term’s £750m funding, to support our most disadvantaged children and young people.

The Scottish Government has provided record-breaking levels of investment, including our £120 million Mental Health Recovery & Renewal Fund. As part of that work, we have made an additional £40 million available to improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), with £4.25 million of that specifically dedicated to clearing waiting list backlogs by March 2023.

NHS Boards have submitted local improvement plans, setting out how they will meet the standard and eliminate long waits by end March 2023. In February 2020, the Scottish Government published a National CAMHS Service Specification, which included nationally agreed referral criteria and we are closely monitoring the implementation over the coming months, including, reviewing the numbers of referrals received by Boards, the numbers accepted for treatment on a regular basis and the numbers receiving personalised and meaningful signposting to other services.

The National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care in Scotland, published on 11 March 2022, sets out a new framework to shape Scotland’s health and social care workforce over the next decade. It places training, wellbeing, job satisfaction and the principles of Fair Work at its heart. The Strategy, which was co-produced with COSLA, identifies the five key areas which will support the creation of a sustainable, skilled workforce as the sector rebuilds from the pandemic. Creating the right conditions for vacancies to be filled encompasses a much broader range of issues than pay, although ensuring that pay remains fair and competitive will always be an important part of any recruitment and retention strategy.

Scotland is not participating in the NHS Pay Review Body process for 2022-23.

Work to progress early milestones set out within Housing to 2040 for improving the quality of all homes is currently underway. We intend to consult on proposals for a new Housing Standard later this year, and plan to launch a formal consultation on proposals for updating the Housing for Varying Needs design guide later this spring. Work on the review of the adaptations system is also underway and is expected to conclude later in the current financial year, with work to develop a joint housing, health and social care accountability and outcomes framework scheduled to start later this year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07532 on 19 April 2022. 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

The interim voucher portion of the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme is now closed. We do not hold data for Scottish Parliamentary constituencies. However, data on voucher eligibility for all 32 Scottish Local Authorities is provided in the following table:

The terms and conditions of the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (R100 SBVS) require that suppliers meet Ofcom's definition of 'affordable' broadband - set by Ofcom as no more than £46.10 per month, as per the terms and conditions of the UK's broadband Universal Service Obligation. As Starlink's satellite service currently costs £84 per month (set to rise to £94 per month from 9 May 2022), it does not meet this requirement and, therefore, Starlink is unable to register as a supplier for the R100 SBVS.

Details of the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) costs as of 1 April 2022 are set out in the following tables.

The original estimated costs of the R100 SBVS interim voucher was £3.3 million and the main voucher was between £12.8 million and £18 million. The SBVS continues to accept applications for main vouchers.

R100 SBVS Interim Voucher

Two suppliers of geostationary satellite services are registered to the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme.

Konnect offer commercial services for the central and eastern belt of Scotland (including Orkney and Shetland) and Bentley Walker (under the brand name 'freedomsat') is also registered as a supplier, offering nationwide coverage.