Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government is committed to working with local authorities, including by funding in key areas for public sector climate action through a mix of competitive and other funding programmes. Inviting bids from local authorities enables us to identify relevant projects, and to offer access to financial and other support tolocal authorities working in these areas . Combined, our funds represent a comprehensive package of support for local authority climate action.

Some examples of our strong climate funding offer to local authorities include: non-competitive funding for investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and decarbonisation of public sector fleets to all of Scotland's local authorities, with over £65 million of funding awarded over the last decade, competitive funds like the £200 million Green Growth Accelerator programme, an outcomes-based funding model for local authorities, and our Switched on Towns and Cities Programme, which has awarded over £14 million of funding to five projects (/local authorities) to support decarbonisation of transport.

We strongly support the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee’s ongoing Inquiry into the Role of Local Government and its Cross-Sectoral Partners in Financing and Delivering a Net- Zero Scotland. The findings of the inquiry will be a valuable contribution to how we can further develop our relationship with and support towards local governments.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with local authorities and the wider public sector, including through COSLA and the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN), where current opportunities and challenges within local authority climate action are frequently discussed. Scottish Government officials also engage with the Improvement Service on the capacity needs of local authorities in delivering net zero.

Since 2015-16, around 180 listed Scottish public bodies have been required to report annually on compliance with their statutory climate change duties. To assess progress on emissions reduction, the Scottish Government funds SSN to produce an annual analysis of the submitted reports. New regulations, which came into force on 9 November 2020, require Scottish public bodies from November 2022 to report, where applicable, how they will aligns spending plans and use of resources to contribute to delivering their emissions reduction targets.

We work with stakeholders regularly including with our Cladding Stakeholder Group to ensure all appropriate solutions are considered for homeowners and residents in affected buildings.

The Single Building Assessment programme in Scotland will not have a restriction to 18m and above. The UK Government's recent announcement for England does focus solely on buildings over 18m. Whilst we welcome the announcement from the UK Government about ensuring that the polluter pays, a collective approach is needed to secure reparations from developers and the wider construction industry.

As the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, I am responsible for audiology services.

There are multiple directorates in the Scottish Government with an interest in the delivery of audiology services in Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05254 on 25 January 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

As set out in our Programme for Government, the Scottish Government has already increased its ambition and commitment to deliver more social homes by increasing our affordable homes target from 100,000 to 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, with 70% of these being for social rent.

Housing to 2040 sets out our long term vision for Housing in Scotland. While a longer-term ambition allows for greater foresight, it does present challenges with predicting how circumstances might change or what unforeseen events might arise. That is why we will carry out a review at the mid-point of the target period, to assess if plans should continue unchanged or be adapted.

The Scottish Government has not provided additional financial support to local authorities specifically relating to the Covid certification scheme.

We are working closely with Local Authorities, the Health and Safety Executive and Police Scotland to ensure that we are taking a joint approach on the enforcement of regulations and wider workplace health measures. We have committed to £2.9m in funding to support Covid related work carried out by Local Authority Environmental Health and Trading Standards Officers to year end 2021-22. We continue to engage with the Local Authorities to understand how this funding is being used to ensure they have the capacity to support businesses to comply with the regulations and guidance, including the Covid status certification requirements. Local authorities are responsible for prioritising enforcement work within their area, and they are doing so using a risk based and 4 Es approach (Engage, Explain, Encourage and Enforce).

We continue to engage with Local Authorities over this funding, and any potential extensions that may be required.

We do not expect local authorities to develop new consultation processes on river catchment management and individual property protection measures.

The Flood Risk Management Act (2009) sets out Scotland’s catchment based approach to Flood Risk Management, including requirements for consultation on measures to reduce flood risk.

To support the implementation of the Act, the Scottish Government produce statutory and non-statutory guidance to help SEPA, local authorities and Scottish Water fulfil their responsibilities.

In 2019, the Scottish Government published the second edition of Delivering Sustainable Flood Risk Management . It includes advice for engaging with individuals, communities and landowners on flood risk, on steps that individuals can take to protect their families, homes and businesses from flooding, and of actions to avoid that can increase flood risk.

Our Living with Flooding Action Plan , also published in 2019 recommends actions for a range of stakeholders to take to help promote property flood resilience in Scotland. We continue to work with the steering group to help implement the actions set out in the plan.

We consider that these documents provide appropriate guidance for consultation on developing environmental considerations and policies.

Booster information was made available on paper/pdf certificates from 13 December. Only the 2 most recent vaccine doses are included.

The certificates have been developed in line with the standards set by the EU on 17 November. The EU set a deadline for all members of the EU DCC scheme to have aligned with this standard by 31 December.

This change will allow those travelling to the small number of countries that are seeking evidence of more recent doses to provide evidence of their booster or third vaccination.

COSLA recommended to Scottish Ministers that the flood protection schemes eligible for funding in the Flood Risk Management Strategies published in December 2015 which are not yet “legally committed” are paused. Ministers accepted this recommendation and COSLA are undertaking a review of these projects to assess their status and viability. COSLA will present the review findings to Ministers in due course. This pause and review of schemes is one element of the work being taken forward to review the current funding and distribution arrangements for flood risk management. The Scottish Government has not suspended any expenditure on the flood risk management schemes.