Seòmar agus comataidhean

The scientific report published on 9 August by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change makes absolutely clear the severe threat and heightened risk the climate emergency poses to the planet. However, it also shows that with immediate, concerted international action to reduce emissions, it is still possible to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C in the longer term.

Offshore fossil fuel exploration and development is an area where key decisions on licencing, regulation and policy are reserved to the UK Government. On 12 August, the First Minister wrote to the UK Prime Minister calling for significant enhancements to the climate conditionality associated with offshore oil and gas production. As set out in that letter, there is no doubt how important our highly skilled oil and gas industry and workforce are to Scotland, but we must ensure that they, and the existing infrastructure, can help Scotland seize the opportunities of the just transition to net zero - we cannot rest on business as usual in the face of a climate emergency. In this context, the Scottish Government has also recently committed to undertake a programme of work and analysis to better understand Scotland’s energy requirements as we transition to net zero and how these align with our climate change targets and the aims of the UN Paris Agreement. This work, which will report by the end of 2022, will supplement a wide range of evidence that will be considered to take an informed policy decision on the contribution of North Sea production to the global climate emergency and to Scotland’s economy, security and wellbeing.

In terms of other forms of fossil fuel extraction, the Scottish Government has previously confirmed a finalised policy position of no support for onshore unconventional oil and gas development in Scotland and will develop policies on conventional onshore oil and gas development and coal extraction in alignment with our climate change obligations and wider energy policy.

We are proud that Scotland is at the forefront of global efforts to respond to the climate emergency. Legally binding targets have been set to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the economy by 2045 at the latest, with a world-leading interim 2030 target of a 75% reduction. In December 2020, the Scottish Government updated our Climate Change Plan to set out how we will deliver this ambition as part of a green recovery from COVID-19. The indicative Nationally Determined Contribution document we have published in advance of the COP26 Summit outlines the full range of actions we are taking to contribute to the Paris Agreement, through reducing our emissions, building resilience to the impacts of climate change and supporting international efforts, for example by using our position as Co-Chairs of the Under 2 Coalition and through doubling our Climate Justice Fund.

I welcome Professor Stobart’s paper on the future of qualifications and assessment.

It is important to note that this paper has not produced recommendations but looks at approaches taken around the world, outlining a number of possible options for Scotland to consider as part of a wider conversations on any future changes to its qualifications and assessment system.

These options include:

• the development of a Senior Phase qualification system based on a combination of teacher assessment and exams
• the simplification of S4-5 assessment by “de-cluttering” the historical diet of exams
• the increased use of online exam resources and oral presentations as an assessment format
• the inclusion of pupils views in decisions around assessment
• enhancing the role of vocational qualifications

Working with stakeholders across the education sector, including learners, we will give full consideration to the options that Professor Stobart has outlined.

I will update Parliament on how this work will be taken forward and on the on-going implementation of OECD recommendations on Curriculum for Excellence in due course.

The Scottish Government has today (31 August) published the Financial Sustainability Health Check of the Childcare Sector in Scotland .

This exercise has collected evidence on the sustainability of the childcare sector, in particular in light of the impacts of COVID-19. The Health Check has been informed by evidence and analysis from: detailed surveys of childcare providers; in-depth case study interviews with a range of providers; discussions with provider representative bodies; and analysis of trends in registration data. A supporting Analysis and Evidence paper has also been published.

As part of this exercise we have also collected updated information from all local authorities on the sustainable rates that they have set for providers in the private, third and childminding sectors to deliver funded early learning and childcare.

The Health Check sets out a range of actions that we will now work with the sector and delivery partners to progress. The actions will build on the substantial targeted financial support made available to the sector since March 2020, actions already being progressed, and aligning, where possible, with economy-wide support measures.

Scotland’s Population 2020: the Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends’ will be published at 9:30 a.m. on 31 August 2021. The Report contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic information. A copy of the report is available from the Registrar General’s website at www.nrscotland.gov.uk .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02400 on 31 August 2021 . 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02400 on 31 August 2021 . 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02400 on 31 August 2021 . 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 Mobilisation Recovery Group (MRG) was an advisory group established by the previous Cabinet Secretary under Re-mobilise, Recover, Re-design: the Framework for NHS Scotland.

Membership, the dates on which meetings took place, and minutes of those meetings can be found on the MRG website, available at Mobilisation Recovery Group - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Minutes include a list of attendees at each meeting. The number of attendees varied depending on the meeting.

In 2021, the MRG met on 22 January, 15 February, 5 March, 26 March, and 16 April. All meetings scheduled to take place after Friday 16 April have been cancelled. Meetings were scheduled to take place on 5 June, 25 June, 16 July, 6 August, 27 August, 24 September, 15 October, 5 November, and 3 December.

The minute of the meeting held on 16 April will be published on the website shortly.

The NHS Scotland COVID Status app is being developed for release to the public by the end of September with vaccination information initially. We are developing our app to meet the EU requirements so we expect this to be compatible with the IATA Travel Pass. We are engaging with international stakeholders and UK Government to ensure the app is compatible with the other countries requirements of entry.

We are making PDF downloads of vaccination status and 2D barcodes (known as QR codes) available for international travel from early September to facilitate international travel.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

‘An initial ‘Expression of Interest’ stage was undertaken by SPS for the HMP Highland project with four expressions of interest received. Following evaluation and a high standard of response, all four contractors were invited to tender and four bids were received in June 2021.

Tender evaluation is underway and SPS anticipates the initial contract award will be made in September 2021.’