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The Scottish Government does not plan to amend the current legislation on matters around public libraries.

Under section 163(2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, public library services in Scotland are devolved to local authorities who have a statutory duty to ensure that there is adequate provision of library facilities for all persons resident in their area, taking into account local needs.

Scottish Government’s policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow local authorities the financial freedom to operate independently. As such, the vast majority of funding is provided by means of a block grant. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities, as independent corporate bodies to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them, including on libraries, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

Any decision around public libraries must be considered extremely carefully and we would encourage local authorities to work in partnership with communities to explore ways of delivering services, based on need.

The Scottish Government will continue to work in partnership with local government to ensure that the people of Scotland continue to receive the high quality public services that they expect and deserve.

We are aware that there are ongoing challenges around staff recruitment and retention in the social work sector. These issues have been exacerbated by the effects of COVID-19, which has had a significant impact on capacity over the last few years.

The Scottish Government provides funding to local authorities for both children and families, and adult social work through the general local government financial settlement. Local authorities should determine how much resource is given to supporting the delivery of social work and social care services, plan their workforce and ensure appropriate levels of staff are in place to provide social services for their residents.

Funding for justice social work services, including community sentences, bail services, diversion from prosecution, and other community interventions, is provided by the Scottish Government through an annual ring-fenced grant to local authorities. Local authorities have considerable autonomy to direct this funding to meet local priorities. The Scottish Government has continued to protect the community justice budget, and in 2023-24 we will invest a total of £134m in community justice services. This includes £123m to local authority justice social work services.

Once a Community Payback Order (CPO) has been imposed, its management – including with regard to compliance and attendance – is a matter for the courts and local authority justice social work services. The Scottish Government therefore does not collect or collate this information.

Managing compliance effectively is critical to achievement of the purposes of a CPO. If an individual does not attend any part of their CPO, this will be investigated by justice social work services. If the reason for absence is not acceptable, this will result in the commencement of a formal warning process, which can result in the case being returned to court under breach procedures, where the court will consider the breach.

Seventy-nine per cent of orders which ended during 2021-22 did not involve any breach applications for the duration of the order. It is up to the independent courts to decide the most appropriate outcome where a CPO has been breached, based on all of the circumstances of the case, and ultimately this may include the imposition of a custodial sentence.

Health Boards are responsible for the health and safety of NHS staff. Scottish Government officials have been assured by NHS Greater Glasgow and Cycle (NHS GGC) that they have the necessary controls, protocols and support in place to protect staff. We will continue to work closely with NHS GGC to monitor the safety and wellbeing of staff at the Langhill Clinic.

NHSScotland has joined the multi-agency Your Safety Matters (YSM) initiative, led by Police Scotland. YSM aims to minimise incidents of violence and aggression in workplaces, through campaigns, sharing resources and good practice.

Abuse towards NHS staff is unacceptable, and the courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with those who carry out such appalling behaviour on emergency workers.

The Scottish Government continues to prioritise investment in frontline services, providing an increase of over £730 million to NHS Boards in 2023-24 and taking funding for NHS Ayrshire and Arran to over £850 million – an increase of over 71% since 2006-07.

Despite this record investment there remain significant financial pressures across the system as a result of inflation, Covid and Brexit. The Scottish Government is working closely with all NHS Boards to address these pressures, ensuring patient care and safety remain the priority.

This includes providing additional support and scrutiny to NHS Ayrshire and Arran under the Performance Escalation Framework to support development and implementation of the Board’s financial recovery plan and delivery of sustainable services.

The Royal Mail and postal delivery services remain a reserved matter and the responsibility of the UK Government.

While the Scottish Government has no power to intervene in the industrial dispute between Royal Mail and the Commercial Workers Union we welcome the news that both parties have now reached an agreement; and that this will now go to ballot with the recommendation to accept.

We hope that the proposals in the agreement can be implemented quickly and bring the detrimental impact this action has had on consumers across Scotland to an end.

Social housing evictions are dealt with by the Sheriff Courts. The number of court hearings required in each case will depend on the complexity and circumstances of the individual case. Whilst the number of summary cause eviction applications registered by the Sheriff Courts has increased over the last year following the ending of the Covid protection measures, the number of applications remain s well below pre-pandemic levels.

The ongoing cost crisis continues to place people across Scotland in an unprecedented economic position.

The first report on the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 was published on 12 January. The report outlines the various sources of information considered, formally and informally, including a call for evidence to key stakeholders. It is clear that in both the private and social rented sector, the temporary evictions moratorium continues to be necessary in order to help reduce the negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of tenants caused by being evicted or made homeless during the cost crisis, by providing those being evicted with additional time to access support and find alternative accommodation that meets their needs.

As part of assessing the continued necessity of these provisions we have engaged with those representing landlords, letting agents and tenants in both the private and social rented sectors as well as Local Authorities, the Scottish Housing Regulator, student accommodation providers and Lenders. A Statement of Reasons sets out reasons why The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 (Amendment of Expiry Dates and Rent Cap Modification) Regulations 2023 ("the extension regulations") should be made, including the extension of the moratorium on the enforcement of eviction orders across the rental sector.

It is taking the wider economic context and stakeholder engagement, in connection with the cost of living, into account that we have deemed it is necessary and proportionate to extend Part 1 of the Act. A further report on the operation of the emergency Act is due to be laid before Parliament in July.

Local authorities are responsible for administering their payroll operations and ensuring any tax is paid at the correct rates.

His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are responsible for the collection of Scottish Income Tax and all technical guidance relating to the correct tax treatment of earnings. Any teacher who is concerned about this issue should contact their employer and engage with HMRC.

Energy retail policy is reserved to the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government is fully aware of the challenges that some consumers with prepayment meters faced when trying to access the Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers. We would urge anybody in this position to contact Advice Direct Scotland who will be able to help redeem vouchers ahead of the UK Government’s deadline of 30 June 2023.

The Scottish Government is very disappointed that the UK Government did not choose to extend the Energy Bills Support Scheme – a decision which has left many vulnerable households struggling to pay their bills and heat their homes.

The disproportionate impact of high energy prices on fuel poor households across Scotland will be a key focus of my early ministerial engagement with the UK Government