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Scottish Ministers are still considering the wealth of information provided through the recent National Care Service (NCS) public consultation.

In that consultation we sought views on a remit for the NCS to develop and manage a National Commissioning and Procurement Structure of Standards and Processes for ethical commissioning and procuring of social care services and supports. We will develop the approach to national and local level ethical commissioning and procurement with partners, stakeholders and those who delivery care and receive care.

Local authority and other public service social care provision will remain important in delivering social care.

Scottish Ministers are still considering the wealth of information provided through the recent National Care Service (NCS) public consultation.

In that consultation we sought views on a remit for the NCS to develop and manage a National Commissioning and Procurement Structure of Standards and Processes for ethical commissioning and procuring of social care services and supports. We will develop the approach to national and local level ethical commissioning and procurement with partners, stakeholders and those who deliver and receive care.

Local authority and other public service social care provision will remain important in delivering social care.

Scottish Government officials last met with COSLA on 4 March 2022 to discuss the introduction of a national recommended allowance for foster and kinship carers. They are next due to meet following the Easter holiday period.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to promoting Fair Work practices throughout Scotland and will continue to press the UK Government for the full set of powers around employment law in order to allow us to fully deliver our Fair Work ambitions, including replacing the National Minimum Wage (NMW) with the real Living Wage as set out in the Fair Work Action Plan. The Scottish Government also supports the abolition of the apprentice rate and a move towards the real Living Wage for all apprentices.

The Scottish Government, as an employer, has an on-going commitment to supporting payment of the real Living Wage in our public sector pay policy in a manner consistent with the terms of the living wage foundation accreditation scheme.

The pay policy applies directly to staff within over 50 public bodies, however the Scottish Government would encourage all public sector workforces to take a similar approach.

The Scottish Government has committed to introducing a National Care Service before the end of the current Parliament. We have consulted on proposals for the National Care Service to develop and manage a National Commissioning and Procurement Structure of Standards and Processes for ethical commissioning and procuring of social care services and supports.

We propose that these standards will set principles to inform decision making, including in respect of financial transparency and commercial viability across the whole of the care home sector.

We are engaging with trade unions on the future operation of the National Care Service (NCS). The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 and supporting statutory guidance, already establishes an approach for fair work practices to be considered in public procurement and this includes fair rates of pay and worker representation.

Scottish Ministers are still considering the wealth of information provided through the recent NCS public consultation. In that consultation we sought views on a remit for the NCS to develop and manage a National Commissioning and Procurement Structure of Standards and Processes for ethical commissioning and procuring of social care services and supports. We will develop the approach to national and local level ethical commissioning and procurement with partners, stakeholders and those who deliver and receive care.

The Scottish Government has not contracted Strathesk Resolutions to offer mediation services between trade unions and employers in the public sector.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-36024 on 15 March 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-07905 on 27 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 Scottish Government are aware of ongoing criticisms of the BS 8414 test. Opinion on the test within the sector remains divided. The test standard has not been withdrawn by the British Standards Institution and its purpose is to provide data to enable evaluation of the fire performance of components when combined to form a complete cladding system.

Following consultation last year, the Building Scotland (Amendment) Regulations 2022 were laid in the Scottish Parliament on 22 April. From 1 June 2022, these regulations introduce a ban on combustible cladding systems on residential and other high risk buildings over 11m. For such buildings, BS 8414 can no longer be used as an alternative means of compliance with building regulations.