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For individuals who undertake the Engineering and Engineering Construction frameworks, there is the opportunity to complete a Scottish Vocational Qualification in the units set out below:

Engineering:

• Fabrication and Welding Engineering (SCQF Level 6)
• Fabrication and Welding Engineering Sheet Metalwork 3mm, less (SCQF Level 6)
• Fabrication and Welding Engineering (Manual Welding) (SCQF Level 6)

Engineering Construction:

• Diploma in Welding Engineering Construction Plate (SCQF Level 7)

There are also qualifications available for those who wish to train in welding through the Employability Fund (EF), which was developed as a response to concerns that the existing landscape of provision for pre-employment support in Scotland was too fragmented and not flexible enough to meet the needs of individuals and local labour markets.

With a strong focus on work experience, the EF responds to the different needs of individuals, while also adapting to employer demands on a local basis. Employability Fund can be used to support people to develop the employability and vocational skills they need to make the transition into a Modern Apprenticeship or job.

As part of the EF, the following qualifications are available for individuals to undertake:

• Welding - Radiographic Interpretation of Welds
• Welding Inspector
• Welding Code Core Flux 6 GR EN ISO 96061
• Flux Core Welding 6G H-LO45 135/136 incl. Exam
• CSWIP Welding Inspection with E-Learning

In Scotland, Modern and Graduate Apprentices are employees and it is therefore employers who set apprentices pay, as with their other employees within the parameters of the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

The NMW, including the NMW for Apprentices, is a reserved matter for the UK Government. As such, the rates of NMW are set by the UK Government and the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Apprenticeship Pay Survey , most recently published on 10 January 2020 by the UK Government Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), measures the pay rates of apprentices and may be the closest available measure.

Scotland’s results are based on 2,301 interviews with Scottish apprentices, the majority of interviews were conducted with apprentices at Levels 2 and 3, along with a smaller number of interviews with apprentices at Level 4+. The table below sets out a comparison of 2016 and 2018 survey data for Scotland:

Table 1: Median basic hourly pay for apprentices in Scotland by level, 2016 and 2018

Working with industry, we have developed a set of installer skills requirements to help professionalise services in this sector, and provide clearer career pathways for young people. We consulted on these earlier last year and we are now integrating these requirements into the relevant industry standards.

We have partnered with Scottish Renewables and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to undertake a 'Heat in Buildings Workforce Assessment Project' which will help us define the timing of workforce growth and how best to support people transitioning into key roles. This work will report back in Spring 2022. This will improve our understanding on how best to support workforce investment and ensure that jobs will be available for people to move into as they complete their training.

At the end of 2020 the Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) published the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) setting out the actions we need to take to ensure our workforce is able to support the transition to net zero.

As part of the implementation of the CESAP, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) are currently reviewing training needs and available provision required to deliver the ambitions of our Heat in Buildings Strategy. We have commissioned a workforce assessment which will serve as an evidence base for this review.

Modern Apprenticeships are the key pathway for young people into the heating and plumbing industry. The Scottish Government provides a contribution towards training of Mas through SDS. The public funded training contribution is structured by age and level, and prioritised to support outcomes within the Scottish Government's skills and economic strategies.

Three colleges are currently offering insulation apprenticeships - West College Scotland, South Lanarkshire College and Edinburgh College. A further two training facilities at West Lothian College and Dundee & Angus College are due to open August 2022 to meet the increased demand.

In addition the new Insultation Building Treatments (IBT) Level 5/6 qualification approved by Apprenticeship Approvals Group (AAG) to support external wall apprenticeships. This qualification will be supported within Scotland's colleges insultation training facilities with funding received from SP Energy Networks Green Economy Funding and Scottish Government.

This new qualification will further improve the quality and standards of installations in Scotland, in addition to creating new Apprenticeship Opportunities.

We engage regularly with the UK Government, COSLA, local authorities and other partners to ensure that people are provided with the safety and security they need to rebuild their lives.

All 32 local authorities have confirmed their participation in Afghanistan Relocation and Resettlement Schemes and as of 4 March, 101 families (415 individuals) have been relocated to 20 Scottish Local Authorities.

Local authorities continue to experience lengthy delays in the matching process, resulting in significant costs due to properties set aside to support Afghans lying empty. We urge the UK Government to address these delays as quickly as possible.

Our clear preference would be for people to move into housing as soon as possible, however due to the speed and size of the evacuation we recognise that the use of temporary hotel accommodation was necessary. Refugee resettlement and relocation are UK Government schemes and the Home Office is responsible for the sourcing of hotels to accommodate people.

There are currently 6 hotels located in Scotland used for bridging accommodation (2 in Edinburgh, 1 in Fife and 3 in Aberdeen). In line with the key principle of the New Scots refugee integration strategy, local authorities are working to support integration from day one of arrival in Scotland, including those within hotels.

We continue to engage with the UK Government to ensure that property offers that local authorities have already made can be matched with Afghan families as soon as possible.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06031 on 28 February 2022 which provides an update on publication of the Project Neptune report.

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
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The community needs assessment process is focussed on identifying communities needs for travel.

However, the procurement process for the next CHFS contract will consider potential community benefits including employment and training opportunities .

Most recently services and ferry delivery structures in other countries have been reviewed include Norway, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. These examples will inform the development of ferries policy including in the consideration of relevant assessments and the decarbonisation of the Scottish Government ferry fleet.

The Scottish Government is working to deliver the Care Experience Grant which will provide young care experienced people age 16-25 with, additional financial support and security as they move into adulthood; and support their financial wellbeing. This £200 annual grant will benefit around 50,000 young people. Officials are currently engaging with stakeholders and potential partners to identity the best delivery mechanism for the Grant.

In 2021-22 the Scottish Government distributed over £12 million to support the provision of free welfare and debt advice. This vital funding ensures that people who are struggling the most can access the support they need in a way that works for them – be it face to face, online or over the phone. Care leavers and individuals with care experience can access this advice.

Additionally, eligible care leavers can request aftercare from the local authority who had responsibility for providing their care. Aftercare support can include: financial support to meet essential accommodation and maintenance costs, such as travel and other necessary living expenses; information or advice.

The Scottish Government provides funding to local authorities through the local government funding settlement for the provision of continuing care and aftercare services, which includes provision of accommodation for care leavers. Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to provide support to eligible care leavers and it is the responsibility of each authority to decide how funds are allocated to services within their area.