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The Scottish Government is aware that some areas have not required their full allocation to extend Free Personal Care to all ages. If the full allocation is not expected to be required in 2019-20, local authorities have confirmed that they are meeting their statutory obligations. Local Authorities will monitor the situation throughout the year and re-profile funding as necessary, should demand for Free Personal Care increase beyond their current planning.

The specific information requested is not held centrally. Information held nationally on delayed discharges does not include diagnosis information and it is therefore not possible to identify people with learning disabilities who have experienced a delayed discharge.

Data on medicines used in mental health, including antidepressants, is published annually by Information Services Division in their Prescribing Statistics - Medicines used in Mental Health publication. The next report will be published on 8 th October 2019, and will be available at: https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Prescribing-and-Medicines/Publications/

The following table shows the number of privately run adult care homes supporting one or more long stay adult resident(s) with learning disabilities, as reported via the annual care home census, as at 31 March 2017, the latest year for which data are available.

Number of Private Care Homes for Adults with one or more Long Stay Adult Resident(s) with Learning Disabilities, 31 March 2017:

The following table shows the estimated number of long stay care home residents with a learning disability, aged 18 years and older, in Scotland as at 31 March 2017, the latest time period for which data are available.

Estimated Number of Long Stay Residents with a Learning Disability, 31 March 2017

The purpose of the Workplace Equality Fund, launched in 2018 is not as a job creation scheme but is to support employers to engage in initiatives to reduce workplace inequalities and address long standing barriers particular groups face in entering and progressing in the labour market. Activity has included for example, people with learning disabilities testing online recruitment systems of private businesses, employers embracing a family friendly working approach and business practices informed by volunteers who have experienced mental ill health. 

The focus of the fund therefore was to support system change rather than to create jobs.

The 22 projects approved under the fund benefitted individuals with the protected characteristics of age, sex, ethnicity and disability. For example, 23 individuals benefitted from internships including 5 minority ethnic women and 20 women workers who were supported to improve their leadership skills to support their progression.

Housing Statistics for Scotland details the total number and the cost of housing adaptations delivered by each local authority. Information on Scottish Government-funded housing adaptations carried out by Registered Social Landlords is provided to SPICe, as we committed to providing an annual update of information about Scottish Government-funded housing adaptations as part of our responses to PQs S4W-28622 on 9 December 2015 and S5W-01638 on 16 August 2016.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government believe that a fairer Scotland can only be realised when we secure equal rights for everyone: tackling inequality is one of the Scottish Government's three priorities. We are supporting the many ways people celebrate, express and enjoy national sporting events across Scotland.

The Equality Act 2010 protects the rights for disabled people, which includes having access to venues. Information on this can be found on the Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland website. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance . Organisations applying for EventScotland support are required to include information about accessibility for disabled people at the event on the application form.

In relation to the Scottish Open, accessibility is a priority of the European Tour who abide by their robust Accessibility Policy with a tailored approach for each event. For example the inaugural European Disabled Golf Championship were held at the Scottish Open in July 2019.

We plan to carry out a staff travel survey in 2020.

We have a number of initiatives underway to encourage sustainable travel including:-

• We have increased the amount of cycle parking at Saughton House, Victoria Quay and St Andrews House by installing new double height racks.
• We have showers, lockers, changing facilities and drying cabinets for cyclists in all of our main buildings.
• We hold cycle friendly employer status.
• We run annual sustainable travel roadshows for staff and offer free bike maintenance sessions.
• We offer personal travel plans for staff which show them the most sustainable ways to commute to work.
• We have dedicated lift share spaces at Saughton House and Victoria Quay.
• We offer a public transport season ticket scheme to help staff spread the cost of a season ticket over 12 months.
• We operate a cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme. Staff can buy a bike to cycle to work and spread the payments over 12 months which are exempt from tax and national insurance.
• We promote sustainable travel to visitors with our “Green Welcome” signage
• We have live screens in our main Edinburgh offices displaying public transport information.