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The members of the Scottish Expert Advisory Panel on the Collaborative Economy were chosen to represent a wide range of knowledge and expertise on the benefits and challenges of the collaborative economy. This necessarily includes members drawn from collaborative platforms, both in recognition of their practical experiences and of the fact that the most pragmatic international responses in this area have been developed when they were part of the process. The panel’s membership strikes a balance with a range of interests being represented, including STUC and Social Value Lab.

The Scottish Government recognises that the world of work is rapidly changing and that employment practices and the legislative framework need to adapt at a similar pace to ensure workers’ rights are protected and enhanced. Workers’ rights is one of the key areas that is being considered by the Panel and was the focus of their meeting on 26 July at which a wide range of organisations including Closing the Gap and GMB Union were invited to give evidence.

The Scottish Expert Advisory Panel on the Collaborative Economy met for the first time in May 2017 and will meet monthly until November. The panel will present its report to Scottish Ministers in December 2017.

The Panel’s purpose is to provide advice, expertise and experience for policy development on the collaborative economy and to make recommendations to Scottish Ministers on how Scotland can position itself to take advantage of the opportunities and overcome any regulatory, economic and social challenges. The members were chosen to represent traditional business models and collaborative platforms and have a wide range of knowledge and expertise. Full details on its remit and membership can be found here.

The Scottish Government expects health boards to take all appropriate action to comply with their legal obligation to ensure patients are treated in accordance with the treatment time guarantee. If a patient has not received their treatment within the 12 week maximum waiting time period they should immediately contact their health boards so that an appointment can be made to treat them as quickly as possible.

Section 10 of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 sets out the actions a health board must take where it has not complied with the treatment time guarantee. These are make such arrangement as necessary to ensure the agreed treatment starts at the next available opportunity, provide an explanation as to why the treatment did not start within the maximum waiting time, provide the patient with details of the patient advice and support available and on how to give feedback or raise a concern or complaint.

The Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety have developed a website that includes the information requested by the member. This can be found at https://beta.gov.scot/groups/building-and-fire-safety-working-group/.

As stated in response to the member's previous question (S5T-00595) the Ministerial Working Group want to be in the business of providing transparency and reassurance, and we will use this website to publish relevant information and papers.

The background information will be published on the Building Standards pages of the Scottish Government website in the week commencing 10 July 2017.

A series of sector specific guides published by Scottish Government provide practical fire safety guidance for those with responsibilities for fire safety in non-domestic premises under Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005. Where possible, the guides do not set down prescriptive standards but provide recommendations regarding the Fire Risk Assessment process, the reduction of risk, and fire safety measures that can be implemented to mitigate risk.

The guidance does not stipulate the frequency of assessments but confirms that dutyholders are legally required to review the Fire Risk Assessment and its outcome regularly and to revise it where necessary.

The Scottish Government contributed £50 million (via Scottish Enterprise) to the Scottish-European Growth Co-Investment Programme, the first tranche of investment support under the Scottish Growth Scheme. This was match funded by £50 million from the European Investment Fund (EIF). The Programme is expected to lever over £100 million from EIF accredited fund managers across Europe for investment in Scottish companies.

The Scottish Government contributed £50 million (via Scottish Enterprise) to the Scottish-European Growth Co-Investment Programme. This was matched by £50 million from the European Investment Fund (EIF). In addition, the Programme is expected to lever over £100 million from EIF accredited fund managers across Europe for investment in Scottish companies and companies have been able to access the Programme since 16 June 2017. Details on the eligibility criteria can be found at https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/services/attract-investment/scottish-european-growth-co-investment-programme/scottish-european-growth-co-investment-programme-overview

The current building standards system legislative framework under The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 has been in place since 2005. The purpose of the system is to protect the public interest. Local authorities are responsible for managing the building standards system for their own geographic area and undertake independent checks of building at design stage and construction stage. The system is pre-emptive and a building warrant is required before work can start, and a completion certificate must be accepted by the local authority before a building can be occupied. The system is intended to ensure that building work on new and existing buildings results in buildings that meet reasonable standards, set out in building regulations, and ensure that work is carried out in a technically proper and workmanlike manner, using materials used which are durable and fit for their intended purpose.

Through its management of the NPD/hub programme and Scotland's Schools for the Future programme, the Scottish Futures Trust works with procuring authorities (including local authorities and NHS Boards) to ensure that projects taken forward through these programmes meet current building standards.

In addition, as a follow up to the Cole Report, on 9 February 2017 the Minister for Local Government and Housing wrote to local authorities and the Scottish Futures Trust wrote to local authorities and other public sector bodies underlining the importance of adhering to building regulations, technical standards and inspection processes.

The information, including the anticipated number of jobs supported, is as follows. Unless stated otherwise, the support was provided between September 2016 and March 2017.