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Our Innovation and Investment Hubs provide a platform for, and a more joined up approach to, existing and new activity by the Government, partners and businesses to increase exports and attract investment to Scotland. We are developing a framework to assess their contribution to trade, investment and other outcomes though it will be challenging to fully separate out the specific impact of each Hub from wider trade and investment activities. Dublin has been fully operational since October 2016; London became operational in May 2017; and Brussels and Berlin are not yet operational. Figures on the specific trade and investment, economic and employment impacts of the Dublin Hub since it became operational are not available.

The Scottish Government is committed to establishing four Innovation and Investment Hubs in Dublin, London, Brussels and Berlin as an integral part of wider work across the Scottish Government, partners and businesses to support trade, investment, innovation and inter-governmental relations.

Dublin has been fully operational since October 2016; London became operational in May 2017 and Brussels and Berlin are not yet operational. Since becoming operational, the Dublin Hub has sought to build its diplomatic, trade, industry and academic networks. For example, accompanying the First Minister’s visit in November 2016, a trade mission of 14 Scottish companies were given the opportunity to network with 130 key Irish influencers. The Dublin Hub has also facilitated three Scottish companies taking part, along with companies from Ireland, in the Trinity International Growth Programme which provides businesses with tools, knowledge and bespoke coaching to help them expand their business and trade overseas.

The functional standards in the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 for fire safety do not differentiate between new public buildings and work to existing buildings, including schools. The requirements include occupants being alerted to the outbreak of fire and the inhibition of fire growth by the operation of an automatic fire suppression system. The Technical Handbooks which support these standards give different measures to meeting the standard, because there are different degrees of risk for different buildings.

I will arrange for officials to provide a brief summary of the main differences contained within the Technical Handbooks, copied to the Convener of the Local Government & Communities Committee of the Scottish Parliament

Scottish Government keeps the building regulations and supporting guidance under regular review. The guidance on fire safety measures for new buildings was changed in October 2010. Minor changes were made in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The changes introduced are available on the Scottish Government website via the following link:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/publications/pubverletts

Scottish Government have also issued additional supporting guidance and letters to local authority chief executives regarding the following:

• water supply for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, 27 July 2011;

• external wall insulation, 1 Nov 2013;

• whisky maturation warehouses- automatic fire suppression systems, 5 February 2015; and

• fire engineering notification, 22 May 17.

These letters are available on the Scottish Government website via the following link:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/publications/pubverletts

The first tranche of investment support under the Scottish Growth Scheme: the Scottish-European Growth Co-Investment Programme opened for business on 16 June 2017. At this stage no businesses have received investment through the programme.

In his letter of 12 June 2017, the CEO of the Scottish Funding Council advised Colleges Scotland that additional funding made available in 2017-18 was sufficient to meet the costs of the lecturers' pay settlement alone for 2017-18.

The letter was copied to all college Principals and made available to the EIS.

In his letter of 12 June 2017, the CEO of the Scottish Funding Council advised Colleges Scotland that additional funding made available in 2017-18 was sufficient to meet the costs of the lecturers' pay settlement alone for 2017-18.

The letter was copied to all college Principals and made available to the EIS.

Colleges Scotland have indicated that the first 25% of migration to new National Pay Scale for un-promoted lecturing staff will be made in July.

The functional standards in the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 for fire safety do not differentiate between high and low rise flats, the requirements are the same. These have, limiting fire spread, means of escape of occupants and assistance to the fire service as the purpose behind them.

The Technical Handbooks which support these standards give different measures to meeting the standard, because there is a greater degree of risk for a high rise domestic building which is defined as being “a domestic building with any storey at a height of more than 18 metres above the ground”.

I will arrange for officials to provide a brief summary of the main differences contained within the Domestic Technical Handbook, copied to the Convener of the Local Government and Communities Committee of the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of supporting those who are economically inactive and who want to work, into sustained employment. Aligned to Scotland’s Labour Market Strategy, a number of actions have been taken or are underway to address levels of economic inactivity. These include:-

Plans to prevent youth unemployment and inactivity. Our annual participation measure allows us to identify which 16-19 year olds are not participating n learning, training and work, and to help them to engage with help to enter training or work

Through Skills Development Scotland we are delivering a career information, advice and guidance service to people of all ages in Scotland, ensuring those most in need of in-depth help can access it easily. By introducing career information, advice and guidance earlier in school, young people have support at key stages of their education, helping them best understand how the choices they make today can open career pathways in the future.

New devolved powers on employment support have been exercised since 1 April 2017 through transitional arrangements. Work First Scotland and Work Able Scotland, will provide employability support for up to 4,800 people with a disability, health condition or at risk of long term unemployment.

We have designed and will deliver Fair Start Scotland (FSS) from April 2018. FSS will be a high quality service that maximises delivery of real and sustained job outcomes to targeted individuals, treating them with fairness, dignity and respect. Economically inactive people will be a priority group for this service and transitional arrangements.

Our new disability delivery plan – A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People (published 2 December 2016) includes actions to reduce the employment gap between disabled people and the rest of the working age population;

We are delivering on our commitment for a Returner’s programme to assist women who struggle to re-enter the workforce following a career break. Building on our initial funding to Equate Scotland of up to £50,000 to deliver the initiative in the STEM sector, the Minister for Employability and Training confirmed on 26 April 2017 additional funding of up to £200,000 and a call for proposals to widen the initiative across a variety of industrial sectors.