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If fuel prices had only increased in line with inflation since 2002, the fuel poverty rate in Scotland would have been 9.5 per cent in 2014, instead of 35 per cent.

Other factors such as an increased ageing population or those with limiting long term illnesses, which require a higher heating regime under the fuel poverty definition, are also contributing to higher reported fuel poverty rates. Conversely, improvements in the energy efficiency in the housing stock and increases in average household incomes since 2002 are contributing to lower fuel poverty rates. Changes in the technical energy modelling, used to derive fuel poverty, also impact on the estimates.

As a fuel poverty rate of 9.5 per cent is lower than the 13 per cent reported in 2002, the net effect of all other factors combined over the period from 2002 to 2014 was a small decrease in the fuel poverty rate. On this basis, we can attribute all of the increase in fuel poverty rates since the introduction of the fuel poverty target in 2002 to above-inflation energy prices.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

The National Tobacco Strategy Work stream has recommended that all Scottish prisons should be smoke-free within a timescale of up to five years.

The smoke-free policy will be comprehensive i.e. smoking will not be permitted indoors or outdoors in Scottish prisons.

SPS will be working closely with NHS Health boards and Scottish Government as well as other partner agencies to develop comprehensive plans in preparation for the change.

Smoking cessation services in prisons are delivered by NHS Health boards. NHS boards do not currently have plans in place for implementation of smoke-free prisons. They will be key stakeholders in the partnership approach with Scottish Government and SPS. Health boards will need sufficient time to model demands on cessation services and required resources (e.g. skilled smoking cessation staff and pharmacotherapy), agree budgets, and put funding in place to expand the service to meet demand.

Implementation of smoke-free prisons will be supported and monitored by a large scale study, which will play a vital role in helping SPS and NHS boards prepare to make changes.

A decision has still to be made on whether e-cigarettes will be allowed. This is being considered by a working group, which includes NHS specialists and leading academics from Scottish universities, to support an informed decision on e-cigarettes.

The Programme for government announced on 6 September 2016 confirmed that the Scottish Government will take forward the implementation of the recommendations of the Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Group as set out in the Scottish Government response: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0049/00494565.pdf

Some of these recommendations will require primary legislation and we are in the process of identifying a legislative vehicle. Relevant discussions are also taking place with other parties.

The numbers of requests being dealt with by the Scottish Government vary from day to day as requests are received and answered. Information about the number of requests made to the Scottish Government, and how many were answered within 20 working days, is available from the FOI Annual Reports which are published on our website at: http://www.gov.scot/About/Information/FOI/Reporting.

The decision to deploy Taser conductive energy devices at railway stations in Scotland was an operational policing decision for the British Transport Police Chief Constable. Ministers have been briefed on the changes, which are intended to strengthen security at major stations, but are not in response to any specific threat.

The Scottish Government has not made any formal assessment of the impact of the vicarious liability provisions in the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011. There have been two successful prosecutions under these provisions so far. It is likely that the provisions will have had a positive effect as landowners and their agents have put in place arrangements to ensure that their staff and contractors have appropriate training, and understand and comply with the law in this area.

The Scottish Government review of data relating to satellite-tagged birds of prey is expected in Spring 2017.

This will involve a substantial amount of statistical analysis which will examine information from over 200 tagged golden and white-tailed eagles, hen harriers, red kites and ospreys. Once completed, the results of the analysis will provide us with a far greater insight into where these birds are going missing, and that will help to inform future action.

I fully appreciate and value the essential service and vital role Retained Duty System firefighters play in keeping the rural and remote communities of Scotland safe.

However, the recruitment and retention of retained firefighters within Scotland’s Fire Service is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The Scottish Government is aware that Police Scotland has established an EU Measures review team to consider the implications of the referendum result. The review team reports to the Chief Constable and the timing of its meetings and reports is a matter for Police Scotland.

The requirement on the Lord Advocate to issue a code of practice will be commenced in the summer of 2017, along with the other provisions within Part one of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016. The code of practice will come into effect, once a full review and consultation process are carried out by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal service.