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I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33579 on 26 November 2020, in which the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills outlined the amending Regulations made to the Health Protection (Coronavirus)(Restrictions and Requirements)(Local Levels)(Scotland) Regulations 2020 to allow students to return home at the end of term and accompanying guidance, which includes travel and transport guidance for students.

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 .

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.

The suspension of the Throughcare Support Service (TSS) was a difficult decision for SPS to make, necessitated by the need to have staff return to their original roles as prison officers to manage and support the increasingly complex prison population.

In July 2019, SPS had a complement of 42 Throughcare Support Officers and 3 Throughcare Support Officer First Line Managers (FLMs) trained to deliver throughcare support.

There are currently no Throughcare Support Officers employed by SPS, however staff within prisons do continue to provide a variety of pre-release support services through engaging with individuals, their families and our partners, with the aim of supporting a smooth transition from custody to community.

We recognise the benefits that the Throughcare Support Service (TSS) brought to those in our care and we are committed to exploring what any future throughcare support will look like as part of our recovery from COVID.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.

The suspension of the Throughcare Support Service (TSS) was a difficult decision for SPS to make in September 2019 and was necessitated by the need to have staff return to their original roles to manage the increasingly complex prison population.

We do however recognise the benefits that the TSS brought to those in our care and we are committed to exploring what any future throughcare support might look like as part of our recovery from COVID.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.

The following table shows the number of people assisted by the SPS Throughcare Support Service for each month during 2017, 2018 and 2019 up to July.

The Scottish Government’s fuel poverty and domestic energy efficiency programmes operate on the principle of `fabric first’. We would not normally consider replacing an existing heating system unless the property has first been insulated as effectively as possible.

Our Heat in Buildings Strategy, which will include the update to the Energy Efficient Scotland Route Map, will set out our long term vision for reducing emissions from buildings, including the actions we will take to secure delivery.

We recognise the critical role of planning in helping to meet our net zero targets. Our NPF4 Position Statement, published on 26 November, underlines that responding to the global climate emergency will be at the heart of NPF4. It highlights key areas for policy change including: 20 minute neighbourhoods, embedding sustainable travel, low and zero carbon design and energy efficiency, emphasis on re-using existing buildings and previously used land, supporting renewable energy and energy transmission infrastructure. The position statement can be accessed from the Scottish Government’s website: www.gov.scot .

Students studying abroad who are returning to Scotland should do so in line with our guidance for residents or visitors travelling to the UK. Those travelling from a country not exempt from quarantine requirements must complete a passenger locator form and self-isolate for 14 days. Students and staff who are travelling to and from Scotland should check the Scottish Government website for the latest advice. Our guidance sets out the support available to help people self-isolate.

We are aware of concerns around resourcing of planning authorities and the need for efficient handling of applications, particularly those with the potential to support key policy drivers including emissions reductions.

Our programme of planning reform aims to improve the system as a whole and our extensive programme of policy, regulations and guidance will bring greater certainty over consenting and delivery of planned development, supporting economic recovery whilst also delivering social and environmental benefits. We will also consider whether to extend ‘permitted development rights’ which remove the need to apply for planning permission for zero-emission heat networks and micro-renewable technologies.

Plans to revise planning fees are currently paused due to the potential impact on the development sector in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However Ministers remain committed to ensuring that planning authorities are properly resourced and we will bring forward a revised fee structure as soon as the timing is appropriate.

Scottish Government anticipate that the statutory annual emissions reduction targets set in the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 will represent the future national emissions trajectory. A full list of the levels of these targets has been laid in the Scottish Parliament, and can also be found on the Scottish Government website. The Climate Change Plan update, to be published later this month, will articulate our policy pathway up until 2032 to meeting these targets.

The amount of waste exported will be affected by the type, volume, and quality of waste generated in Scotland, as well as the nature of contracts put in place by businesses and local authorities to manage their waste. We have not made projections for the export of waste or material collected for recycling.

We want to build a fully circular economy and be able to manage more of our own waste within Scotland, including the 14% which is currently processed elsewhere. As outlined in our Programme for Government 2020-21, we are working with local authorities to explore options that will unlock reprocessing investments, including pricing and incentive schemes. We are also actively working with potential investors to encourage reprocessing capacity in Scotland.