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As set out in the November 2022 update to the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan, the Scottish Government discussed with GTCS and SCDE the viability of a first teaching qualification in additional support for learning being available at the initial teacher education stage.

The conclusion of these discussions was that this type of qualification may not be considered attractive to those considering a career in teaching and that student teachers need to experience the full spectrum of school teaching during initial teacher education and probation before being in a position to make an informed judgement on specialising in additional support for learning.

To help bring benefits to the people of Scotland.

The Lord Advocate attended the 13th Conference of the Network of Public Prosecutors or equivalent institutions at the Supreme Judicial Courts of the Member States of the European Union (Nadal Network) Conference in Vienna, Austria in May 2022 in her capacity as the head of the system for criminal prosecution in Scotland.

The Lord Advocate also visited Belgium and the Netherlands in November 2022 to build and maintain relations with key Belgian, Dutch and UK Government officials involved in international law enforcement matters.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15687 on 22 March 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

I will have lead responsibility for the proposed Wellbeing and Sustainability Bill.

The Scottish Government is committed to investing in Changing Places Toilets during this parliamentary term, in order to increase the number of these facilities across the country and to support mobile Changing Places Toilets to allow people easier access to events and outdoor venues.

Further information will be available over the course of this parliamentary term.

The Scottish Government is committed to investing in Changing Places Toilets during this parliamentary term, in order to increase the number of these facilities across the country and to support mobile Changing Places Toilets to allow people easier access to events and outdoor venues.

Further information will be available over the course of this parliamentary term.

The Scottish Government is in regular contact with COSLA and representatives from local authorities regarding the expansion of free school meals.

Zero Waste Scotland seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of responsible consumption by promoting the benefits of reuse. This is regularly done through communications campaigns promoting the Revolve programme, actions such as Pass It On Week and European Week for Waste Reduction, and encouraging individuals to reuse items and choose second-hand. Its recent carbon metric publication highlighted the impact of textiles waste.

Zero Waste Scotland is working to support businesses in understanding the benefits of circular business models which support the waste hierarchy, including hosting an upcoming textiles specific webinar.

The Scottish Government continues to support language learning in schools. We are maintaining grant funding to key delivery partners, such as Scotland’s National Centre for Languages, to support schools and local authorities to deliver high-quality language learning.

Local authority funding in support of implementing the 1+2 approach was originally planned to cease after 2020-21. However, it was extended for a further two years in recognition of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was provided to help local authorities consolidate their progress and prepare strategies to ensure language learning continues to be a normal part of the curriculum.

The implementation of the 1+2 approach has led to language learning from P1 to S3 becoming a normalised part of the Broad General Education. Our surveys of local authorities show that 98% of primary schools and 100% of secondary schools now report offering language learning within the terms of the policy.

The Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, which was passed unanimously by this Parliament, provides that it is the responsibility of the Lord President as Head of the independent judiciary and of Sheriffs Principal, to ensure the efficient disposal of business through Scotland’s courts, including sheriff courts.

Where the Lord President, in consultation with the relevant Sheriff Principal, considers that it is appropriate to establish a specialism in domestic abuse cases in a particular sheriffdom, they are able to do so.

There is no requirement for the involvement or approval of the Scottish Ministers or the Scottish Parliament.