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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.

While we have not made any direct assessment of the Peterborough model, Zero Waste Scotland has engaged with Peterborough City Council in the past and has since explored a number of regional strategies and approaches to help inform their work to support cities and regions to adopt circular economy principles.

Zero Waste Scotland recently developed a framework for local authorities. The framework has been produced to help local authorities embed circular economy into their own operations, their wider cities, districts and regions and to deliver circular opportunities and benefits. It draws together experience, knowledge and learning from Scotland as well as other organisations and locations.

A range of information and advice is available from Zero Waste Scotland and local authorities to help consumers recycle and dispose of waste responsibly, including gas canisters. Householders can seek specific advice from their local authority on recycling and disposal options in their local area.

Nitrous oxide canisters should not be disposed of in residual waste (‘black bag’) bins as they may explode if they are crushed, increasing the risk of injury or fire. Consumers of nitrous oxide canisters should follow advice provided by suppliers or contact their local authority to check that these items are accepted at their nearest Household Recycling Centre, where gas canisters can be safely stored and disposed of by a specialist waste contractor that has the facility to recycle them safely.

We will continue to work closely with the waste sector to consider any further advice required to support safe disposal of nitrous oxide canisters.

Attainment in literacy in Scotland’s schools remains strong. The 2021/22 Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels (ACEL) data demonstrates that approaches to COVID recovery in education are working.

Data on ACEL showed a record increase for 2021-22 in the proportion of primary school pupils achieving the expected levels of literacy. Comparing 2021/22 levels with 2020/21, primary literacy attainment was up 4 percentage points to 71%. In terms of the poverty related attainment gap, 2021-22 ACEL data also showed a record decrease in the gap between primary literacy levels, which are now more similar to pre-pandemic levels. 2022 exam results show a Higher English pass rate of 81.3% which represents an increase of 7.9 percentage points compared to 2019 when exams were last held. English is the most common subject at National 5 and Higher. In addition, the Policy Prospectus launched in April by the First Minister, includes a commitment to re-joining the Trends in International Mathematics and Science and Progress in International Reading Literacy studies. Participation in international surveys enables countries to share important information about their educational policies and practices and how these foster educational progress.

In 2021 the Ministerial Population Taskforce published Scotland's first Population Strategy, a key building block of which is to create conditions for Scotland’s population profile to be spatially distributed in as balanced a way as possible. Delivering on commitments within both the Population Strategy and the National Islands Plan, we are currently developing an Addressing Depopulation Action Plan aimed at providing the policy framework and actions we and partners will look to take, to enable population retention and repopulation across rural and island communities.

Workforce numbers and locations are regularly reviewed to ensure that the organisation is delivering for the people of Scotland as efficiently and effectively as possible. We undertake workforce planning in line with Scottish Government (SG) priorities.

In addition to considering the location of roles, SG is committed to flexible hybrid working for our workforce, enabling staff to work from a range of locations, both within government offices and working from home. Some of these locations are situated within the Highlands and Islands. Managers are asked to establish a flexible hybrid model with their teams that ensure business needs are met, which will vary depending on the nature of the roles and requirements.

The SG website references our ways of working and more information can be found here Ways of working - Work For Scotland (work-for-scotland.org)

A core SG Estate Strategy is under development and the themes informing the key principles will reflect the Depopulation Action Plan and the SG People Strategy including its Hybrid Policy. These policies alongside the expectation to increase sharing opportunities with Public Sector bodies, particularly in regional and rural locations, will help inform our Asset Planning.

SG undertook a trial in three Local Hub locations between 2021 to early 2023 in light of a commitment to provide SG colleagues with the option to use buildings closer to home. Feedback has been utilised to inform planning across the national estate and requests for utilising core estate buildings for SG staff. Enhancing access control, space booking tools and agile working facilities are being planned and implemented across our estate to enhance ease of use and support ability to work in different locations.

The Scottish Government work closely with NHS Grampian and NHS Scotland Assure on all capital investment projects. The priority is ensuring that a safe, high quality healthcare facility is delivered and the Key Stage Assurance Review (KSAR) process has been recently introduced to ensure that happens. NHS Grampian are preparing an action plan to address the issues identified in the KSAR and we will review timelines once that exercise has been completed.

In addition to the November 2022 update to the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan, Education Scotland have been leading on a national engagement programme for pupil support staff, which sought the views of the workforce, parents and carers.

The 4-month consultation element of the programme closed in early March 2023. Over 2,500 survey responses were received from staff in all 32 local authorities. Work is still ongoing to capture the views of parents and carers. Analysis and evaluation of the programme responses is in progress and the programme report is scheduled to be completed by July 2023.

To help bring benefits to the people of Scotland.

The Solicitor General attended the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Mauritius in November 2022 as part of the UK delegation, led by Justice Minister Mike Freer, to raise and maintain Scotland’s profile and share best practice with Commonwealth Law Ministers regarding issues being faced by legal systems and the importance of the rule of law.

The Solicitor General also attended the European Conference of Prosecutors that was organised between the Council of Europe, the Italian Ministry of Justice and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation held in Palermo in May 2022. The conference brought together high-level prosecutors from all Council of Europe member states to share their perspectives and challenges concerning the independence and accountability of public prosecutors, while taking into account the existing systems rooted in different legal cultures.

As part of their core activity VisitScotland promotes tourism in Scotland’s island destinations across their marketing, PR, destination development and support for tourism businesses.

April is Islands month as part of VisitScotland’s marketing calendar with a focus on three key messages of: Scotland’s islands are stunning throughout the year; Scotland’s islands have their own unique way of life; and Our islands feel remote but are easily accessible.

They are supporting and leading on campaigns which include: Arran; Cumbrae; Argyll islands; Skye; Outer Hebrides; and Orkney and Shetland. VisitScotland is also a key partner in the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project.

Island destinations were represented at VisitScotland’s recent flagship Connect trade event in Aberdeen, which connects Scottish product with international buyers. Destination Marketing Organisations included VisitArran and Argyll & Isles Tourism Cooperative and CalMac and Northlink also attended the event.

We have not undertaken any assessments regarding the affordability of nappies in Scotland and food banks do not currently publish data on nappies and other baby products. However, we will continue to work with partners to ensure that our financial offerings are maximising the support available for young families.

This includes our work to increase the value of the Scottish Child Payment to £25 per child per week and expanding it to all eligible children under the age of 16 from November 2022.

Our five family payments, including the Scottish Child Payment, could be worth over £10,000 by the time an eligible child turns 6 with Scottish support providing over £20,000 by the time an eligible child is 16 years old.

The Child Poverty Action Group estimates that low income families in Scotland will be around £28,000 better off by the time their child turns 18 as a result of more generous support and lower costs for childcare provided by the Scottish Government.