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In collaboration with local and regional partners, the Scottish Government supported the development of Community Wealth Building (CWB) action plans for each area that set out practical actions to maximise the economic benefit realised for local communities, businesses and people.

Clackmannanshire, Glasgow City Region and Tay City region plans have been published on the Scottish Hub for Regional Economic Development website. Western Isles’ plan can be found here . South of Scotland Enterprise published their report on the potential for a CWB approach to adding energy efficient measures to Registered Social Landlord (RSL) housing stock in the South of Scotland, which concluded that 2,200 jobs could be created by 2023. The analysis can be found here: A roadmap to decarbonisation ,

A summary of all learnings from the pilots informed the Economic Development Associations Scotland (EDAs) practical CWB guide, available here: Community Wealth Building Scotland | EDAS

Monthly statistics on the number of Council Tax Reduction recipients since the scheme’s commencement in April 2013 are available at Council Tax Reduction: local authority tables and charts - April 2013 to February 2023 - (www.gov.scot) . March 2023 data will be published on 16 May 2023.

Prior to April 2013, the UK Government was responsible for Council Tax Benefit with associated data available at Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit statistics - (www.gov.uk) .

The Scottish Government has had no communication with Hourglass on this matter. Hourglass are an active member of the Older People Strategic Action Forum so we will continue to engage with them as a valued stakeholder in helping us improve outcomes for older people in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has not held specific discussions with taxi driver union representatives in Dundee to discuss loan funding for the purchase of electric vehicles in relation to compliance with the Low Emission Zone.

The Scottish Government provide annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST), an independent organisation working to address the climate emergency, which delivers a range of schemes on behalf of Scottish Ministers, including the Switched-on Taxi loan.

EST on behalf of Scottish Ministers has engaged directly with taxi owners and operators. This includes providing impartial and independent advice including information on the Switched-on Taxi loan, and vehicle reports comparing running costs of petrol/diesel taxis with Ultra Low Emission Vehicles. Last year EST ran several taxi forums bringing together taxi owners/operators and licensing authorities to discuss best practice approaches to decarbonisation across the industry.

The reporter anticipates, at this stage, submitting her report and recommendations on this case in the Summer. Full case details are available to view on the Department for Planning and Environmental Appeal’s (DPEA) website at:- Scottish Government - DPEA - Case Details (scotland.gov.uk)

This information is available in the Scottish Health Service Costs (often referred to as the 'Costs Book'), published annually by Public Health Scotland (previously Information Services Division).  

The 2021-22 Costs Book was published in February 2023 and provides a high-level summary of health service costs, including the costs of delivering family health services. The 2022-23 Costs Book will be published in 2024.

ScotRail advises it has 284 stations that have live images streaming back to the centres. The rest have internet protocol cameras or cameras with secure digital cards. The only stations that do not have CCTV are Altnabreac and Dunrobin Castle.

I am accountable to parliament for both strategies. A dedicated strategy to support young people with cancer, “Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care, The Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021-2026”, was published in 2021 and is the first NHS Scotland strategy for this age group.

The implementation and delivery of this strategy is supported by the Managed Service Network for children and young people with cancer (MSN CYPC), which was established to support the specialist delivery of cancer care and support required by children and young people with cancer.

The MSN has representation on various national groups which impact both adult and children cancer patients. In addition, Scottish Government officials sit on the MSN Executive groups to ensure direct alignment across both strategies.

The Scottish Government has consulted and sought views on Community Wealth Building (CWB) legislation, and as part of this, sought views on a duty and need for statutory or non-statutory guidance. Analysis of this consultation will take place over Summer 2023.

Further, a CWB Guide offering practical support for those seeking to pursue a CWB approach was published in January 2023. This guide was supported by the Scottish Government and produced by Economic Development Association Scotland (EDAS) and the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES).

The Scottish Government provides annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST) an independent organisation working to address the climate emergency, to provide a range of services including delivery of the Switched-on Taxi Loan on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

The Switched-on Taxi loan provides an interest-free loan with a repayment term of up to 6 years to support both private and hackney taxi owners and operators with the purchase of zero and ultra-low emission vehicles.

Since 2019 taxi drivers and operators in the North East of Scotland electoral region have received interest free loans worth almost £800,000. Currently the Switched-on Taxi loan is closed and Scottish Ministers are considering the position for the current financial year. Taxi drivers and operators can register their interest with Energy Saving Trust should future rounds of funding become available.