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The pupil census, which records a snapshot of data at a particular point in time, showed that on the date of collection in September 2022 there were 2,062 pupils reported as asylum seekers and 5,746 reported as refugees.

Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 local authorities have a duty to provide adequate and efficient provision of school education for all children residing in their local area.

This duty does not distinguish between children and young people on the basis of their country of origin, race, belief or religion or refugee status.

Information on benefits administered by Social Security Scotland is routinely published as part of official statistics releases. Excel tables released as part of these publications include information on the value of payments issued for each benefit since launch, and provide financial year breakdowns of payments.

The latest statistics publication for each benefit can be found at: https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/about/statistics/social-security-scotland-statistics-publications .

Tables 1 and 2 reflect the relevant bursaries and grants since 1997-98 when consistent data recording started. The types of relevant bursaries and grants that were available each year varied. Bursaries and grants available to students depended on their circumstances as well as the type of course they were studying.

The Scottish Government recognise the valuable role that sport and physical activity can play to the overall health of the nation.

Encouraging people to take part in sport at all levels, including in newer sports such as pickleball, is key to getting more people more active more often, and can create wider benefits in areas such as health, education, communities and the economy.

In the last 20 years, sportscotland has invested over £235 million of Scottish Government and National Lottery funding in clubs, communities, and leisure trusts across Scotland to improve the places where people take part in sport and physical activity. As a sport that’s primarily played on a badminton court, we already have fantastic facilities across the country where pickleball can be played.

Through sportscotland’s Community Sport Hubs’ programmes, local community organisations are beginning to explore opportunities to develop links with pickleball clubs and to promote the sport. There are now five pickleball clubs across three local authorities that are part of the Community Sport Hub programme and these numbers are expected to grow as the sport continues to develop.

The Scottish Government now mandates the real Living Wage in its contracts and those contractors will now pay the real Living Wage either through a change of supplier during a re-let or via contract management processes. As such, we are not aware of any suppliers who do not pay the real Living Wage to employees directly involved in services to the Scottish Government.

Local Authorities have a duty to investigate light pollution complaints under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA). The Scottish Government engages with local authorities through the Environmental Health Officers network and relevant working groups, where any emerging issues on light pollution could be raised.

I recognise the unavailability of the Corran Ferry is causing major disruption for communities, businesses and visitors to the area.

While the operation of transport links across the Corran Narrows is the responsibility of the Highland Council and any decisions on maintenance, upgrades, or options to replace ferries is for them, I recently met with the Highland Council to hear more about their plans for the route. I would be happy to visit Lochaber to learn further about The Highland Council’s plans and to meet the local community.

Social Security Scotland’s most recent statistics show that the majority of people who have applied for Child Disability Payment received a decision within four months, although processing times vary from a few weeks to over six months or more. A key part of the application process, and a key difference from the Department for Work and Pensions’ service, is that Social Security Scotland can gather supporting information on behalf of clients. Whilst this process takes time, it allows Social Security Scotland to make robust decisions.

Work is underway to speed up processing times. This includes liaising with organisations who most often provide supporting information. For example, an option for GPs to upload supporting information online was recently introduced. In addition, work continues with clients and stakeholders to ensure they understand the kind of information needed to make decisions and how to provide this at the earliest opportunity.

The methodology used to assess dwellings’ EPCs is adjusted over time to update modelling assumptions and reflect changes in technology. According to our National Statistics publication on the conditions of the housing stock, the Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS), 24% of dwellings had an EPC rating of A-C in 2010, and 51% had an EPC rating of A-C in 2019. This is calculated using SAP 2009, an older methodology, which allows comparisons back to 2010.

The most recent methodology, SAP 2012 (RdSAP v9.93) provides figures for only 2018 and 2019. In 2018, 43% of dwellings had an EPC rating of A-C. In 2019, 45% of dwellings had an EPC rating of A-C.

Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Scottish House Condition Survey, 2019 is the latest year for which we have National Statistics for EPC ratings across the Scottish domestic housing stock. Figures for 2023 will be published in late 2024 or 2025.

The provision of local bus services is a matter for individual bus operators who use their own commercial judgement on conditions of carriage in the open de-regulated market, as established by the Transport Act 1985.

A number of operators of bus and coach services allow the carriage of folding bikes or standard bikes being stored in a box or bag, in a luggage compartment. The recently published cycling framework for active travel recognises the importance of supporting cycling journeys to and from public transport hubs and working with operators to support multi-modal journeys.