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The Scottish House Condition Survey is the source of National Statistics on fuel poverty in Scotland. The key findings from the 2019 Scottish House Condition Survey were published in December 2020 and estimated that 613,000 households were in fuel poverty in 2019. Furthermore, it was estimated that 619,000 and 583,000 households were in fuel poverty in 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Due to Covid-19, the fieldwork for the 2020 Scottish House Condition Survey was suspended in March 2020 and did not resume. The 2021 Scottish House Condition Survey was undertaken using a non-contact external plus approach and the results, including key statistics on fuel poverty, energy efficiency and external repairs, are expected to be published in February 2023. Therefore, at present there are no National Statistics estimating the number of households in fuel poverty in 2020 and 2021.

The Programme for Government 2021-22 commits the Scottish Government to consult on legislation to extend the new framework that came into force on 1 September 2021 for the licensing of animal welfare establishments, dog, cat and rabbit breeding and pet sales to performing animals and animal encounters.

We are engaged in initial discussions and information gathering with stakeholders in this area and plan to consult further in the coming months.

The Scottish Government’s Social Enterprise Strategy was launched in 2016 and sets out a wide-ranging, ambitious and long-term programme to develop the potential of Scotland's social enterprise sector. The latest Social Enterprise Action Plan was published on 24 th March 2021 and covers the period 2021-24.

In 2021-22 we spent £7.1M in supporting social enterprise and expect to spend £6.6M in 2022-23. £15M was distributed through COVID support funds in 2021-22.

Funding is provided to third sector organisations, including social enterprises, from across Scottish Government portfolios and is not collated centrally.

We are considering carefully the Joint Committee on Human Rights report along with the responses to our recent questionnaire on the issue of historical adoption.

This will help to determine the next steps and will also provide more understanding of what support is needed to help the people affected by historical adoption practices.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10134 on‎ 19 August 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

(a) – The relevant part of the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003 can be found under Section 11 of the Homelessness etc (S) Act 2003 at Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 (legislation.gov.uk)

(b) – Schedule 1 of the Notice to Local Authorities (Scotland) Regulations sets out the form of notice that must be provided to the LA under section 11 of the 2003 Act at The Notice to Local Authorities (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (legislation.gov.uk) . As this is a statutory notice, local authorities must require notice to be provided in this form.

Section 11 of the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 requires a landlord to notify the local authority when proceedings for possession are raised providing information prescribed in Schedule 1 of The Notice to Local Authorities (Scotland) Regulations 2008. Local authorities produce templates in line with Schedule 1. The Scottish Government does not require local authorities to provide these templates for validation so if any local authorities have amended the section 11 notice form to include information not prescribed within Section 1 of The Notice to Local Authorities (Scotland) Regulations 2008, the Scottish Government is not made aware of this.

The Scottish Government is aware of the importance of rural bus services for villages across the country and are committed, in partnership with operators and local authorities, to looking at ways of ensuring that those living in or visiting Patna, as well as all other towns and villages across Scotland, are provided with effective and accessible public transport.

Since the end of January children and young people under the age of 22 in Scotland have been able to travel for free by bus. Around half of Scotland’s population are now eligible for free bus travel including those aged over 60, under 22 and eligible disabled persons. The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 provides an enhanced suite of options for local transport authorities to improve bus services according to their local needs.

The Scottish Government’s Community Bus Fund will support local transport authorities to explore the options in the Act, and to improve public transport in their areas – £1 million is allocated in the 2022-23 Scottish Budget for development of the Community Bus Fund. The Scottish Government have provided up to £210 million in funding to support bus services during the pandemic and are providing £100 million in to support bus services this year including additional recovery funding.

Additionally, the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), which sets the priorities for transport spending over the next 20 years and has been developed in conjunction with stakeholders across the country, includes several recommendations which are relevant to rural areas and will have a positive impact on improving public transport connectivity to nearby towns and major cities. The draft report was published on 20 January this year for a three month consultation period. Feedback is now being considered and the final report is due later this year.

The next meeting of the First Minister's Environmental Council is due to take place on the 12 and 13 September.

Asylum is reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office. This includes provision of support and accommodation for people seeking asylum. The Home Office Interpreter Language Services Unit (ILSU) holds overall responsibility for the delivery of interpreting and translation services on behalf of the Home Office.

Asylum seekers living in Scotland can access translation and interpretation support when engaging with services in Scotland on the same basis as other residents, including resettled refugees.

Translators are not provided to individual refugees and asylum seekers when they arrive. Translation and interpretation support is provided at the point of need or service access. Funding and provision are therefore managed across different public services and organisations to enable people to engage with services and support.

The Scottish Refugee Council is working with the Scottish Government to deliver the Warm Scottish Welcome scheme for displaced people arriving from Ukraine. This includes translation and interpreting services. The Scottish Refugee Council have received funding from the Scottish Government to recruit additional advisors for their Refugee Integration Service, including Ukrainian speakers, as part of their work to deliver the Warm Scottish Welcome scheme.

We recognise that translation and interpreting services for displaced people arriving in Scotland from Ukraine are extremely important. The Scottish Refugee Council has asked that anyone wishing to offer assistance in this area contact them to discuss what support they can offer.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone in Scotland whose first language is not English can contribute to Scotland’s future and the society they live in. Having support to learn English is key for many refugees and people seeking asylum, enabling them to participate in learning in schools, colleges and universities; engage within communities; and pursue their employment goals. The Scottish Government’s aim is to support high quality, relevant, appropriate and accessible ESOL provision that meets learner need. The Scottish Government’s ESOL funding is currently provided through colleges as part of the grant allocated to the Scottish Funding Council. Colleges are instructed to work with Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) to determine the level of need for provision and agree with partners how this need can be met.

ESOL courses are delivered through colleges and community organisations. The Scottish Refugee Council website also has information on ESOL courses available across Scotland.

A key action within the recently launched Adult Learning Strategy for Scotland is to undertake a review with ESOL learners and practitioners on the impact of the ESOL Strategy. It will produce recommendations on next steps for ESOL within the context of the Adult Learning Strategy.

English as an Additional Language for school aged children is available through Education Scotland’s Parentzone .