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SEPA’s most critical services, including flood forecasting and warning service and its 24-hour pollution hotline, were restored on the day of the attack. SEPA maintained its ability to receive reports of and to attend environmental incidents, prioritising those with highest potential impacts on the environment and/or communities. SEPA continues to monitor compliance with environmental laws and continues to take enforcement action where necessary.

In the 15 months since the attack, SEPA has issued 317 flood warnings, provided information on bathing water quality throughout the 2021 season and has issued fixed monetary penalties, required enforcement undertakings and has successfully prosecuted those that break environmental laws.

SEPA remains impacted by the attack and significant work is ongoing to build back. Latest information on current service status and recovery of SEPA, is available to all stakeholders and updated weekly, which outlines progress and level of service to expect: https://regulatoryapproach.sepa.org.uk/cyber-attack-service-status

SEPA will shortly publish a Regulatory Report outlining its regulatory work in 2020 and 2021 and which will provide information about compliance during the period covered by both the pandemic and the cyber-attack.

SEPA continue to play a vital role in Scotland’s response to the challenges faced from Climate Emergency and Biodiversity loss.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04742 on 13 December 2021. 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

The funding of around £145,000 was announced to establish specialist support, counselling and the introduction of peer support groups.

We have introduced a working group to assist with the implementation of peer support groups. The group includes people with lived experience, and representatives from Health in Mind and the Scottish Recovery Network. Both organisations have extensive knowledge and experience in setting up and maintaining peer-support in many different areas across the country.

Through No One Left behind, we are delivering an all age approach to employability that is flexible and person centred. It promotes a strengthened partnership approach where the spheres of government work together with partners across the public, private and third sector to make informed, evidence based decisions on required support, flexing these to meet emerging labour market demands.

Phase 2 of No One Left Behind commenced in April 2022 with funding previously allocated to the Employability Fund and Community Jobs Scotland transferring from national to local governance.

Those participants aged 16-17 years old, and those aged 18 who are not in receipt of benefits, who are participating for between 10-30 hours per week will continue to be eligible to be paid a training allowance while undertaking training through No One Left Behind. There are no plans to change the criteria in the near future.

Responsibility for financial support to foster carers registered with Glasgow City Council is a matter for Glasgow City Council. Consideration of the introduction of an annual and consistent increase is a matter for them to consider.

In 2016, agreement was reached between Scottish Ministers and COSLA on a new strategic funding plan for flood protection schemes. The agreement guarantees that until 2026 the level of flooding capital grant in the local government settlement is set at a minimum of £42 million per annum. 80% of the available £42 million is allocated to the prioritised flood schemes set out in the Flood Risk Management Strategies published by SEPA in 2015 .

The Programme for Government published in 2020 included a commitment to invest an extra £150 million in flood risk management over 5 years in addition to the £42 million per annum. Consideration is being given to how the additional £150m allocated to flooding will be allocated.

In 2021 COSLA recommended to Scottish Ministers that the flood protection schemes eligible for funding which are not yet “legally committed” are paused. Ministers accepted this recommendation and COSLA are currently undertaking a review of these projects to assess their status and viability. COSLA will present the review findings to Ministers in due course. This pause and review of schemes is one element of the work being taken forward to review the current funding and distribution arrangements for flood risk management.

A joint Scottish Government/COSLA Flood Risk Management Working Group has been set up and is considering funding arrangements for flood risk management actions going forward. It will put recommendations to the joint Scottish Government/COSLA officers’ Settlement Distribution Group with Ministers and Council Leaders’ subsequently being provided with advice later in 2022.

The local flood risk management plans, which are due to be published by December 2022, will provide more detail on how the actions set out in the flood risk management plans for 2022-2028 will be delivered including who will lead them and how the actions will be coordinated with other organisations. They will also provide further information on when the actions will take place and how they will be funded.

As with all infrastructure projects, it can take many years for flood schemes to progress from option appraisal to completion . Given the impacts on individuals, communities and the environment, it is right that flood protection schemes are carefully and thoroughly planned - and balance the interests of the whole community.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07958 on 9 May 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

Transport Scotland officials maintain awareness of developments in railways in other countries, including those which are in public ownership – for example in England. This appreciation is used to inform analysis of options for the development of Scotland’s Railways in line with the priorities of the Scottish Government.

Opportunities for international travel between December 2019 and March 2022 were very much restricted by the pandemic. Accordingly there were no official visits made to countries outside the UK by Scottish Ministers and/or officials in this period.