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Analysis of management information shows that the most common reason for Job Start Payment applications being denied is that the applicant did not meet one or both of the key eligibility criteria i.e. that the applicant was not out of work and in receipt of a qualifying benefit for at least 6 months prior to being offered a job.

An initial evaluation of the benefit is currently being carried out which may shed further light on why applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria apply for Job Start Payment.

The Scottish Seabird Conservation Strategy aims to optimise the conservation prospects of seabirds in Scotland through effective management of existing and emerging threats. We plan to consult on the Strategy in summer 2022.

In February 2022 two new marine special protection areas (SPAs) were designated in Orkney. The sites in Scapa Flow and North Orkney have been designated to protect rare and vulnerable migratory birds.

The Scottish Government does not collect demographic data specifically on the public transport workforce nor does it do so for each mode of public transportation. If collected, this data will be held by public transport operating organisations.

Latest data from the Annual Population Survey over the period Jan-Dec 2020 provides breakdowns on employment by industry sector which includes the category “Transport and Storage”. It shows that 4% of all those aged over 16 in employment were working in Transport and Storage.

Of those employed in transport and storage industries, 21% are women. This compares to a figure of 49% for those employed in all industries who are women.

With regard to the trends in these figures from 2002, Census data from 2011 is directly comparable with the 2020 figures above. It shows that in 2011, of those working in transport and storage industries, 19% were women. This is compared to 21% for 2020.

Data from the 2001 Census is available but is not directly comparable as the industry definition was broader to include ‘transport, storage and communication ’. However, it shows that of those working in these industries in 2001, 27% were women.

The Scottish Government does not collect demographic data specifically on the public transport workforce nor does it do so for each mode of public transportation. If collected, this data will be held by public transport operating organisations.

Data from the Annual Population Survey over the period Jan-Dec 2020 provides breakdowns on employment by industry sector which includes the category “Transport and Storage”. It shows that 4% of all those aged over 16 in employment were working in Transport and Storage.

Of those employed in transport and storage industries, 2% are of a minority ethnic background. This compares to a figure of 4% for those employed in all industries who are of a minority ethnic background.

As a trustee the Council holds and administers common good property for the benefit of the local community. Accordingly, they must make decisions for the benefit of the community. As locally elected representatives, Councillors are well placed to make these decisions in the interests of the local community.

In response to the question regarding the locations of recruitment campaigns for Social Security Scotland at advertisement and interview stage as of 18 February 2022, please find below a breakdown of current campaigns and roles by location. For the purposes of this response, we have interpreted the term roles to mean the number of full time equivalent posts we intend to fill through recruitment.

This is an unprecedented time and we are witnessing a humanitarian crisis in Europe not seen since World War II. The Government is actively working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, councils and the Scottish Refugee Council to ensure that Scotland is ready and able to welcome refugees from Ukraine and give them the support and sanctuary that those fleeing from Russian aggression so desperately need. The Scottish Government will continue to press the UK Government to waive all visa requirements and introduce a comprehensive resettlement scheme.

This Government wants to do all it can to support the people of Ukraine who have been displaced by war and this will need to ensure we have a co-ordinated approach across Government and with our partners as we seek to provide sanctuary and support to people in need.

Given the grave and urgent nature of the situation, it is right that this Government has a Minister with specific responsibilities for refugees from Ukraine who will be arriving in Scotland and need support to rebuild their lives. Therefore to provide further support for the Scottish Government’s action, I have decided that, with immediate effect, Neil Gray, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, will also have special responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine. For the time being, he will report directly to me for these new responsibilities and will attend Cabinet as required.

Mr Gray’s new ministerial title, with immediate effect, will be Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with special responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine.

Any new benefit intended to top-up reserved benefits would have to be developed with research and testing among potential users, and close collaboration with DWP and other stakeholders. For delivery of new benefits, we need to develop and test all application and case management systems to ensure households are able to apply, in addition to obtaining data from DWP and HMRC in order to process and administer the benefit. Any work of such nature is extremely complex and takes a considerable period of time to develop, build and deliver. It would require other priorities to be set aside.

New benefits also require legislation to be made by the Scottish Parliament. The procedures for scrutinising proposed legislation are set out in the Standing Orders of the Parliament. There may also be a requirement for amending regulations to be laid by the UK Government, to ensure that any new income provided by the top-up of reserved benefits does not affect entitlement to other reserved benefits.

The 22 zero-emission electric buses owned by First Bus, which were partly funded through Transport Scotland's Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS), are all now in service on routes in Glasgow following COP26 in October.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05383 on 21 January 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