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In the specific context of Scotland’s island communities and Scotland’s Census 2022, we are aware that the most significant barrier is likely to be digital connectivity. The Scottish Government Digital infrastructure strategy aims to: deliver 100% superfast broadband access across Scotland; improve the availability of mobile connectivity across the region, by using linkages to broadband availability; and, ensure the underlying infrastructure is in place to support the future growth of high-bandwidth connectivity.

We want everyone living in Scotland to be included in the Census, including those in harder to reach rural and island communities. Whilst the 2022 census will be predominantly online, paper questionnaires and support materials will also be available for those who are unable, or do not wish to, complete online. In addition, we have also: appointed a Regional Manager, based in Na h-Eileanan Siar, who will help bring local knowledge to our operational plans and support stakeholder engagement and partnerships throughout the highlands and islands; and, appointed Area Managers based in Argyll & Bute, Highlands, Dumfriesshire, Borders, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Orkney and Shetland Islands to support rural and island communities at local authority level. We are also on-boarding field force enumerators who will be allocated all across Scotland (where possible from those communities) to provide national help and support coverage on the ground, and will provide non response follow-up to ensure we are maximising response.

We are monitoring census submissions, nationally, regionally and locally and by Local Authority Area. This will allow us to identify any areas where we need to invest more effort in encouraging and maximising response.

The numbers of confirmed strokes admitted during 2016 - 2021 showing median time (minutes) to brain imaging are shown in the following table:

The Homeowner Feedback Survey and the Home Energy Efficiency Equity Loan Pilot Call for Evidence were published in March this year. The Scottish Government will consider the possibility of a national rollout of such a scheme as part a suite of financial solutions to support our decarbonisation and energy efficiency targets with the Green Heat Finance Taskforce, who will be publishing their interim recommendations in mid-March next year and final recommendations in September 2023.

The breakdown for 12 of the 19 unpaid Fixed Penalty Notices is as follows:

The Home Energy Efficiency Equity Loan Pilot is now closed to new applicants. The Call for Evidence and Homeowner Feedback Survey conducted last year have ensured that we have captured both the positive and negative impacts of this pilot, as well as gathering potential actions that can be taken to modify and enhance the process to ensure optimal and sustainable outcomes in all aspects of delivery, should the decision be taken to proceed with progressing the pilot to a national scheme in the future.

Businesses offering only massage and complementary and alternative medicine services were not within the scope of the Close Contact Services Fund. The Close Contact Fund was targeted at businesses impacted by the necessary public health restrictions introduced to reduce transmission of the Omicron variant. The eligibility criteria for the Close Contact Services fund, which has now closed to applications, is available on the Scottish Government website: Close Contact Services Fund (closed) - Coronavirus (COVID-19): funding for businesses affected by Omicron control measures - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Covid-19 guidance regarding the provision of building-based day services, which includes services specifically for adults with learning disabilities, was published on 16 November 2020 and has been regularly updated. I wrote to the health and social care sector on 7 June 2021 encouraging the re-opening of day services. Subsequently a letter was issued in December 2021 by the Deputy Chief Medical and Nursing Officers to the care at home, building-based day services and supported housing sector highlighting measures that should be taken to minimise the risk of COVID-19, including the Omicron variant. Letters have since been sent to inform staff on policies related to self-isolation and meeting with other households.

The Scottish Government does not hold all the data required to determine the tonnage of wrasse used by Scottish fish farms in the past 5 years.

Wrasse used in Scottish aquaculture are sourced from hatcheries or from the wild.

Information on the amount of hatchery-reared wrasse in Scotland is available from the Finfish Production Surveys . An extract is shown in the following table.

The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 places the statutory responsibility for local roads improvement, maintenance and repair with local road authorities.

The vast majority of funding to local authorities from the Scottish Government is provided via a block grant and we do not stipulate how local authorities should utilise their individual allocations. It is therefore the responsibility of each local authority to manage their own budget and to allocate the financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

However, the Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics (SLGFS) provides an overview of actual spend based on Local Authority’s audited accounts which may be useful.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-slgfs-2019-20/ .

Previous annual reports can be located at the following link; Local government finance statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.