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Since the start of the pandemic the Scottish Government has provided local authorities with £240 million of additional investment, over two financial years (2020-21 and 2021-22), specifically for the recruitment of more education staff, and a further £145.5 million of permanent funding has been allocated from April 2022.

The recruitment and deployment of teachers is a matter for individual local authorities, and they are responsible for using available resources to provide a complement of staff, including Lead Teachers, which meets the needs of each of their schools and its pupils based on local needs and priorities.

Safeguarding our democracy is of upmost importance to the Scottish Government. This includes being an open, accessible and transparent government. Public officials, including Ministers, MSPs and councillors, are subject to Code of Conducts which provide a clear set of principles and standards for their behaviour, including how to avoid undue interference from external actors. We believe the public should have trust in those they elect.

There will be no delay to year one of the Just Transition Fund as a result of the revised timetable for publication of the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.

There is no management fee payable under the Temporary Measures Agreement (TMA), instead there is a small, capped, incentive payment – linked strictly to performance.

As the performance payments relate to potential future revenues receivable by Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited, this information is currently commercially sensitive.

Overall values will be determined following a full financial reconciliation after the end of the TMA term on 31 March 2023.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to promoting Fair Work practices throughout Scotland and will continue to press the UK Government for the full set of powers around employment law in order to allow us to fully deliver our Fair Work ambitions, including replacing the National Minimum Wage (NMW) with the real Living Wage as set out in the Fair Work Action Plan. The Scottish Government also supports the abolition of the apprentice rate and a move towards the real Living Wage for all apprentices.

The Scottish Government, as an employer, has an on-going commitment to supporting payment of the real Living Wage in our public sector pay policy in a manner consistent with the terms of the living wage foundation accreditation scheme.

The pay policy applies directly to staff within over 50 public bodies, however the Scottish Government would encourage all public sector workforces to take a similar approach.

Anti-social behaviour is unacceptable on Scotland's Railway and in wider society. The Scottish Government intends to have discussions with stakeholders about potential routes for banning people who commit anti-social behaviour on railways, including the use of measures available under current antisocial behaviour legislation, and the extent to which any additional powers or offences might be desirable.

I recently met with the Chief Constable of British Transport Police and discussed anti-social behaviour on trains, including the importance of collaboration with Police Scotland, facilitating and encouraging passengers to report incidents of anti-social behaviour as they happen, and aspects of anti-social behaviour on trains linked to football matches.

Abusing or threatening railway workers could lead to prosecution under current legislation, such as section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, or the common law, for example for a breach of the peace. It is considered that primary legislation may be required to create a new offence that involves the threatening or abuse of railway workers specifically and that is something we will wish to explore within our deliberations. Conversations with Justice colleagues are at a preliminary stage and will continue, in tandem with Trade Union consultation, to explore all possible legal options which may be available.

Our Fair Fares Review is in its initial planning stages. I recently undertook to provide the Scottish Parliament's Committee for Net Zero, Energy and Transport with further details on the Scottish Government's plans and timescales for the review. I will share this information with the Committee after the pre-election period for the Scottish local government elections. The Scottish Government engages and consults extensively with stakeholders, transport users and delivery partners, including Trade Unions, on a range of transport issues and this approach will be reflected throughout the course of the Fair Fares Review.

The Scottish Government is continuing to take action to make public transport more affordable through schemes such as the current ScotRail promotional campaign which will enable people to travel for half the normal price on off-peak train services across Scotland next month and the “Kids Go Free” promotion which enabled children to travel for free on Scotland's Railway during its first weekend in public ownership.

The decline in capercaillie numbers is of real concern, NatureScot recently published a Review of Capercaillie Conservation and Management - Report to the Scientific Advisory Committee | NatureScot

The report found, inter alia, that it is likely that “ reductions in the numbers of predators (foxes, pine martens, crows) would rapidly improve the breeding success of Capercaillie” . However the evidence is unclear as to whether reductions of fox populations alone would benefit capercaillie without management of other predator species due to the interactions between predator species.

NatureScot are working closely with the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project to support capercaillie conservation in Scotland, and have recently published an outline of the measures, beyond those which are already being undertaken, that are being considered to save capercaillie. These include:

• Carefully designed and monitored diversionary feeding of predators, currently being investigated, being expanded to provide alternative food during the breeding season.
• Additional predator control to remove crows, foxes and including pine martens. In the case of pine marten this would be non-lethal, through trap and release as part of reintroduction to other parts of the UK.
• Seasonal visitor management to create larger refuges from human disturbance in collaboration with communities.
• Extend deer fence marking and removal.

Per person, frontline health spending in Scotland is £111 (3.6%) higher than in England and £146 (4.8%) higher than in Wales.

Proportionately, that’s over £600 million more spending on frontline health services in Scotland compared to England, and almost £800 million more compared to Wales; this would be equivalent to over 14,000 and 18,000 nurses, respectively