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The Scottish 4G Infill Programme (S4GI) was established in 2017 to address clear market failure and mitigate the absence of any policy from the UK Government at the time to tackle rural notspots. When we established S4GI, the UK Government’s earlier Mobile Infrastructure Project (MIP) had failed to deliver meaningful outcomes for Scotland. Of 84 planned MIP sites in Scotland, only three were ultimately delivered. S4GI forms part of our wider 2016 Mobile Action Plan, which committed to exploring direct intervention in delivery of mobile coverage in areas of market failure.

The new standard requires an alarm in a kitchen and in most cases this should be a heat alarm. In a kitchen with a log burner, a heat alarm should be installed to avoid false alarms.

As there is a log burner in this area, a Carbon Monoxide alarm will also be required.

Further guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-tolerable-standard-guidance/

An option for new rail line between Aberdeen, Ellon and onwards to Peterhead and Fraserburgh was assessed as part of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). The outcome of this was that this option did not form part of the strategic transport investment recommendations within STPR2. Instead, recommendations set out in STPR2 focus on the decarbonisation of the remainder of the rail network; measures to increase the amount of freight travelling by rail and on improving connectivity between our 7 cities.

However, there remains a path for regional or local rail projects to come forward, and Transport Scotland will consider these subject to a strong business case being developed in accordance with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and suitable funding being available.

Improving wider public transport accessibility in the North East is a key STPR2 recommendation and Transport Scotland continues to work with Nestrans, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council in developing plans for Aberdeen Rapid Transit further appraisal of which is already being progressed through our Bus Partnership Fund. The rapid transit system would prioritise buses and connect key destinations on the outskirts of Aberdeen to the city centre via busy radial corridors. Bus priority is also being looked at through the Bus Partnership fund, including to Ellon. The proposed bus based rapid transit system for the region would provide a more competitive and efficient public transport into and around the Aberdeen City region. This would improve region wide connectivity and encourage a switch from car to public transport and other more sustainable travel options.

The Self-Isolation Support Grant (SISG) is designed to help workers who have to self-isolate for the required period to stop the onward spread of the virus. As a result, eligibility for the Grant aligns to the wider isolation policy. This means that forecasts are subject to a high degree of uncertainty because of the unpredictability of the virus and consequent human action.

The SISG is delivered by local authorities using local processes and systems. The differences between them mean that estimated application rates would be unreliable. Instead forecast award rates based on projected prevalence of the virus is used.

Our latest forecast of SISG awards for the 2021-22 financial year is between 90,000 and 110,000, with a central forecast of 100,000. The model will be updated soon with the latest available data; these figures may change as a result.

In 2021-22, Glasgow City Council received £4.826 million from the £23.5 million provided to local authorities for preventing and responding to homelessness.

Since the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund was launched in June 2021 Aberdeen City Council, Clackmannanshire Council and Fife Council have been awarded grants.

It is a condition of grant under the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund that projects are developed in line with the Interim Site Design Guide, published by the Scottish Government in December 2021 to assist in the development of high quality accommodation. Grant offers are being phased, based on tendered costs, to help manage the risks attached to current supply chain issues. Local authorities will report regularly to the Scottish Government on progress and draw down funding in line with evidenced spend on their projects. Plans for learning from and evaluation of the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund include a comparative cost analysis, to improve our understanding of the costs of modern Gypsy/Traveller accommodation.

Yes, the Scottish Government is currently developing plans for an evaluation of the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund, including the impact on site residents.

Since the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund was launched in June 2021 there have been three successful applications.

The Scottish Government is keen to ensure that asylum seekers in Scotland are able to access free bus travel under the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme and the Older and Disabled Persons Scheme.

I am alive to challenges being faced by different groups, including asylum seekers, in accessing the free bus schemes. I met officials from the Improvement Service, which is the accountable body for the National Entitlement Card (NEC) Scheme, on 7 February to discuss what more can be done to make the application process easier for refugees and asylum seekers.

Officials have been in discussion with organisations that support asylum seekers, including the Scottish Refugee Council, on how best to make the application process accessible to asylum seekers and refugees. They have also put Glasgow Life, who administer the NEC scheme in Glasgow, in touch with organisations that support asylum seekers to discuss application routes.

The Improvement Service issued guidance on applications for asylum seekers and refugees to Local Authorities, who administer in person applications, in September 2021. This guidance advised that proofs specific to asylum seekers and refugees, such as the Application Registration Card (ARC) issued by the Home Office, can be used to apply for a NEC in person, in conjunction with other information or evidence available to a council, a school or a dedicated staff member within a Local Authority.

This information is available on the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme page on the Transport Scotland website.