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The consultation ‘Use and Sale of Fireworks in Scotland, and tackling the misuse of pyrotechnics’ ran from 20 June to 15 August 2021. The consultation consisted of two sections; the first sought views on proposed changes to how fireworks can be supplied and used in Scotland; while the second section considered the use of pyrotechnic devices.

Over 1,700 responses were received, with the majority submitted by individual members of the public, with stakeholder organisations including the emergency services, the fireworks industry and animal welfare organisations also responding. An analysis of consultation responses, undertaken by an independent contractor, will be published shortly.

Where permission was granted, responses have been published at https://consult.gov.scot/justice/use-and-sale-of-fireworks-in-scotland/consultation/published_select_respondent .

A Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Bill will be introduced to Parliament in Year One of this Parliamentary term to prevent harm in our communities.

The Electricians Working Group last met on 29 October 2019 and discussed the proposed consultation on the regulation of electricians and on increasing consumer awareness about the use of electricians. Minutes of all meetings of the Electricians Working Group are available at https://www.gov.scot/groups/electricians-working-group/ .

The Electricians Working Group is expected to meet once the Scottish Government’s response to the consultation is published and will discuss that response.

The Apprenticeship Levy is a tax on employers, introduced by the UK Government in 2017, and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) hold the data on what is raised through the Apprenticeship Levy.

The Scottish share of Apprenticeship Levy receipts received through the block grant continues to be invested in wider skills, training and employability to meet the needs of employers, the workforce and Scotland’s economy.

The Scottish Government receives some raw data from HMRC on what is raised through the Apprenticeship Levy and has carried out some analysis which suggests that in both 2017-18 and 2018-19, approximately 60 percent of the Apprenticeship Levy contribution in Scotland was from the private sector, 34 per cent from the public sector and 6 per cent from the non-profit making bodies and mutual associations. However, the data that we receive does not enable a full breakdown analysis of each sector.

More recent sector level analysis from 2019-20 is not yet available.

The Scottish Government provides Sustrans with funding to maintain and extend the National Cycle Network (NCN) in Scotland, with £4.065 million this financial year alone. And where the NCN interacts with the trunk road network, Sustrans and Transport Scotland work in partnership to ensure the best possible outcome is achieved for specific projects. Intentions to explore improvements to the National Cycle Network in the south west are included within Sustrans Scotland’s 30 year National Cycle Network Plan. See link: Paths for Everyone - Sustrans.org.uk

Also, the South West Scotland Transport Study, published in January 2020, included a recommendation to develop the Strategic Active Travel Network in the South West of Scotland. This option included proposals to better connect communities to key destinations, including cycle paths parallel to trunk roads and improvements to the National Cycle Network. This intervention is currently subject to detailed appraisal as part of Phase 2 of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).

Once complete, STPR2 will inform strategic transport investment in Scotland for the next 20 years, including decisions on new active travel infrastructure. STPR2 will conclude later this year, with publication of recommendations for investment and be followed by the appropriate statutory consultation period.

Our definition of ‘good’ jobs is informed by the Fair Work Convention which defines Fair Work as offering effective voice, fulfilment, opportunity, respect and security. For workers, Fair Work means security of pay and contract, having a say in workplace decisions, and flexibility which allows for a good work-life balance. It also means more diverse and inclusive workplaces. We are currently consulting on how we will achieve our ambition to become a Fair Work Nation by 2025, aligning with the aims of a just transition to a wellbeing economy. The consultation will inform a review of our existing Fair Work priorities, and the important role Fair Work can play as part of Scotland’s economic recovery and renewal.

In contrast, there are many definitions of green jobs. For instance, the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan recognises three distinct categories of green jobs:

• New and emerging jobs that relate directly to the transition to net zero
• jobs affected by the transition to net zero that will need enhanced skills or competencies
• existing jobs that will be needed in greater numbers as the result of the transition to net zero

The first step is therefore to develop an approach that best reflects with Scotland’s industries and will help us to best quantify, and then maximise, the opportunities presented by our transition to net zero. Work within the Scottish Government is underway to develop a ‘green jobs’ definition that is appropriate for Scottish context and provide estimates on the number of green jobs that will be created.

As an example, the Heat in Buildings Strategy published on 7 October estimated that an additional 16,400 jobs could be supported across the economy in 2030 as a result of investment in the deployment of zero emissions heat.

Regulations amending the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 were made today.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No.3) Regulations 2021 amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021, and will come into force on 30 October 2021.

The Amendment Regulations provide that UNFCCC-accredited attendees to the COP26 Blue Zone will be deemed to be fully vaccinated, for the purposes of entering the COP26 Green Zone.

On the 2 October 2019, my predecessor confirmed that the Scottish Government would introduce legislation in this parliamentary session to entitle all children whose school start is deferred to access funded early learning and childcare in their deferred year.

The legislation required, an affirmative Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, was laid on 7 December 2020.

Last year, to progress the implementation of this policy and allow us to develop an evidence base for our evaluation, five pilot authorities were funded to offer an additional year of funded ELC to all children who choose to defer entry to primary 1. These authorities were: Angus, Argyll and Bute, Falkirk, Scottish Borders and Shetland Islands.

To allow us to expand our evaluation of the impact of the legislation, five additional authorities have been selected to receive funding to implement this policy from August 2022.

These authorities will be: Aberdeen City, Clackmannanshire, Fife, Glasgow City, and Stirling. The Scottish Government has committed £8.9 million to support this early implementation.

The evaluation of the experience in pilot authorities is being undertaken to monitor the impact of the policy, inform assessment of likely uptake of the entitlement and inform wider implementation of this legislation.

The Scottish Government will publish its official response to the Independent Review into the Delivery of Forensic Mental Health Services today, 29 October 2021.

The Scottish Government is already working with partners to address the recommendations of the review. A Short Life Working Group is being established which will bring together key partners, to agree a clear plan for addressing the recommendations of the Independent Review aimed toward increased support for planning, collaboration and improvement of forensic mental health services in Scotland.

The group will not revisit the work of the Independent Review but will consider how best to address the issues that are already set out in the Review reports. It will be strictly time limited, with an expectation of its work concluding early in 2022.

The £41 million will be distributed as follows:

• £10 million for a Fuel Insecurity Fund to provide direct support with fuel costs for low income households, delivered through a range of organisations including registered social landlords, Advice Direct Scotland, Energy Action Scotland and the Fuel Bank Foundation.
• £25 million to Local Authorities to tackle financial insecurity and respond to emerging need. This will include providing help with food, fuel and other essentials with a strong steer in favour of a cash-first approach and proactive and preventative action for those who are known to be at risk.
• £6 million for trusted third sector partners, allowing support to be provided by local charities and community groups to families in financial need all across Scotland.

We are currently in discussions with Local Authorities and partners and the funding will be made available as soon as is reasonably practicable.