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VisitScotland already works closely with ScotRail as a key national partner. The relationship includes liaising on matters relating to the visitor experience and running joint marketing campaigns, including a spring 2022 campaign to promote family days out in Scotland's cities.

ScotRail Trains Limited have been charged with producing a Market Growth Strategy, from April 2022, that develops and implements appropriate products and services to address post–Covid markets including, in particular, tourism. To assist with the development of that strategy and in furtherance of the relationship that exists between ScotRail and VisitScotIand. I have asked my officials to establish with them what more can be done to promote tourism and, in particular, actions to encourage visits to national attractions by rail.

The data on vandalism that the Scottish Government receives from Police Scotland does not include any information on the type of location in which they were committed. As such we are unable to separately identify whether any individual crime of vandalism recorded by the police or proceeded against in court, occurred in a public toilet facility.

This information is not collated centrally. It is for local authorities to ensure that it has sufficient services, including public toilet services, and to ensure they are safe to use.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

On 21 February 2022 the prison population at unlock was 7,561. A breakdown is provided below regarding the accommodation the individuals were located in:

1. 4,885 people were accommodated alone in a cell intended to accommodate one person and,

230 people were accommodated alone in a cell that is designed to be double occupancy.

2. 918 people were accommodated in a cell, or dormitory, intended for more than one person and,

1,528 people were accommodated with another person in a cell intended for one person.

The Scottish Government intends to lay a copy of the report before the Scottish Parliament, as soon as it is practicable, as set out in accordance with Section 11F(5) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Scottish Government will also publish a copy of the report on its website.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The following tables detail the (a) Average occupancy (b) Design capacity and (c) the Average occupancy rate of each prison over 2019, 2020 and 2021.

2019

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01070 on 9 July 2021. 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

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The following table details the (a) average occupancy (b) design capacity and (c) the occupancy rate of each prison over January 2021;

JANUARY 2021

The occupancy rate and the design capacity rates provided are the average for the calendar month.

The Scottish Government believes that all young people in Scotland should have access to youth work services at the right time, and in the best place, for them. Various groups representing young people with protected characteristics, including young people from minority ethnic communities, have been involved in the consultation for Scotland’s new youth work strategy. The strategy aims to see more joined up services for young people where schools, colleges, service providers, local authorities and education partners are better connected around the youth work offer, meaning better opportunities locally for young people across Scotland, including those from minority ethnic communities.

The Scottish Government also provide core funding to Intercultural Youth Scotland to ensure young people from a minority ethnic background are supported and encouraged to take part in youth work activities. The funding has also supported a range of mental health programmes, in particular during the pandemic. In addition to this, a range of local, national and grassroots organisations are funded to promote youth work among the minority ethnic community and advance race equality in general to improve outcomes for young people.

Data on teacher absence due to Covid-19 has been collected since September 2020 and is still being collected and published on a weekly basis.

Data for the 2020-21 academic year can be found at this link in the 'School staff absence' tab: COVID19 - Schools and Childcare Information 2021 | Tableau Public

Data for the 2021-22 academic year can be found at this link in the 'School staff absence' tab: COVID19 - Schools and Childcare Information August 2021 | Tableau Public