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The SPCB is elected by the Parliament to take decisions regarding its statutory functions under section 21 of the Scotland Act 1988, which are to provide the Parliament, or ensure that the Parliament is provided, with the property, staff and services required for the Parliament’s purposes.  As part of these functions, it is incumbent on the SPCB in terms of its legal duties and obligations, as both an employer and as the owner occupier, to provide a safe and secure parliamentary estate.  As the decision on applying to become a designated site was based on confidential security advice from Police Scotland, it would not have been appropriate to have held prior discussions with MSPs, MSP staff or other Scottish Parliament staff.

The Scottish Government is supporting the rollout of the new Scotland Loves Local Loyalty Card, part of our £10 million Scotland Loves Local programme.

The card is a quick and efficient way to encourage spend and sales growth in our local economies and, thanks to Scottish Government funding, is the first of its kind on a national scale.

We have no plans to replicate the Northern Ireland scheme at present but will be interested to see the impact it makes.

The Scottish Government's policy in relation to locally determined Council Tax increases will be set out as part of future Scottish Budget outcomes.

The Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) provides support for Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords to purchase off the shelf properties where it can be demonstrated that this is the most appropriate method of meeting housing need in a particular area. Funding may also be made available to remodel/rehabilitate existing properties where this is considered a strategic priority.

Whilst we hold information on the number of off the shelf properties supported through the AHSP, we do not hold information on whether those properties are former right-to-buy properties. The table containing the off the shelf homes supported through the main AHSP grant programme for the last 5 full financial years, broken down by Local Authority Area and Local Authority or Registered Social Landlord who purchased the properties, has been placed in SPICe under BIB number 62721. The table does not include figures relating to new build off the shelf properties.

The Scottish Government has undertaken work to assess the impact of provisions in the Nationality and Borders Bill on communities in Scotland. Issues highlighted through this work are set out in my letter of 1 September to the Home Secretary, which is on the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/letter-from-the-cabinet-secretary-for-social-justice-housing-and-local-government-to-rt-hon-priti-patel-mp/

The 2015 Act requires Scottish Ministers to prepare a Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy and this was published in May 2017. The Scottish Government has established governance structures to take forward implementation of this Strategy and discussions include feedback on the operation and application of the 2015 Act.

Annual reports against the Strategy have been published and a review of the Strategy was published in May 2020. The next annual report will be published later this year.

Skills Development Scotland who lead on SG’s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment initiative have been actively engaging with the company and staff, providing support to individuals who may be impacted.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03027 on 1 October 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

The Scottish Government’s assessment is that there is no requirement for a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) in respect of the Nationality and Borders Bill as introduced to the UK Parliament. The Scottish Government is monitoring the Bill as it progresses through the UK Parliament and will consider whether any amendments to the Bill trigger the need for an LCM.

The Scottish Government fully supports the police, local authorities and the court services to take appropriate and proportionate action to tackle antisocial behaviour. We expect all relevant authorities to use the powers available to them to deal with antisocial behaviour.