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The Scottish Marine Energy Research Programme (ScotMER), a Scottish Government initiative, is actively developing the evidence base required to facilitate the sustainable development of offshore wind. This programme works with key stakeholders and scientific experts to identify and address priority evidence gaps across environmental and socioeconomic interests.

Under this programme, the implications of underwater noise and efficacy of mitigation techniques have been identified as key evidence gaps, and we are working with industry and academia to deliver new research to inform future planning, consenting and licensing of offshore wind.

More information on ScotMER is available on: https://www.gov.scot/policies/marine-renewable-energy/science-and-research/

Year Five of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, which commenced in August, will be delivered in the same model as Year 4. Levy payers will continue to have access to up to £15,000 worth of training and Small and Medium Enterprises up to £5,000 worth of training.

We have committed to evaluating the Flexible Workforce Development Fund in 2021-22. The purpose of the evaluation will be to assess the impact the Fund has made on meeting employers training needs, addressing skill gaps and supporting workforce development. The evaluation will also provide recommendations to inform both the future of the Fund and the future development of national policy on up-skilling / retraining and in-work learning.

Reviewing the ‘fixed cap’ model for both Levy-paying employers and SMEs accessing the Fund will be part of this evaluation. Any recommendations from it in respect of its future delivery will be considered by Ministers next year.

The Scottish Government will be advised by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), if there is likely to be an unrealistic demand placed on the fund.

We will continue to engage and work collaboratively with the sector and SLIC, which provides leadership and advice to Scottish Ministers, local authorities and the wider libraries sector, to ensure we are addressing any concerns in relation to the Public Library Covid Relief Fund.

Section 41 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 sets out the age of criminal responsibility in Scotland. After section 1 of the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019 has been commenced, children under 12 whose behaviour has caused significant harm to others will be eligible for support provided by the Bairns’ Hoose.

Between 1 May 2021 and 19 June 2021 Marine Scotland received landing notifications of 18,557 Ballan, 255 Corkwing, 13 Cuckoo, 720 Goldsinny and 274 Rock Cook wrasses. Licence conditions dictate that landings of wrasse are recorded in terms of number of wrasse, by species and per ICES rectangle. This information is provisional, based on management information and may be subject to change.

Number of wrasse landings by Species, 1 May 2021-19 June 2021.

All legislative and regulatory responsibility for telecommunications rests with the UK Government and Ofcom respectively. As such the Scottish Government has no arrangement with Openreach around access to private land in Scotland. Wayleaves are negotiated directly between operators and landowners. Where it is not possible to reach an agreement operators can seek to have an agreement imposed by the courts using the Electronic Communications Code.

As part of the Reaching 100% (R100) North lot contract, 16 subsea cables will be delivered to 15 Scottish islands - Colonsay, Iona and Lismore in the Argyll & Bute local authority area; Eigg in the Highland local authority area; Eday, Flotta, Hoy, Rousay, Sanday, Shapinsay and Stronsay in the Orkney Islands local authority area and Fair Isle, Unst, Whalsey and Yell in the Shetland Islands local authority area.

Initial survey work is now complete and we expect all cables to be laid by the end of 2022, subject to favourable weather conditions.

The eligibility criteria for the Public Library Covid Relief Fund have already been made public via the relevant Scottish Government press release issued on 10 September 2021. It can be accessed here .

The fund will support libraries to re-open or extend their opening hours, as well as fund targeted plans for issues such as digital exclusion or mental health and wellbeing. While priority will be given to applications which support deprived areas and communities, all library services across Scotland are invited to apply for the fund based on their communities' local needs and priorities.

The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), will be liaising with all services directly and will be working with them on their applications to assist a smooth process and maximise the impact of the fund.

Although not responsible for the site, the Scottish Government has agreed to fund the first phase of work at the Tarbolton landfill site, which will begin to reduce the environmental and amenity impact of the site. As part of this first phase, work to remove giant hogweed from the site was successfully completed in July.

SEPA is currently procuring the bulk of the first phase of work and I am grateful to SEPA for offering to undertake this procurement.

While the Scottish Government is not responsible for the site, we continue to work with our public partners to consider further actions for its longer-term restoration.

The Scottish Government recognises that children whose behaviour has caused harm will also often be the victims of abuse or neglect. The Bairns’ Hoose will be an environment in which this context can be understood and positive interventions can be made to prevent further harmful behaviour.

A key consideration in the development of Bairns’ Hooses which will be taken into account in the development of the policy will be balancing the rights of victims and those of children whose behaviour has caused harm. We recognise the potential tension between the rights of victims and those of children whose behaviour has caused harm and, as such, addressing issues that may arise due to competing interests will be a fundamental consideration as we develop our plans for a national Bairns’ Hoose model.

Our approach is rights-based in line with the United Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), The Promise and Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) in recognising that all children must receive the right help at the right time.