Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02280 on 7 September 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 refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02280 on‎ 7 September 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 does not hold this information centrally. However, the number of patients who attended the dentist can be found on Public Health Scotland at: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/dental-statistics-registration-and-participation/dental-statistics-registration-and-participation-statistics-as-at-30-september-2020/ .

The Scottish Government published its Strategy for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Research in March 2021 which sets out future research priorities and governance arrangements. This was informed by extensive consultation including within the agricultural sector. The future governance structure for the research programme will provide for input from a range of stakeholders across the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

With regard to your suggestion that support continues to be provided for the Rural Innovation Support Service I would advise that this service was delivered under a procurement contract which concluded on 31 March 2021. Decisions on whether and/or how future funding support will be provided in this area are currently under consideration.

Scottish Ministers have kept the UK Government updated on our plans for a public inquiry on the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and look forward to receiving further details of the UK Government’s plans. These exchanges have been in the course of routine ongoing contact between the two governments on COVID-19, and not the subject of separate, minuted, meetings.

The planned consultation on the range of commitments identified in the Food Waste Reduction Action Plan has been delayed by a number of factors, including the recent Covid-19 crisis.

We are developing a Routemap to deliver our ambitious 2025 waste and recycling targets which will inform the development of the new Circular Economy Bill and there will also be further engagement and consultation to shape the Bill’s contents. A review of the rural exemption for food waste will be considered as part of this.

A number of our existing commitments already contribute towards this goal and will ensure that we deliver a just transition, with economic and social opportunity shared across the country.

For example, the recent Programme for Government outlined our commitment to help three islands become fully carbon neutral by 2040. We are currently engaging with stakeholders to ensure the voices of islanders are heard from outset. This builds on previous commitments, such as the Island Communities Fund, which has supported businesses and community groups to build sustainable island economies.

We are also investing at least £1.8 billion over this Parliament to decarbonise Scotland’s homes and buildings, helping us eradicate poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty. This commitment will benefit communities across the country, including rural communities where we know fuel poverty is a particular concern.

Asylum is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office. This includes provision of asylum accommodation to people who require it while awaiting the outcome of their asylum application. The Scottish Government has no control of asylum accommodation and support.

The Home Office procures asylum accommodation through private sector contracts. Mears Group are the current contract holder in Scotland.

While recognising that hotels have enabled people to be accommodated during the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been clear that hotel accommodation for people seeking asylum is not acceptable as general practice or as long term accommodation. People seeking asylum should be provided with accommodation that is suitable for their needs and is based in communities to enable integration from day one of arrival. The Scottish Government will continue to engage with the Home Office, Mears Group, Glasgow City Council, COSLA and third sector support organisations in Glasgow on matters relating to asylum accommodation, support and integration.

The Scottish Government’s Social Enterprise Strategy was launched in 2016 and sets out a wide-ranging, ambitious and long-term programme to develop the potential of Scotland's social enterprise sector.

The latest Social Enterprise Action Plan was published on 24 March 2021 and covers the period 2021-24 and is available at: Social enterprise: action plan - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

To deliver the plan, we will spend over £5 million this financial year supporting Social Enterprises across the country. Some of the projects we have committed to support over the next three years include:

• Doubling our funding for Social Enterprise in Schools to almost £2m to ensure that by 2024 every school child will have the opportunity to engage with a social enterprise project in their school career, introducing the benefits of the social enterprise model to young people across Scotland.
• Investing an additional £1.5m to build on the successful programme of support offered through Adapt and Thrive which helps community organisations wanting to diversify their income streams.
• Investing £1.5 million to create a clear pipeline for social enterprises from conception to the international market, with a focus on ethical opportunities in emerging markets such as Africa and South East Asia.

Scotland has a long history of welcoming people of all nationalities, including those from Hong Kong. We recognise the positive contribution of people who choose to make Scotland their home. They are assets to our society and communities: sharing their culture, building businesses, working in our public services, volunteering their skills and making friendships. We have recently published a British National (Overseas) Welcome Pack to support people in their integration into our communities.

The Chinese Government’s decision to implement the National Security Law in Hong Kong is of deep concern to the Scottish Government. This action seriously undermines the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’, which guarantees Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy, and will irreversibly diminish the rights and freedoms of its people.

We support the UK Government’s commitment to providing a bespoke pathway to citizenship for British National (Overseas) citizens from Hong Kong and their dependants and we welcome those who have chosen to move to Scotland.