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The Scottish Government is pleased that three Scottish areas are involved in the expression of interest phase of the UK City of Culture 2025 competition. Scottish Government officials have attended the dedicated information session for potential Scottish bidders and are working closely with DCMS and Creative Scotland to support the overarching application process. Officials will continue to work with all of the bid teams and will continue to discuss the Borderlands bid with South of Scotland Enterprise and all relevant partners.

To support education recovery during the pandemic, the Scottish Government has committed funding that has enabled local authorities to recruit an additional 1,400 teachers and 250 support staff. From April 2022, funding equating to £80m per annum will be baselined in to the local government settlement. This will ensure local authorities are able to offer sustained employment of additional teachers and support staff, while meeting local needs and benefitting Scotland’s children and young people.

This is in addition to the £65.5m permanent additional funding announced on
‎ 9 August for local authorities to recruit a further additional 1,000 teachers and 500 support staff.

In line with the updated guidance on reducing risk in schools and the move to Level 0, children and young people can now engage in all music activities in schools, indoors and outdoors. Safety mitigations, for example good ventilation and enhanced hygiene, should continue to apply in relevant settings where these activities are taking place.

The guidance can be found at the link below:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

I can confirm that the central planning assumption is that an examination diet for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses will be held in session 2021-2022.

My decision has been informed by the views of stakeholders, including the National Qualifications Group, and by public health advice.

Assessment modifications across National courses for the next academic session have already been confirmed by the SQA. These modifications reduce the expected course content compared to a normal year, in recognition of the disruption learners have experienced. Fairness for learners sitting exams in 2022 is a central concern for me. We will set out details on further support available for learners in September.

I can also confirm that careful contingency planning has taken place to ensure there is sufficient flexibility to respond to two key scenarios that might be faced as a result of the pandemic. First, in circumstances were there was further significant disruption to learning and teaching, a further round of modifications would be introduced in order to ease assessment. Second, should public health conditions do not allow for the holding of an examination diet in Spring 2022, awarding would be made on teachers’ judgements based on normal in–year assessment.

These contingencies offer stability for teachers and learners in the coming academic session and will allow their focus to be on normal practices in teaching, learning and assessment. More detailed guidance will be issued by the SQA at the earliest opportunity.

The detailed information requested is currently being collated. I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 62596).

Police management information, while a useful tool, should be used with caution. These are not official statistics and should not be taken as indicative of longer term trends. Due to the exceptional circumstances of the last year, caution is even more necessary when considering the information for 2020-21, as a rise in complaints and neighbour disputes in relation to potential breaches of COVID-19 restrictions are included.

Measuring change in antisocial behaviour over time is best done using population-based measures and all the evidence points towards a long-term, sustained reduction in Scotland. For example, the Scottish Crime & Justice Survey shows the proportion of adults who feel people behave in an antisocial manner in their area has fallen from 46% in 2008-09 to 33% in 2019-20 (with no change identified between 2018-19 and 2019-20).

We remain committed to tackling all forms of antisocial behaviour while recognising the progress made and will continue to work with partners to deliver the best outcomes for communities.

The Scottish Government has had significant engagement with the Glasgow City Region partners, including Glasgow City Council (GCC) on the concept of a Glasgow Metro.

Transport Scotland are appraising case for investment in a Metro for Glasgow, through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). GCC are engaged in STPR2 through the Regional Transport Working Group for the Glasgow City Region. Transport Scotland are also committed to working with Glasgow City Council's Metro Feasibility Project and have regular routine meetings between officials. Furthermore, Scottish Government officials are part of the Metro Strategic Advisory Group. With regard to the Glasgow City Region Growth Deal Cabinet, Transport Scotland participate in the Growth Deal’s Transport & Connectivity Portfolio Group. Senior officials of Transport Scotland, Glasgow City Council and SPT meet approximately quarterly, co-chairing the Glasgow Strategic Transport Group.

In addition, Michael Matheson, in his capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, met with the leader of Glasgow City Council in March 2021, to discuss the Glasgow Metro following the publication of STPR2 Phase 1 in February, which restated the case for a Metro system for Glasgow.

In keeping with past practice the Scottish Government has no plans to publish the names of the poets on the confidential shortlist for this role.

This protects those poets who, once nominated by the expert panel, were asked and agreed, to take part in this process.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01865 on
‎ 18 August 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

As set out in the Draft Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment, which was published on 20 June in conjunction with the consultation paper on the introduction of new legislation on the sale and use of fireworks in Scotland, and tackling the misuse of pyrotechnics Police Scotland has been a key driver in requesting the proposed offence and related stop and search power for pyrotechnics.

The new offence provisions will require Police Scotland to refresh their guidance on stop and search and pyrotechnics that is currently in place for their officers. Police Scotland has confirmed that there will be no additional resources required. Similar powers already exist for a person having an offensive weapon or dangerous instrument with them in a public place without reasonable excuse or lawful authority and it is anticipated that the proposed new offence will be enforced in a similar manner. In due course it is hoped that the new offence and stop and search power for pyrotechnics will make our communities safer and reduce public disorder thereby reducing the number of police operations.