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Scottish Government officials have regular engagement with the assistive technology sector, including through the Technology Enabled Care programme and British Healthcare Trades Association. An equipment and adaptations guidance Implementation Group is also being set up by officials, which will include engagement with the sector, including representatives of the healthcare and assistive technology sector.

Scottish Government does not currently directly fund projects which specifically promote freedom of religion or belief. Scottish Government funding of faith and belief organisations is now, and has for many years been focused on supporting interfaith engagement work, as well as supporting faith and belief partners to help build inclusive, resilient and cohesive communities across Scotland.

We provide funding to promote interfaith dialogue and support faith and belief communities across the country. The Scottish Government does not fund faith based organisations to promote or lead worship of a particular faith but does fund discrete faith led projects to meet a particular need, or overcome a barrier to equality of outcome or opportunity for a particular faith community. The organisations listed below deliver projects to enhance understanding of faith, interfaith dialogue and community cohesion.

In addition to this funded work, our new Hate Crime Strategy, published in March 2023, sets out our vision for a Scotland where everyone, including people of faith, live free from hatred and prejudice. The strategy was informed by those with lived experience of hate crime, including faith communities. A delivery plan setting out immediate and longer term activity in support of the strategy, including implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, will be published later this year.

Although we cannot provide a comprehensive breakdown of funding provided to faith and belief organisations across all of Scottish Government from 2007, the following is a breakdown of available figures for faith and belief organisations who received Scottish Government funding:

From 2021 until the present the following annual funding amounts have been provided through the Connected Communities Division:

Edinburgh interfaith Association £50,000

Faith in Community Dundee £40,000

Interfaith Glasgow £50,000

Interfaith Scotland £145,000

Scottish Council of Jewish Communities £50,000

In addition to this, in 2023 Interfaith Glasgow received an additional £20,000 for the year 23-24.

Prior to this funding was provided through the Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund between 2017 and 20 21. Details of this fundingcan be found at Equality funding: Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund 2017-2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

For 2016-2017 funding was provided through the PECF funding and details can be found at Equality funding 2016 to 2017 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Funding for Interfaith Scotland as an intermediary organisation was provided between 2012 and 2015 with a total funding of £ 330,000.

The Scottish Government regularly meets with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to discuss a range of matters, including SFC governance.

SFC’s governance framework is set out by the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 and the September 2022 Framework Document setting out ways of working between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council. The Framework Document is supplemented by the annual Letter of Guidance which sets out Ministerial priorities and expectations.

Scottish Government officials regularly discuss a range of matters related to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), including SFC governance.

SFC’s governance framework is set out by the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 and the September 2022 Framework Document setting out ways of working between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council. The Framework Document is supplemented by the annual Letter of Guidance which sets out Ministerial priorities and expectations.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) have today published the first results from Scotland’s Census 2022.

For more than 200 years Scotland has relied on the valuable data the census provides and it remains the best way to gather vital information about Scotland’s people that data users in the public, private and third sectors need.

Today’s publication represents an historic moment for Scotland with the largest population ever recorded by Scotland’s Census of 5.4 million. An increase of 2.7 % since the previous census in 2011.

Crucially, today’s publication also confirms that the growth in Scotland’s population has been driven by migration, with fewer births than deaths registered in Scotland since 2011. As outlined by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice in last week’s Programme for Government, the Scottish Government remains committed to responding to the challenge of depopulation through the publication of an ‘Addressing Depopulation Action Plan’, which will consider how we and partners respond to the wide range of drivers impacting population decline within some of Scotland’s communities.

We will also be introducing our 'Talent Attraction and Migration Service', providing immigration information and advice to employers looking to attract talent to Scotland, as well as supporting people considering Scotland, from across the UK and abroad, as a place to live and work. Scotland has a large, established migrant community and I welcome the contribution new Scots are making, and continue to make, to our economy and society.

The census data released today also demonstrates how the makeup of our population is changing. There are more people in the older age groups than ever recorded in Scotland's Census. There are now over a quarter of a million people aged 65 and over than there are under 15. In contrast, just a few decades ago, results from the 1971 census showed there were twice as many people under 15 than over 65.

We know this shift is not unique to Scotland, with most mature global economies seeing similar trends. Recent censuses in the rest of the UK and in several other G7 countries showed that their populations are ageing too. Understanding these changes in the population will allow local authorities and the government to adapt vital public services to better meet the needs of those living and working in Scotland. The Scottish Government has stated our commitment to engage with the 'Older People’s Strategic Action Forum' to identify and develop solutions to barriers faced by older people. However, with the population living longer on average, it is also vital to recognise the role that older people will continue to play in our society and the ongoing opportunities this provides for us all.

Census data released today also shines a light on our shifting household patterns. Since 2011, there has been a household increase of 5.8% - higher than the increase in the population (2.7%). We know that older people are more likely to live alone or in smaller households and that there is a related trend towards smaller households and more households overall. This trend further demonstrates the importance of our plan to take forward the delivery of 'A Connected Scotland', launched March 2023, and our continued support for organisations through the 'Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund'.

Geographically, there is also a range of insightful trends across Scotland within the data. Most of the council areas in Scotland’s central belt saw increases in their populations, particularly those around Edinburgh. These increases were driven by migration from within Scotland and from elsewhere. Most of the council areas that saw a decrease in population are in the west or south west. These decreases were driven by a higher number of deaths than births between censuses.

Following today’s publication, NRS will publish further results from Scotland’s Census 2022 from spring 2024 onwards. In summer 2024, a series of topic data reports will provide new and unique insights into the characteristics of Scotland's people, including information on ethnicity, religion, the labour market, education and housing. For the first time, it will also include data on armed forces veterans, sexual orientation and trans status or history.

The information published from Scotland’s Census will help to shape Scotland for future generations and is a vital asset for the whole of Scotland. I urge all members to engage with the data from Scotland’s Census 2022 and further explore the fascinating insight it provides on Scotland’s population.

It is vital that Police Scotland continues to inspire public trust and maintains relationships with local communities. These principles are clearly set out in both the Scottish Government’s Strategic Police Priorities and in the Police Scotland/Scottish Police Authority Joint Strategy for Policing . While the decision to conduct a pilot is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, it will be crucial when the results of this pilot are examined, to confirm that local priorities continue to be met with no detriment to communities.

Officers in the North East are not stopping the investigation of minor crimes. Members of the public should continue to report all crimes. Police Scotland has stated that, as part of the pilot, on occasions where crimes are reported without an associated threat, harm, risk or vulnerability and there are no proportionate lines of enquiry, staff will inform the caller that their report has been filed and supply a crime reference number but no further action will be taken. Should thereafter any evidence become available that open up a line of enquiry the incident will be appropriately investigated. Police Scotland has stated that the new approach will ensure that individuals receive faster updates on their incident reports.

Policing remains a priority for the Scottish Government. Despite financial challenges due to UK Government austerity, we have increased police funding year-on-year since 2016-17, investing more than £11.6 billion since the creation of Police Scotland in 2013.

The National Treatment Centre at Perth Royal Infirmary is currently in the process of submitting their Outline Business Case to the Capital Investment Group, once this is approved a Full Business Case will be developed and upon its approval we will be able to provide a completion date for the project.

Scottish Government is committed to tackling the stigma around all aspects of problem substance use, including that associated with seeking support and treatment. We published our Stigma Action Plan on 12 January 2023 as part of the Cross government response to the Drug Deaths Taskforce. The founding principle of our Stigma Action Plan is that we can do more to support people affected by drugs and alcohol. We have long emphasised that drug dependency is a health condition and now is time to put that into practice. The stigma action plan outlines how we will turn principles into action by developing a voluntary accreditation scheme to tackle structural stigma; and implementing a national programme of activity to challenge social stigma. We will co-design the programme and accreditation scheme with people with lived, living and family experience. We will procure partners to take on the ongoing administration and delivery of the accreditation scheme and national programme.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that workers whistleblowing rights are protected, as outlined in the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. Employment powers are a matter reserved to the UK Parliament, however, the Scottish Government encourages all employers to provide fair and inclusive work, including an effective voice, to all workers.

All public sector organisations should have their own whistleblowing policy and procedures in place which should be consistent with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, and with their own nominated officer and process for investigation. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to whistleblowing policy as policies will vary depending on the size and nature of the organisation. It is for each organisation to consider what training is required to support the effective implementation of their whistleblowing arrangements.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21068 on 14 September 2023. 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